20 Attractions to Explore Near Castle Semple

Castle Semple Collegiate Church is located in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is situated near the eastern end of Castle Semple Loch, within Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, and 2 miles west of Howwood on the B787, then on to the B776. The late Gothic church is under the protection of Historic Environment Scotland as a Scheduled monument.

Castle Semple Loch is a 1.5-mile-long inland freshwater loch at Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Originally part of an estate of the same name, it is now administered by Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park as a watersports centre. An RSPB bird sanctuary is located on the loch's southern shore. The ruins of the early mediaeval Peel Tower stand on the southern shore of the loch at Air Meadow, inaccessible except by boat.

Lochwinnoch is the perfect place to watch whooper swans. wigeon and a wide varity of ducks during winter months. In spring you wont want to muss the elaborate displays of the great crested grebes. The reserve has an outdoor natural play area, an accessible trail and runs events suitable for the whole family as well as daily drop-in kids activities, pond dipping and bug hunting.

Barr Castle is located near the village of Lochwinnoch. The castle was a four storey tower house, with the main hall was on the first floor, accessed via a turnpike stair. The chambers were in the upper floors. The castle is now in ruins, and the gable ends of the castle have collapsed. There is little remaining of the courtyard.

Weaver’s Cottage vividly re-creates the living and working conditions of a typical handloom weaver. With low ceiling beams and period furniture, it helps give an insight into life before the Industrial Revolution. The property has an attractive garden, where traditional dye plants including woad and madder are grown, along with a wide range of cottage garden plants.

Thomas Shanks Park is named after a leading industrialist of the nineteenth century who owned a company of heavy machine toolmakers, Thomas Shanks and Company. The park contains play areas, a skateboard ramp and two grass football pitches.

Windy Hill is a 316 metres high hill in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is one of the TuMPs of the Lowlands. The hill is located on the eastern border of the River Calder catchment area and is part of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. Windy Hill is also the name of the first important house designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, which is located in Kilmacolm at some miles from the hill.

A long, shallow freshwater loch with aspen growing in the shallow waters and a hillside cloaked in mature sycamore and ash woodland. The Lugton Water has its source from the southern end of loch, running 14 miles before reaching its confluence with the River Garnock near Kilwinning. The loch is now owned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) and is managed as a nature reserve.

Glengarnock Castle is an example of a keep with courtyard attached, of the period 1400-1542, and with various later buildings in the courtyard. The Barony of Glengarnock is one of three feudal baronies which together form the parish of Kilbirnie in the district of Cunningham which lies in north Ayrshire. The River Garnock flows through the village of the same name 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the south, but the name Glen Garnock applies more specifically to the ravine at Glengarnock Castle.

Kilbirnie Loch, is a freshwater Loch situated in the floodplain between Kilbirnie, Glengarnock and Beith, North Ayrshire, Scotland. It runs south-west to north-east for almost 2 km, is about 0.5 km wide for the most part and has an area of roughly 3 km2. It has a general depth of around 5.2 metres to a maximum of around 11 metres. The loch is fed mainly by the Maich Water, which rises in the Kilbirnie Hills near Misty Law, and is drained by the Dubbs Water that runs past the Barr Loch into Cast

Gleniffer Braes is an upland park of moorland with woods and hill farming areas. Attractions include the wildlife and waymarked trails. The Glen Nature Trail and Guided Walks programme introduces visitors to the interesting wildlife. The area is situated on the edge of the Clyde plateau lavas, an interesting feature is Gleniffer gorge situated along the Tannahill walkway. It reaches some 50 feet deep in places and is eroded by the Gleniffer burn.

This is an artificial loch in Kilmacolmhaving been created by a local angling club in the early 20th century. It is a lovely place for a peaceful walk.The Loch and the area around it is used for recreational activities and events in the village.

Duchal Castle was an extensive 13th century fortified site. The castle is naturally well defended on a piece of ground cut off steeply on the N and S by the confluence of the Green Water and the Blackwater burn. The castle stands at the bottom of the valley of the River Gryfe on a peninsula created by the Blacketty and Green Waters which have their confluence beyond the two deep gorges.

Hill of Stake is a hill on the boundary between North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire, Scotland. The hill is 522 metres high and is the highest point of the relatively low-lying county of Renfrewshire and indeed the entire Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park of which it is a part, having a considerable Topographic isolation.

Coats Observatory is Scotland's oldest public observatory. It is currently closed for refurbishment as part of a 4-year long £42m transformation of the observatory and museum buildings. Located in Oakshaw Street West, Paisley, Renfrewshire, the observatory has been operational since 1 October 1883 and continues to function to this day, offering visitors the opportunity to view the night sky through the powerful telescopes housed within the building. The observatory is currently closed for redeve

It is a museum and public art gallery located in the town of Paisley and is run by Renfrewshire Council. It houses one of the largest municipal art collections in Scotland, including over 800 paintings. The Museum holds the collections of Renfrewshire Council and the Paisley Art Institute Collection, held by Paisley Museum and Art Galleries. The painting collections consist of over 800 works.

Neilston Pad is a mountain summit in the Ayr and Sanquhar to the River Clyde region in the county of East Renfrewshire, Scotland. Its highest point is 261 metres and is characterised by a relatively flat summit plateau surrounded by steep slopes and distinctive forestry on its eastern side. Its odd shape and prominence make it easily identifiable and visible from many areas in Glasgow.The area is managed by Elderslie Estates.

The Sma’ Shot Cottages are a major tourist attraction of historical significance in the Renfrewshire area, offering a unique insight into two distinct periods of Paisley’s textile history. On crossing the yard, you will discover the house of a foreman of a nearby mill in the mid-19th century. Within this house, visitors can experience what family life was like within the kitchen/living area, bedroom, children’s room and parlour – each room is decorated to represent various time periods from the

Fountain Gardens is Paisley’s oldest public park. It consists of a grand geometric layout with broad walkways, all of which lead to the Grand Fountain – an ornate cast-iron fountain at the centre of the park which contains statues of herons, dolphins and walruses. The A listed fountain consists of dolphins, herons, cherubs and walruses. George Smith and Company of the Sun Foundry in Glasgow constructed the fountain. Stained-glass artist and designer Daniel Cottier was enlisted to paint and colou

Formakin House, known locally as the Monkey House, was built in the early twentieth century by John Augustus Holms. The house is protected as a category A listed building, and other structures including the arched entrance gateway and bothy are category B listed. The grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.