This gem of a walk, with great panoramic views, starts in Strathaven Park and heads south through the town towards Sandford. Leaving the B7086, the route then cuts across country to a footbridge over the Avon Water. There is then a short steady climb up to the falls, following the course of the Kype Water.

After taking in the falls, the path continues its climb to the other side of the valley, before joining a small road leading into Sandford. Following the gently rising road out of Sandford, the route then heads across country to join an access road back to the Avon Water and the footbridge. This walk provides, on a clear day, glorious views over the surrounding countryside.

Getting there from Glasgow: 28 miles / 38 minutes

From Cresswell Street take your favourite route onto the M8 (westward), cross the Kingston Bridge and exit at Junction 20 to join the M74 (southwards). Exit the M74 at Junction 8 and take the A71 (westwards) to Strathaven. Park at the northern carpark of Strathaven Park (off George Allan Place) in Strathaven – OS Reference NS 697 450. There are toilets available in John Hastie Park.

The Walk: Spectacle E’e Falls (6.5 miles/10km)

From the car park, cross Strathaven Park (which, according to maps, comprises Strathaven Park, George Allan Park and John Hastie Park). This area is collectively known as Strathaven park. Pass the boating pond and bowling green and exit left onto Lethame Road. At the traffic lights, cross straight over into Common Green and then left into Bridge Street. Turn right over the old bridge, crossing the Powmillon Burn, and cross Kirk Street into Todshill Street. Continue into Avon View and then turn right into Newton Road. Continue through an area of housing and then onto a country road. At the fork in the road go left on a single-track road and follow this until it meets the B7086. Cross the B7086 and go uphill until a finger post on the right, indicates a route to the Spectacle E’e Falls. Continue past this until a gravel track leads off to the right. Follow this track and at the junction turn right. Continue slightly downhill until a small path leads off to the right. Follow this until it meets a slighter larger path. Turn left and go down hill to the footbridge over the Avon Water.

Cross the footbridge and turn right to follow a narrow, uneven path along the side of the Kype Water. This rising path passes the Falls (a minor diversion from the main path). Take time to enjoy the views of the falls before rejoining the main path. Continue the climb to the top of the gorge looking out for the Kype Water below. At the top of the climb, cross a field and exit it through a gate/style. Turn right into Waterside Street, passing the old mill, and continue into Sandford. At the junction turn left into Sandford Road and follow the road as it gently climbs. At a finger post on the left (Waukmill), go through the gate and follow a broad path by a copse of trees. At the bottom of the copse cross a style and turn left into a narrow lane/path which, after a short distance, exits onto the bend of a small road. Turn right and gently descend to the Avon Water. The road passes around the front of a large bungalow, complete with ducks and duck pond. Continue past the garage and through the gate to join a small path that tracks the course of the river on the east side. At the footbridge, which was crossed on the way out, cross the river again but this time, turn right to follow the course of the river on the west bank. After a short distance this path curves left and ascends a short hill to join the farm track used on the outward journey. At the B7086, turn right and follow this road back into Strathaven. Immediately before Kirk Street turn right to descend wooden steps. Note the remains of Strathaven Castle high above. The walkway exits onto a small road which joins Stonehouse Road. Cross the road, and enter Bridge Street before turning right into Waterside Street. At the green, cut left (noting The Waterside), cross a grassy area, and then turn right onto the A723. Follow this road until Holm Street and turn left to re-enter Strathaven Park. Head north, past the Strathaven Miniature Railway, to end the walk at the car park.

Starting at the Strathclyde Country Park this walk follows the course of the Clyde to the RSPB Baron’s Haugh Nature Reserve near Motherwell. After passing the Reserve, with the river on the right, the planned route enters the Dalzell Estate. There are many interesting things to see, and time will allow for views of Dalzell House (privately owned), the Japanese Garden, and Sow Bridge.Passing the RSPB Reserve again, this time on the landward side, the route rejoins the Clyde Walkway for the return trip.

Starting Point for the Walk:

Watersports Centre car park at Strathclyde Country Park – OS Reference NS 731 565.  Café and toilets are available in the Centre.

Getting there: 16 miles / 23 minutes

Take your favourite route out of Glasgow onto the M74 (South).  Exit M74 at Junction 6 onto A723 (Motherwell / Wishaw) and keep to left-hand lane until traffic lights.  Turn left into Strathclyde Country Park and take the first turning on the left towards the Watersports Centre.  Continue just past the Centre and turn right into the Watersports Centre car park.

