The Walk: Houston and Bridge of Weir Circular (7.4 miles/12km)

From the Carrick Centre, walk along Main Street to the junction with South Street and turn right. Passing the Mercat Cross, go to the end of the street and turn left into Bogstonhill Road. At the junction with North Street, turn left for a short distance before turning right into a passageway, Lyles Land. Follow this uphill to join Cricket Field Lane. Exit Cricket Field Lane and turn left onto Kilmacolm Road. Cross the main road with care and continue onto Kilallen Road. Continue along this quiet road until the T-junction with Warlock Road. Turn left and follow the road all the way to Bridge of Weir. Turn right into Houston Road and at the traffic lights turn left heading towards the village centre. Cross Main Road and take the first right, into Torr Road, and then turn left to join a cycle track. The track runs parallel to the main road. Continue onward until a bridge over Crosslee Road and then exit the cycle track to turn right into Crosslee Road. At the junction with Barochan Road turn left (this road becomes Houston Road in Crosslee). At the pedestrian lights take a small lane on the left. Cross to the right-hand pavement and take the path which circles the school and passes the cemetery. Proceed under the Bridge of Weir Road (B790), using the underpass, and turn left. Follow the pavement to the roundabout and continue straight on towards the Carrick Centre and the starting point.

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.