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.