Kilsyth - Attractions and Events

Attractions and Events

Kilsyth has many of the elements associated with a Scottish market town, including a pedestrianised Main Street with a wide range of local and specialist independent shops, attractive parks and gardens at Burngreen and Colzium complete with bandstands, welcoming hostelries such as the Coachman Hotel, the Boathouse and the Scarecrow pub, and a fair choice of local restaurants - European, Indian, Chinese and fish 'n' chips. . The nearby villages of Croy, Banton, Queenzieburn, and Twechar are within easy walking distance from Kilsyth. The town is readily accessible and ideally located for a day trip, family holiday, or as a base for a walking, golf, fishing or touring holiday, by car, canal boat, horse or bike. Townhead reservoir, known locally as Banton Loch, is the site of the Battle of Kilsyth and is the main reservoir for the Fort and Clyde Canal. A thriving marina has been developed at Auchinstarry close to the climbing wall and lakes at the old quarry.

The town is overlooked by Kilsyth Lennox Golf Club with a panoramic view across the Central Belt of Scotland from the River Clyde in the west to the River Forth in the east. The original nine hole course was founded in 1899, in the Balmalloch area of the town, but moved in 1905 to the present position North East of the town. The club completed a new clubhouse in 1995 after a fire, and things continued to improve as time went on. Between 1997 and 2002, the majority of the greens and tees were redesigned by Rocky Roquemore, the renowned American Golf Course architect who has built courses all over the world. The club hosts a Festival of Golf in the first week in July.

Kilsyth has a public swimming pool, open seven days a week, a public library, a small hospital and health centre, and a range of recreational facilities such as tennis courts and bowling clubs. It is also an accredited Walkers are Welcome town.

Nearby attractions include the Falkirk Wheel, a huge boat lift that connects the Union and Forth & Clyde Canal networks, and the Antonine Wall – marking the northern edge of the Roman Empire. Kilsyth is about 40 minutes from Glasgow, Falkirk, Stirling and Edinburgh by car, bus (new express link in 2011) or train from nearby Croy station.

Kilsyth has in the past held an international carnival in mid-August – in 2007 this was held on Sunday August 12 and headlined the Peatbog Faeries and David Sneddon. It is held in the grounds of the wooded Colzium estate nearby. Following a two year break, the carnival was relaunched in mid-August 2010 as a multi-day music, comedy and dance festival under the banner of the BIG KIC headlining Salsa Celtica, Dougie MacLean and Fred MacAulay.

Civic Week festivities are held in June each year, with the traditional crowning of the Civic Queen. The festival features a variety of cultural and sports activities. A Christmas Festival is held annually supported by The Rotary Club of Kilsyth (meets 6.30 Thursday in The Coachman Hotel).

The town is well represented on the football front, being the home of Kilsyth Rangers F.C. who are the local junior team, and there are three amateur teams - Kilsyth Church of God, Kilsyth Community Church & Kilsyth Amateurs. There is also the Golden Gloves Boxing Club and many other organisations such as Boys Brigade, Scouts, guides, Cheerleaders, gymnastics, swimming and sub aqua clubs, tae kwan do, Rotaract, athletics, walking, senior citizens, blind and disabled, etc.

Kilsyth has three primary schools: Kilsyth Primary and Balmalloch Primary and St Patrick's Primary School (Roman Catholic). Children from each school can progress to Kilsyth Academy while children from St Patrick's primary generally advance to St.Maurice's High located in nearby Cumbernauld. Kilsyth Academy is situated on Corrie Road and hosts a range of functions throughout the year.