B821

Near Blanefield

As related below, the B821 in south Stirlingshire is but a shadow of its former self; indeed what survives wasn't even originally classified in 1922.

Today's route starts on the A81 at Blanefield, the north western end of Strathblane, and heads west along Station Road. The railway is long gone, although its former route is still visible on the far side of the Blane Water. After leaving the village, the road climbs through fields, and then turns sharply left at Ardoch and, shortly afterwards, back to the right. This is the steepest part of the climb. With the gradient easing, the road becomes largely tree-lined and is crossed near Carbeth Loch by the West Highland Way. The final few hundred metres are downhill, to the junction with the A809 just to the north of the former Carbeth Inn.

History

In 1922 the road lay entirely to the east of its current route. It followed what is now the A891, running east from Strathblane village via Milton of Campsie and Lennoxtown to the A803 near Auchenreoch, loosely following the Strathkelvin Railway Branch Line. However, sometime before 1932 this road was upgraded and became the A891 throughout. It is not currently known whether the B821 had already been extended to Carbeth (via a short multiplex with the A81) or whether the number was quickly reallocated. Either way, the B821 is now just the short route we have today.

The 1922 MOT Road List defines this route as: Junction with A803 near Antermony Loch - Lennoxtown - Strathblane