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Colzium House from the air in spring, its grey stone front among lawns, conifers and woods at the east end of Kilsyth.
Stirlingshire

Colzium-Lennox Estate

A free country park at the east end of Kilsyth, with a walled garden, an ice house of about 1680, a fifteenth-century tower house and one of the oldest curling ponds in the world.

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Welcome

Colzium-Lennox Estate is Kilsyth's own country park, a lovely spread of lawns, woods and history at the east end of the town, and it's free to wander all year.

The Victorian front of Colzium House looks out over the grounds, and beside it the walled garden is full of shrubs and trees, gorgeous in spring and again when the leaves turn. A short stroll away is an ice house from around 1680, restored so you can look inside, and the excavated remains of a fifteenth-century tower house. The curling pond is said to be one of the oldest in the world, and Kilsyth's curling club, founded in 1716, is the oldest known anywhere. A path climbs Colzium Glen to Grannie's Mutch, a little domed stone shelter built as a resting place at the top. There's an adventure playground for children, a visitor centre with a café by the walled garden, and free parking, so it's an easy morning out.

A short drive awayThe Swan, BantonA village pub and restaurant at the crossroads in Banton, by Kilsyth, bought by its village in 2017 as the first community-owned pub in Scotland.5 min by roadSee itThe bar at the Swan, a silver swan on a slate wall behind the taps, with green velvet stools in front.
Before you go

The grounds are open all year and free.

The visitor centre by the walled garden, in the old Clock Theatre, has a café and opens every day from 10.30am to 3pm. Colzium House and its museum open by appointment and on open days.

Where
Stirling Road (the A803), at the east end of Kilsyth, G65 0PY.
Getting in
By the signposted stone gateway off Stirling Road, at the 30mph limit.
Open
The grounds all year; the visitor centre and café every day, 10.30am to 3pm.
Price
Free.
Parking
Free, with disabled spaces.
Dogs
Welcome in the grounds.
Access
Disabled access to the house and the visitor centre, the museums service says, with an accessible toilet; some of the grounds are steep.
The museum
One room on the second floor of Colzium House, in its old chapel, opened by appointment through the museums service, 01698 403110.

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Where it is

At the east end of Kilsyth, off Stirling Road (the A803), with Banton Loch and the village of Banton beyond it to the east, G65 0PY.

Close byBanton, Cumbernauld, Falkirk and Stirling.
  1. Bags of coffee beside a lightbox sign reading #TheBuffetBox Cafe.The Buffet BoxA small café in Cumbernauld with big breakfasts, burgers and speciality coffee, from owners with a background in food.5 miles 11 min by road
  2. Fried eggs on smashed avocado toast with tomatoes on a blue plate.The Fork & MustardA family-run café on Glebe Street in Falkirk, making its comfort food, cakes and baking in its own kitchen.12 miles 21 min by road
  3. The Falkirk WheelThe Falkirk WheelThe world's only rotating boat lift, lifting boats 35 metres between the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal.12 miles 24 min by road
  4. A tall white flagpole rises from a grass mound encircled by a low stone wall, bare trees lining the path beside it.BannockburnThe field where Robert the Bruce won in 1314, with his bronze statue, the rotunda and a view to Stirling Castle; grounds open daily.12 miles 19 min by road
  5. The KelpiesThe KelpiesAndy Scott's two 30-metre steel horse heads beside the canal at Falkirk, the largest equine sculptures in the world.14 miles 28 min by road
  6. Stirling CastleStirling CastleThe great royal castle on its crag above Stirling, where Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned, with the Great Hall and the Royal Palace.17 miles 25 min by road
Directions
The bar at the Swan, a silver swan on a slate wall behind the taps, with green velvet stools in front.BarsThe Swan, Banton2.2 miles
Carron Valley Reservoir still and blue under a clear sky, with dark forest along the far shore and Meikle Bin rising behind.AttractionsCarron Valley Reservoir7.2 miles
A long wooden footbridge on trestles crossing the River Carron, the water running fast over boulders below.WalksCarron Glen7.3 miles
An Inside the Fort information board at Rough Castle, a drawing of the Roman fort above the grass.AttractionsRough Castle Roman Fort9.0 miles
A curtain of water falling from a rock overhang in Campsie Glen, seen from the hollow behind it, with the wooded glen beyond.AttractionsCampsie Glen9.6 miles
The Endrick Water pouring over mossy rock steps at the top of the Loup of Fintry, with the green valley and hills stretching away beyond.AttractionsLoup of Fintry9.8 miles
AttractionsRosebank Distillery11 miles
The ruined drystone walls of Tappoch Broch on its heathery hilltop in the Tor Wood, Scots pines round it and farmland and hills far off under a blue sky.AttractionsTappoch Broch11 miles
CafeThe Milk Barn13 miles

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