The Walk:  Clyde Valley and Dalzell Estate (6 miles/10km)

The walk starts from the Watersports Centre car park, passes the Centre and continues through another car park which was passed on the way towards the Centre.  Exit this small car park and at a fork in the path bear right and continue under the road bridge to join the Clyde Walkway going south.  The path deviates briefly into a housing estate before returning towards the river via a signed route through woodland.  A cemetery lies to the left after which the path widens before going under an impressive railway viaduct.

From the railway viaduct, continue onward, and where the path splits, bear right.  Following this path, go through a metal gate before reaching a flood prevention scheme.  Descend the bank, cross a flat area, and ascend the bank on the far side.  The Barons Haugh Nature Reserve lies to the left.  Passing the Centenary Bird Hide, through another metal gate, and then passed another bird hide, the path descends to a bench facing the River Clyde.  At the Information Board turn left heading inland beside the Dalzell Burn until a sign for the Dalzell Estate.  Turn left, cross the burn, and then turn immediately right.  At the next fork, turn left and ascend some steps.  Keep the railings to the right and continue until a broad path.  At this point, turn left and follow the path until two sculpted wooden benches.

Continue on this path until it reaches a road.  Look to the right for views of Dalzell House, but turn left and pass a Japanese garden to the right.  Pause to look around.  Next, cross the Sow Bridge and turn right following the path until the top end of a horse paddock.  Turn left and follow a path through the woods, taking a left fork when the path splits.  On reaching a road, cross it and take the path opposite.  At this point there is a car park to the right.

Follow this path, with fields to the right and paths leading off to bird hides on your left.  Barons Haugh Nature Reserve is again on the left.  On the termination of a fence on the left, take the path leading off to the left.  Continue until a metal gate on the left (this is one of the metal gates passed on the outward part of the walk).  Turn right, and retrace the route back to the starting point of the walk.

This rewarding walk follows the Tannahill Walkway over Gleniffer Braes. The walk goes through the rugged upland Gleniffer Braes Country Park in the county of Renfrewshire. The walk provides one of the best viewpoints across Glasgow and the Clyde Valley. With a distance of approximately 6 miles there will be plenty of time to take in the view.

Starting Point for the Walk:

Robertson Park Car Park PA2 8UQ, located just off Gleniffer Road (B775) in Paisley – OS Reference NS 455 606.

NOTE: There are no toilet facilities at the car park.

Getting there: 15 miles/ 30 minutes

Take your usual route onto the M8 westbound (Greenock).  Exit M8 at Junction 27 onto A741 (Paisley).  At major crossroads near Lidl continue ahead onto A726 (East Kilbride) and keep left.  Go under the railway bridge and bear left and follow the ring road around Paisley.  At the Mill Street junction, keep to centre lanes and head across the junction onto the A761.  At Gordon Street bear left onto B774 (Causeyside Street).  Continue until Neilston Road and then bear right into Calside and continue southwards.  The road changes name to Park Road.  At the mini roundabout turn right into Stanley Road (B775).  It later becomes Gleniffer Road.  Continue on and eventually turn left into Robertson Car Park.  It is indicated by a small white sign on the right-hand side of the road.

The Walk:  Tannahill Walkway and Gleniffer Braes (6 miles/10 km)

Starting at Robertson Park Car Park (with excellent panoramic views of Paisley and the surrounding area) exit the car park via a gate above the play park.  Head diagonally across grassland to pick up a rough track which soon meets the Tannahill Walkway (named after Paisley weaver, poet and song writer Robert Tannahill – born in 1874).  At the end of the track in Robertson Park exit via the metal gate.  Cross Sergeant Law Road and enter Gleniffer Braes.  Take the high track across open ground on the right-hand side (cattle may be grazing nearby) and follow near to the line of the fence and trees which mark the boundary with Paisley Golf Club.  Cross open ground, heading towards the Club House flagpole, to the golf club car park.  Exit the car park via the gate into a grass area.  Maintain this course to pass through a copse of trees and pick up a very old (and potentially muddy) road.  Just off to the east side there is a standing stone.  Follow the track downhill to access a better road and follow this briefly before it bends away at the edge of woodland.  Enter the woods at the corner to join a trail heading downhill to the right.  Follow this path, crossing a small burn with a timber plank bridge, and continue downhill.  There is a Waterfall signpost (left) down steps to the Craigie Linn waterfall which is a worthwhile short diversion.  Continue along the main path and descend stone steps and walk down the wide path for about 500 yards until reaching a couple of benches.

