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.

Starting Point for the Walk:
The Edenmill Farm Shop car park – OS Reference NS 514 793.
The postal address for the Farm Shop is: Stockiemuir Road, Carbeth by Blanefield, G63 9AX.
Getting there: 10 miles/35 minutes

Take your favourite route towards Bearsden (A809) and on the northern side of Bearsden turn right onto the Stockiemuir Road (A809).  Continue past Carbeth and at Auchengillan turn left (just past a parking area on the right) onto a narrow road (signed for the farm shop) with a 15mph speed limit.  Continue for about 400m until the car park.  Note: watch out for ‘speed bumps’,  pedestrians and other road users!

The Walk:  Burncrooks Reservoir Loop – 6.3 miles (10 km)

Leave the Car Park at the southeast corner and turn right onto the John Muir Way.  Follow the track in a westerly direction as it gently climbs for approx 0.7 mile.  After passing South Lodge, the track then heads northwest for approx 0.2 mile.

At the junction with a quiet private road turn left and pass the water filter station.  Continue on the private road for approx 0.8 mile as it climbs in a westerly direction.  Leave the private road and head in a south southwest direction along a track through woodland.  After a short distance turn right onto a path that runs alongside Burncrooks Reservoir.  The path around the reservior has a series of short inclines and declines.

In due course, the John Muir Way heads northwest away from the reservoir but before that turn right off the main path and head east on another path which gradually drops down below the Dam.  After a short climb the path joins the private road on the other side of the reservoir.  Continue on this road in an easterly direction for approxiately 2 miles, ignoring the path on the right which formed part of the outward route.  The road leads down to Auchineden Farm and the Edenmill Farm Shop.

Starting Point for the Walk:

At the end of Dalsholm Road which is past the Dawsholm Recycling Centre – OS Reference  NS 557 696.  There is free on-street parking.

Getting there: 2 miles/ 10 minutes

From the Byres Road junction with the Great Western Road turn left.  Turn right at the second set of traffic lights into Cleveden Road.  Keep straight on at a roundabout and down a steep hill to cross the Forth and Clyde canal.  Having crossed the canal, take the first exit (Dalsholm Road) at the roundabout and cross over the railway line.  Continue on Dalsholm Road, ignoring the road coming in from the left.  However, be careful.  Whilst you have the right of way those coming from the left may not think so!  Continue onwards (past the Dawsholm Recycling Centre on the left) to the end of the road.

The Walk:  Glasgow Waterways and Sighthill – 9.3 miles (15 km)

The walk follows the River Kelvin south and at the Kelvin Aqueduct joins the Forth and Clyde canal and goes eastwards towards Stockingfield Junction.  Admire the impressive new bridge.  Explore the site and observe the massive concrete whale which will be tiled during the next few years by tiles designed by Glasgow school children. Continue on down the Forth and Clyde canal spur towards Firhill.  Toilets are available at the Tesco store on Maryhill Road opposite Ruchill Street, which is a short distance from the canal.

Picking up the canal spur again, go south towards the city.  Continue past Firhill, of Partick Thistle fame, in the direction of Port Dundas (the end of the canal).  Note the impressive lock system and then marvel at the Victorian ingenuity of building major docks in the centre of the city – now reduced to a Water Sports Centre.  It is now possible to continue on into Sighthill Park (which has been moved from its original location) and reconstructured further away from the town.  The stone circle has also been moved to be a centre piece for the North Bridge housing complex.  Lunch can be taken here and the park can be explored further for anyone who wishes to do so.

Retrace the route back to Port Dundas and then return via the other side of the canal as far as possible.  Then cross the canal again and continue on the west side.  Continue up the canal to the Stockingfield Junction and turn left back onto the Forth and Clyde canal.  At the Kelvin Aqueduct leave the canal and follow the Kelvin River northwards back to the starting point.

The story of Glasgow’s Clyde Bridges reflects the development of Glasgow from its earliest settlements alongside the River Clyde. As the city flourished in the 18th and 19th centuries this resulted in Bridges being built which encouraged trade and prosperity. This Bridges walk starts on the South Side of the Clyde at the pedestrian Bridge at Cunningar Loop (East) and follows the Clyde walkway (West) and criss-crosses the river utilising various Pedestrian and Road Bridges. It goes through Glasgow Green, into the City Centre and to the finishing point near the Millennium Bridge.The walk concludes with a short train ride from Exhibition Centre to Dalmarnock and a walk back to the starting point.

