Fereneze Braes
| Fereneze Braes | |
|---|---|
 Cairn west of Fereneze Golf Club | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Killoch Hill |
| Elevation | 223 m (732 ft) |
| Parent peak | Neilston Pad |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 7.5 km (4.7 mi) |
| Geography | |
Country | Scotland |
Town | Neilston, Barrhead |
| Climbing | |
| Access | Neilston, Barrhead, Uplawmoor |
The Fereneze Braes are a range of hills in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, just southwest of the city of Glasgow. The braes lie to the west of the town of Barrhead and the north of neighbouring Neilston, stretching south-west toward Uplawmoor. The braes are contiguous with the Gleniffer Braes to the north, and the two meet where Barrhead meets Paisley. Rising to more than 220 m (720 ft) in elevation, the hills are prominently visible from much of Glasgow and East Renfrewshire.
Etymology
The name Fereneze has multiple purported etymologies. One proposed explanation for the name is that it comes from "fir ness", the 'upland of firs'.[1] Another, more recent, explanation is that Fereneze is a corruption of "fermison", a rendering of the Old French "fermeyson", the time of the year for hunting stags. Documents from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries detail landowner Walter I having granted the monks of Paisley a tenth of his venison alongside all of the skins of the hinds he obtained 'in fermison', with 'fermison' being misinterpreted as a place name, eventually becoming Ferrenes and the modern Fereneze.[2]
Area
The view from the top of the braes extends across not only Barrhead and Neilston but all of Glasgow and much of its surroundings. To the south, the Neilston Pad and Eaglesham Moor are visible, as well as further hills south-west entering Ayrshire. Northward, the Campsie Fells are visible and Cathkin Braes are visible in the east. Roads and housing hug the bottom of the hills in Barrhead, the expansion of which has been pursued multiple times, however the council and community campaigners (with the Save Fereneze campaign) have both worked to prevent this.[3]
Wildlife
Several plants considered to be rare in the area have been recorded in Killoch Glen, although the details of which are awaited by a more comprehensive survey.[4]
History
Parts of the hills are on occasion subject to wildfires; a large fire took place in a section of open grassland near Barrhead in 2019.[5] Additionally, the green of the golf club is often targeted by intentional arson attacks, there having been 2 such incidents within a week in 2017.[6][7][8]
Recreation
Killoch Glen and the Killoch Water, a popular walking destination, run through the hills, and the Harelaw Reservoir, a popular fishing site owned by Scottish Water,[9] is located on the plateau at their top. The braes are part of an established walking network, including a 5 mile walk between them and Barrhead[10] and paths connecting them north to the Gleniffer Braes. An 18 hole golf course, Fereneze Golf Club, is located across much of the eastern end of the braes.
See also
References
- ↑ BROWN, ROBERT. THE HISTORY OF PAISLEY, FROM THE ROMAN PERIOD DOWN TO 1884 (PDF). Paisley: J. & J. COOK, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS. p. 19. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Barrow, G. W. S. (1973). The Kingdom of the Scots: Government, Church and Society from the Eleventh to the Fourteenth Century. University of Michigan: Edward Arnold. p. 315 & 316. ISBN 9780713156829. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "People power saves Barrhead greenbelt". Barrhead News. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ 2019 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT EAST RENFREWSHIRE COUNCIL (PDF) (Report). East Renfrewshire Council. 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Smith, Pippa (17 September 2019). "Dramatic images show blaze near Fereneze Golf Club". Barrhead News. Retrieved 23 July 2026./
- ↑ Silvester, Norman (24 March 2022). "Fereneze Golf Club: Firebugs torch part of Barrhead course". Barrhead News. Retrieved 23 July 2026./
- ↑ McPherson, Gillian (13 May 2021). "Barrhead: Police plea after Fereneze Golf Club fires". Barrhead News. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Reilly, Jonathon (12 May 2017). "Ferenze Golf Club in Barrhead set on fire by vandals for second time in four days". Barrhead News. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ "Harelaw Reservoir". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
- ↑ Barrhead South Transportation Accessibility Appraisal STAG Appraisal Report (PDF) (Report). November 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
External links
Media related to Fereneze Braes at Wikimedia Commons- Explore Here - Fereneze Braes – Glasgow City Council