Did I Accidentally Find Scotland’s Tree of the Year?

Sometimes the best discoveries aren’t planned.

I wasn’t out searching for hidden landmarks or remarkable trees that day. In fact, I was doing something much more practical. The following day I was leading a group walk in the Kilpatrick Hills, and I wanted to make sure the route was suitable for everyone attending.

The plan was simple: walk the paths, check their condition, assess any muddy sections and make sure the route would be enjoyable for the whole group.

What I didn’t expect was to stumble upon one of my favourite trees in the entire Kilpatrick Hills.

As I followed a quieter section of the hillside, this small lone hawthorn tree appeared ahead of me. At first it was simply another feature in the landscape, but the closer I got, the more it stood out.

Standing there on the hillside, overlooking Glasgow and the winding River Clyde, it seemed perfectly placed. Almost as if it had chosen the spot itself.

The view from beneath its branches stretches for miles. To the south lies Glasgow. Beyond that, the Clyde winds through the landscape towards the west. The city spreads out below while the Kilpatrick Hills rise behind. It’s the sort of location photographers dream about finding.

Not long before this walk, I had read an article about the Tree of the Year competition. Looking at this tree, I couldn’t help but think that if it were entered, it would have every chance of making the shortlist.

After all, what more could you ask for?

A tree standing alone on a hillside.

A panoramic view across Glasgow.

A connection to the landscape that surrounds it.

And perhaps most fittingly of all, a tree that resembles the very symbol found within Glasgow’s own history and identity.

What I love most is that it looks spectacular throughout the year.

In spring and summer, its leaves catch the sunlight against the backdrop of the Clyde Valley.

In autumn, it glows with warm colour.

And in winter, when the branches stand bare against the evening sky and the city lights begin to appear below, it somehow becomes even more striking.

Many trees rely on their leaves to create beauty.

This one doesn’t.

Its character is written into the shape of its branches and the place it calls home.

Perhaps that’s why it captured my attention so quickly.

The funny thing is, if I hadn’t been checking a walking route for a group, I may never have found it at all.

That’s one of the things I love most about the Kilpatrick Hills. No matter how many times you visit, they still find ways to surprise you.

New views appear.

New paths emerge.

And occasionally, you discover a tree that makes you stop in your tracks.

So I’ll leave the final decision to you.

Could this little hawthorn be a future Tree of the Year?

It’s certainly got my vote.

What do you think?