Next continue back up the path before taking a right fork along the lower path.  Pass a small reservoir and then rejoin the outward path, back up the steps, past the waterfall sign, and then cross back over the burn.  At the signed Robertson Car Park, take the right-hand path, passing felled trees, and emerge at a metal gate at the road next to a small car park.  Follow the signs for Tannahill Walkway/Robertson Car Park.  Exit the small car park through a metal gate.  The path continues to rise giving open views over Paisley, Glasgow Airport and Greater Glasgow beyond. Continue to the left to avoid gorse and muddy areas until a further Tannahill Walkway sign shows the way over a small wooden pedestrian bridge (at Gleniffer Gorge).  Cross the bridge and follow the path downward to the right until Sergeant Law Road.  Cross the road and follow the path back to the starting point.

Anyone who is familiar with the City of Glasgow will know that there are a number of murals which have been added to buildings over the past years. Some have remained unchanged from year to year, and others have periodically changed. This walk is a tour round Glasgow city streets looking at some of its fantastic array of street murals.

Stage 1

The walk starts on West George Street and then continues through George Square into George Street. There are several murals on the walls of Strathclyde University. The first gable wall showing a lecture and the street frontage incorporating the University’s most celebrated people. Further down the road the ‘Wonderwall’ continues with murals including ‘Dansken Equatorial Telescope’. At the end of the block, the final gable depicts the ‘Land Ship’ which was a mock-up navigation bridge once used to teach at the school of Navigation. All these murals were made by Art Pistol, aided by Rogue-One and Ejek. Continue along George Steet to the junction with High Street. On the gable wall just before the junction is a stunning mural by Smug of ‘St Enoch’ (a woman cradling a child, Kentigern [St Mungo], the patron saint of Glasgow). From here, make a detour to the left up High Street until the gable wall at the opposite end of the terrace of buildings on the left. Here is another Smug mural, ‘St Mungo,’ (a man with birds). From here turn around and walk back down High Street, ignoring the junction with George Street, and taking a right turn into Ingram Street. Look out for a plaque marking the birthplace of William Motherwell a renowned Glasgow Poet.

Stage 2

After the first block in Ingram Street, there is a car park on the left side; the wall enclosing this has a huge mural entitled ‘Fellow Glasgow Residents’ (also created by Smug) which depicts the varied wildlife of Glasgow’s parks. It takes some time to take in all of this one! At the far end of the mural turn left into Candleriggs to enter the Merchant City. This was once the bustling commercial heart of the city but fell into decline before being regenerated in recent decades. It is now packed with restaurants and bars.

Stage 3

After the first block in Candleriggs, turn right into Wilson Street and walk down the rainbow pavement. On a gable wall there is ‘Bow Down, Honour Thy Routes’ – a mural by Indian artist Shilo Shiv Suleman created as part of COP26 which was held in Glasgow. Returning to Candleriggs, turn right and at Trongate turn left. Pass the impressive clock tower (Tollbooth Steeple) and continue ahead (crossing High Street) into Gallowgate with the Merkat Cross to the right. Continue along Gallowgate until the junction with Moir Street. Turn around to see the first Billy Connelly mural on a gable end. Continue along Gallowgate for a passing look at the famous Barrowland Ballroom (The Barras)! Turn around and return to Moir Street and enter Barrowland Park. Cross the park using the Album Pathway (which was created by Jim Lambie) and on exiting the park turn left to rejoin Gallowgate and head back to the Tollbooth Steeple.

At Saltmarket, turn left and pass under the railway bridge. Then take the first left into St Andrew’s Street to see ‘The Fish Plaice’ mural. Across from this mural is another one called ‘Study of a Women in Black’. Continue around St Andrew’s Square taking in the architecture of the former St Andrew’s Parish Church. Return to the railway bridge in Saltmarket and cross over into Osborne Street. Then turn right into King Street and then left into Trongate. At New Wynd, turn left to view the colourful ‘Spaceman’ (on the right) and pass the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall. Stan Laurel made his debut here in 1906. Emerging from the south end of New Wynd, John Byrne’s mural of Billy Connelly can be seen to the right. There is also one of Thomas Muir a Scottish Political Reformer and lawyer.

