Photos & description by a member of our group, Early May.

This is the area of the wood to the north of the ponds, across the road behind the Round House, and accessed by the footbridge over the Balloch Burn.

Starting at the Curling Ponds end of the trail the path is fully passable ( there is one boggy section as seen here which has long been that way – it will dry out over summer! ) right up to the split, where one path takes a more northerly route and hugs the wall and the other takes a more southerly route through the wood, the path which formerly had wooden decking in a few small sections.

Click a photo to see larger image.

The northerly path is mostly passable through to the gate at the Glenquicken end, however there are points the real path is lost and one has to follow right up to the wall where a new path is slowly being created by walkers/animals diverting around fallen trees and brash.
Along this path there a couple of windblown trees that can be skirted around.

The point the paths split off.

There is also one very dangerous looking windblown tree hanging over the path at present.

There is an awful lot of brash on the path as you get closer to the Glenquicken gate on this path making it very hard to walk on.

From the gate at Glenquicken end, I attempted to take the southerly path back towards the Curling Pond but there are a huge amount of big trees down on this path making it impassable at present.

There are sections of the path that are clear but it is not possible to use without very strenuous climbing over trees – not recommended!

We gathered from earlier discussions with FLS, that this southerly path was not a Core Path and FLS claim it was not their responsibility to maintain it.

This path used to include sections of board walk, which became dilapidated and have been removed.

Footnote:
The Initiating Group are having ongoing discussions with FLS about the detailed management and re-planting of this northern area of Balloch Wood, beyond the ponds, which has not suffered such extensive felling, as most of the lower part of the area is mixed broadleaf woodland.
The Initiating Group hope to agree with FLS on co-operative replanting of the felled upper section, with input from all ages of the community.
We also hope to involve some research contacts from Glasgow University regarding any special planting for long-term ecological restoration and habitat study, community engagement, field research etc.