IT’S safe to say that not much happens in Newton Mearns. It used to be one of my favourite things to complain about. And yet in the past few years I’ve grown to appreciate the still and the quiet of my home town.

One of the things I’ve come to learn is that Newton Mearns is a whole lot bigger than it might feel at first.

When the pandemic hit, it felt like everything I had once held as a certainty was thrown to the wind. I was stuck at home with nothing to do but plan for the unpredictable future and mull over my thoughts.

After a month of being cooped up, I threw on my coat and left for a long walk round my local area. And after a few days of going about and walking around the familiar streets I had played on as a kid, I chose to stray from my old route and explore the fields and green spaces that had only played as a backdrop in my day-to-day activities.

Taking a walk down the backroads is the perfect way to escape.

Once you’re a few metres along, the sound of the traffic and everyday life falls away. The Old Drove Road became a favourite route that I would take on my daily wandering.

It’s nice to be able to walk alongside the farmers’ fields and get close to the sheep and cows. It’s a 45-minute walk if you choose to challenge yourself and do the whole thing.

So long as you’re respectful, avoid spooking the animals, don’t drop litter and keep dogs on a leash, farmers are happy to let you keep on walking through the back roads and paths that spread out at the back of the town.

If you’re not so keen on getting lost on the back roads, there are plenty of places to visit in the town itself. The town has a few parks dotted around but Rouken Glen is the most popular in the area.

Rouken Glen was named the best park in the UK in 2016. There’s plenty to do, including a walled garden, nature trails, play park, duck pond, skatepark and cafe – and a personal favourite of mine is the waterfall. You could easily spend a day there, and many do.

And finally, if you’re not 100% keen on going for a walk but still want to get outdoors, the Mearns Castle Golf Academy allows visitors to have a round of golf. The nine-hole course is one of the more challenging courses in the area, and a great chance to practice your game your surrounded by some fantastic scenery. It’s open to the general public seven days a week and welcomes all level of golfers.

Newton Mearns is easily accessible if you’re wanting to travel either by car or by public transport. Just seven miles southwest of Glasgow, you come off the M77 at junction 5 and you’re there. Or you can take either the First Bus 38 or the Stagecoach 4 to get you to the heart of the small town.

So no matter what you’re looking for when looking for somewhere to visit, get outside and relax Newton Mearns has plenty to offer.