Stage 4

Return to the Trongate, via New Wynd, and turn right. Take the right fork of Trongate and then turn right into Saltmarket. Continue south down Saltmarket, passing under the railway bridge, and at Bridgegate turn right to find another ‘Study of a Women in Black’. Reaching the busy junction near the river there is a series of murals on the wall of the Clutha. A short detour round the end of the building (to the left) reveals a mural of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Continue the walk by crossing Clyde Street and turning right onto the Clyde Walkway. Passing the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Andrew, stop to see the Italian Garden and Arandora Star Memorial. The latter, a memorial to all those men who died on the ship SS Arandora Star which was sunk by a U-boat in 1940. After passing under a pedestrian suspension bridge leave the Clyde Walkway and rejoin Clyde Street. Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and head up Dixon Street. On the right is a third mural of Billy Connolly, this one based on a work by Jack Vettriano.

Stage 5

Continue up Dixon Street and continue through St Enoch Square. At Argyle Street, turn right and then take a left turn into a narrow, covered alley (Cranston House) to see ‘Are Ye Dancin?’ by Conzo and Globel. The murals are on both walls of the alley – an amusing take on Scottish icons. Return to Argyll Street and turn right and at Buchanan Street turn right again. In Springfield Court – off on the right – there is ‘Good as Gold’, a humorous take on inflation and Freddo prices! Returning to Buchanan Street, head up to the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in Royal Exchange Square to see another ‘Study of a Woman in Black’ on a lane wall.

Stage 6

Head back down Buchanan Street and turn right into Mitchell Lane and then left into Mitchell Street. There are several murals along here. The first is on the right and called ‘Wind Power’. Continuing down Mitchell Street look back to see Smug’s massive ‘Honey I Shrunk the Kids’ on a gable wall. Finally, on the right is ‘the World’s Most Economical Taxi’ by Rogue-One. Look closely – that is not really a brick wall!

Stage 7

Turnaround and go north up Mitchell Street and then left into Gordon Street. Next, turn right into Renfield Street and left into Renfield Lane – passing Rogue’s spectacular ‘Bubbles’. Take the next left down Hope Street, which later becomes Oswald Street. Turn left into Midland Street to see ‘Portrait Gallery’ by James Klinge. Returning to Oswald Street, turn left and continue down towards the River Clyde. Cross Broomielaw and turn right once more onto the Clyde Walkway. Approaching the M8 Bridge, rejoin the pavement beside Broomielaw and pass under the M8.

Stage 8

Use the pelican crossing, cross to the north side of Broomielaw. Note the electricity substation building on the right which is covered on two sides by a Smug mural ‘Generation Green’ celebrating the growth of green power. Walk north towards the Mitchell library and then turn right into Sauchiehhall Street. At the iconic Beresford, turn right into Elmbank Street. At the corner of Sauchiehall Lane (on the left) is one of the ‘Lost Giant’ murals by Australian artist Stormie Mills. This is one of a series placed in cities around the world. Return to Sauchiehall Street, and turn right. Continue along Sauchiehall Street and at Hope Street turn right. Then take the first right into Sauchiehall Lane. Here is the final mural of the walk, ‘The Musician’, by Rogue One in collaboration with Art Pistol.

Starting Point for the Walk:

Dalreoch Station car park – OS Reference NS 391 756.

Getting there: 13 miles/36 minutesv

Take the A82 out of Glasgow to the West.  Pass the Erskine Bridge and descend to a major roundabout at Bowling.  After a short distance, at traffic lights, turn left onto the A814 towards Dumbarton and Helensburgh.  Follow the road through Dumbarton and follow the signs to Helensburgh.  After crossing the River Leven, in Dumbarton, turn right into Dalreoch Station Car Park.  Parking is free.  There are regular train services to and from Glasgow.

The Walk:  Dalreoch to Balloch – 7.0 miles (11 km)

Exit the car park at Dalreoch Station onto the riverside path and turn right to go South.  At Bridge Street, cross over the road into Woodyard Road and then enter Levengrove Park at the corner of Levenford Terrace.  The park sits at the junction between the point where the River Leven meets the River Clyde and tea and coffee are available from an attractive shop in the park.  Exit the park to the North (retracing the outward route from Dalreoch Station) and then follow an excellent riverside walk along the River Leven.  The river has two unusual loops at Dalquhurn Point and Cordale Point.  A grassy path on each loop deviates from the main tarmac path for a closer walk by the river.  Rejoining the main path each time, the route passes Renton, Vale of Leven, Alexandria, Dalmonach, and Jamestown before reaching Balloch.

Take the train from Balloch Station to Dalreoch Station to return to the Starting Point.