Johnstone offers an unusual mix of woodland scenery, distinctive church architecture and reminders of its textile and industrial history. When planning your trip, you can focus on nature and walking routes, architectural history or the town’s cultural collections. Bluebell Wood, Johnstone Castle and the Johnstone History Museum represent very different sides of the town.
Bluebell Wood and walking routes
Bluebell Wood includes the tranquil Craigbog Burn and rock outcrops. The woodland was once part of the grounds of Johnstone Castle. Here, the landscape and the castle’s history meet, while the woodland retains its own natural character. The “Wandering the Bluebell Woods” walk starts at Johnstone railway station. If you plan to do it, check the route details locally before your trip.
There is also a specific connection for cyclists: National Cycle Network Route 7 links Lochwinnoch, Johnstone and Paisley in Renfrewshire with Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Route conditions can change, so check the details before setting off. Another historic connection with cycling is the shelter “The Rest and Be Thankful”. It is thought to have been built in the late 19th century and has served as a starting point for training rides by the Johnstone Wheelers since the club was founded in 1928.
The castle and church architecture
Johnstone Castle has a longer history than its name might suggest: the 16th-century tower house, originally called Easter Cochrane, was bought by George Houstoun in 1733 and renamed Johnstone Castle. The three-storey tower is built of rubble stone and has crow-stepped gables. These details give the building a distinctive architectural character, while its history also reaches back to its original name.
The churches also add to the picture of Johnstone’s architectural history. St Margaret’s Church opened on Boxing Day 1852. Johnstone High Parish Church is octagonal, has a slender spire and was built between 1792 and 1794. The two churches therefore differ in both their form and their recorded dates.
Explore textile and town history
At the Johnstone History Museum, you will find artefacts relating to local industrial and social history, as well as memorabilia. The exhibitions trace the town’s development from its founding through the rise and decline of the textile industry and the various engineering businesses that followed. If you are particularly interested in how Johnstone’s economy changed, this historical overview offers a fitting focus.
Johnstone Textile Space takes a different approach: it offers a year-round programme of exhibitions, events, films, literature, workshops, festivals and performances. While the museum foregrounds the town’s history and collections, Textile Space focuses on a varied cultural programme. This lets you give different weight to your interests in industrial history and culture.
A stay shaped around your interests
For a focus on scenery and getting active, Bluebell Wood, the named walking route and the cycling connection offer specific options. Those interested in architecture can explore the tower house and the two churches through their different forms and historical dates. Anyone especially interested in textile history can explore it through both the museum and Textile Space’s programme.
Johnstone’s transport history also has a historic connection: the first completed section of the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal reached Thorn Brae in Johnstone and was completed in 1811. Along with the churches, the tower house and the stories of industry, this adds another perspective on the town’s development across several themes.
Discover more destinations: Kilbarchan, Elderslie, Lochwinnoch, Bishopton, Erskine, Bridge Of Weir, Paisley, Uplawmoor.
For the wider travel guide: Renfrewshire.
