We last walked Castle Semple Loch on December 20th 2008 and the weather over the last year hadn't improved any for the Fourteen Bosco Wanderers who set off again on this rather dull looking November morning to try it out once more.

Unfortunately at Castle Semple there is no circular walk round the loch itself but there is a tarred footpath along the now disused railway track which if you wished to complete would take you all the way into Paisley Town Centre some 8 Miles away. The other optional walk is to leave the main footpath and go via Parkhill Wood where, I am told, the views to the South are well worth the detour, but today the path was waterlogged, so we opted for the shorter walk from the Visitor Centre along the footpath to what used to be the old railway station at Kilbarchan Village. Enroute there we passed the now roofless Gothic style Colliegate Church founded by John, 1st Lord Semple in 1504 for the main use of his family, and it ceased to be used soon after the Reformation of 1560. Lord Semple himself was killed in 1513 at the Battle of Flodden and Colliegate Church was extended to accommodate his remains in a highly ornate monumental tomb in the east wing of the church and the tomb is still clearly visible today. Farther on in the walk we passed the octagonal Tower (or folly) high atop Kenmure Hill Knoll, situated at the northern end of Castle Semple Loch and built around 1760 by Col. William MacDowell who had taken ownership of Castle Semple in 1727.  He was also responsible for the building of Castle Semple House  in 1735 which was destroyed by fire in 1935. The object of the Tower to this day is still unclear but it is thought to have been a lookout point for the stalking of White Deer that were kept on the estate at that time. Leaving Kenmure Hill behind we duly arrived at Kilbarchan Station where a short break was taken before our return to Castle Semple Visitor Centre. About 1 mile from the centre we were caught in some very heavy rain, which once again put a disappointing end to this Historically and interesting  walk at  Castle Semple Loch.

Joe Roche.