Starting Point for the Walk:
The best place to park for this walk is Cuningar Loop Car Park (Cuningar Avenue).

Getting there: 7 miles/20 minutes
Take your favourite route towards the M8 [Greenock/Kilmarnock] and then take M74 towards Carlisle.  Exit M74 at Junction 2 and turn left onto Cambuslang Road (A724).  Turn right into Duchess Road which, as the road bends left, becomes Downiebrae Road.  Turn right into Cuningar Aveneue

The Walk – Glasgow Bridges – 7.8 miles (12 km)  The walk can be shortened as required)
Head north from the parking area and turn right into Cuningar Avenue, continuing into the Cuningar Loop.  Cross the River Clyde, from the south bank to the north bank, at Cuningar Pedestrian Bridge and turn left to join the River Clyde Walkway.  Continue westwards and at Rutherglen Bridge cross to the south bank.  Continue to the Polmadie Bridge and cross back to the north bank turning left towards Glasgow Green.  Cross to the south side of the river at Albert Bridge and return to the north side at South Portland Street Suspension Bridge.  Cross once again to the south side at George the Fifth Bridge before taking the IFSD Tradeston Footbridge back to the north bank.  Continue on the north bank until the Clyde Arc and cross to the south side heading towards Glasgow Science Centre.  At the Millennium Bridge cross back to the north side and follow the pedestrian route to the Exhibition Centre Station.Trains run regularly from the Exhibition Centre to Dalmarnock. The final leg of the walk is from Dalmarnock Station (see map at top).  Head south down Dalmarnock Road, cross the Dalmarnock Bridge and turn left into Downiebrae Road to return to the starting point.

This well-visited country park provides many and varied opportunities to walk within its boundaries and beyond.

Starting Point for the Walk:
OS Reference NS 546 779 .

Getting there: 10 miles/25 minutes

Take your favourite route to Milngavie and then take the A81 (Strathblane Road).  Continue along until you see the sign for Mugdock Country Park (NB the sign is some distance from the left turn).  Turn left onto Craigallian Road and keep following the signs.  At the T junction, turn right and continue until the car park on your left.  The best place to park is the overflow car park (sign posted) as it is far less busy.

Please note: If using SatNav make sure to enter Mugdock Park Visitor Centre, as Mugdock Park will take you to one of the outlying car parks, miles from where you want to be!

Toilets are available at Mugdock Country Park Visitor Centre as well as coffee.

The Walk:  Mugdock Country Park – 8.25 miles (13 km) (Shorter options available)

Leave the Visitor Centre and head down the track leading to the remains of the house for the old zoo.  Just past the ruins, turn left and walk straight along, skirting the edge of Mugdock Loch and then turn right, signposted Mugdock Castle.  At the T junction at the end of the loch, turn left.  (Option A – For a very short walk turn right at this point, explore the castle, and follow the signs for the Visitor Centre).

Continue on towards the South Car park and, just past the path for the car park, look carefully for a path on the left which runs parallel to the road and eventually emerges onto the road.  After a short distance on the road turn left into Milngavie Waterworks.  There is a lovely, wooded path along the edge of the reservoir which is reached by following a path over the measuring pond on the left.  Continue round this reservoir until a crossing point between Milngavie Reservoir and Craigmaddie Reservoir.  After crossing the reservoirs, turn right past various buildings and instead of continuing round the reservoir, take the access road down towards Mugdock Road.  (Option B – For a 4-mile walk continue round the reservoir (passing Drumclog Moor Car Park) and retrace the outward route back to the Visitor centre).

Turn left onto Mugdock Road then take the second road on the right, Craigallian Avenue, to re-enter the country park.  Continue along Craigallian Avenue towards Craigallian Bridge, the path becomes the West Highland Way (WHW) near Allander Park.  (Option C – For a 6-mile walk turn right, off the WHW, and follow the signs for the Visitor Centre).

Continue on the WHW past Craigallian Loch as far as Carbeth.  Just past the first few cabins and Carbeth Loch on the left, turn sharp right (before reaching the B821) through a gate and onto an upward path – now the John Muir Way.

Continue on this path as it ascends slowly then evens out, and eventually comes to a T junction.  Turn right and continue on until a small parking area on the edge of a road.  Cross the road and, veering slightly to the right, follow the path into the country park crossing a foot bridge and eventually turning left to head to the Visitor Centre and Car Park.