Photographs of the Forth and Clyde Canal from Maryhill to Speirs Wharf at Port Dundas in the City Centre of Glasgow

Stockingfield Bridge

on Forth and Clyde Canal

Claypits Nature & Wildlife Reserve

across the Forth and Clyde Canal

Plaque

on Maryhill Aqueduct on

Forth and Clyde Canal

Canmore -Maryhill Road Aqueduct

Barge on Forth and Clyde Canal

in Maryhill

Lock 21

on Forth and Clyde Canal

in Maryhill

The Forth and Clyde Canal

Route Description for Kelvin River Walk

Grade: Easy river and canal walk
Distance: 4 miles/ 6.5km
Time: 2—3 hours

The Kelvin Walkway, a path in the middle of Glasgow, a trail which runs almost from the river’s source in the Campsie Fells to its conﬂuence with the Clyde. The path is very well used by walkers, cyclists and lots of dogs, which all adds to the fun.
After recrossing the river you pass the remains of a ﬂint mill, a reminder that the river was once busy with industry.
It became very polluted as a result but in recent years an energetic support group, Friends of the River Kelvin ( FoRK ) have done great work in helping to clean the river up. FoRK have also put up interesting information boards along the route.
After passing a weir the path goes under Queen Margaret Drive. A branch leads left, up to the Botanic Gardens, but stay by the river.
Helpful signs give you the walking time to Maryhill Locks.
You pass under several soaring sandstone bridges, with the bustle of the West End high above.
Down below it is quieter, with plenty of shade from the trees.
Kirklee Bridge has a plaque dated 1900. It is typical of its period, with graceful arches and polished marble pillars.
The path then climbs away from the river into the open, with high ﬂats to the right.
At the end of the tower blocks, keep left, cross Kelvindale Road and continue ahead.
At the next fork go back down to the riverside.
At the Kelvin Aqueduct turn right ( signed to Forth and Clyde Canal ).
Climb the zigzag path and emerge at the foot of the Maryhill Locks.
This ﬂight of ﬁve locks has been fully restored as part of the Millennium project to reopen the canal.
You may be lucky enough to see a boat locking through. It's a fascinating process, but hard work.
The locks, and the aqueduct over the river, were designed by Robert Whitworth and opened in 1790.
The aqueduct is 122 metres long and is 23 metres above the river. The locks are considered to be among the ﬁnest of their kind in Britain.
At the top of the locks, keep on the canal towpath and follow it round to cross high above Maryhill Road.
Looking back you get a great view of the Campsies. Swans may be seen here - and in spring, their cygnets too.
Before long you reach Stockingﬁeld Iunction. The main canal swings left here, heading for the Falkirk Wheel 35km away, but keep ahead, on the Port Dundas Branch. On the right is Ruchill Parish Church.
If you are lucky, the church hall ( one of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s lesser-known gems, but worth a look ) might be open for tea.
Ruchill was originally called Roughill and on what is now Smeaton Street there was a mansion house.
Continue with the canal, which for a time is next to a busy road. In general however it is surprisingly quiet.
The next landmark is Firhill, home of Partick Thistle FC, known as the Jags.
Not far from here is Queen’s Cross Church. This is Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s only completed church design and is quite beautiful.
The church is dedicated to St Matthew, but nowadays is as much a shrine to CRM and his magniﬁcent designs.
Before long the apartments and boats moored at Speirs Wharf come into view. A community has sprung
up here, some no doubt attracted bythe unusual possibility of living on a boat in the middle of a city.
The main apartment building was once a mill. The area is named after Archibald Speirs, who was chairman of the canal committee at the time it was opened. He would, no doubt, be more than pleased to see the area thriving as it is today — and he would recognise the old Canal House which still stands, marking the end of the waterway and of the walk.

ROUTE PLANNER

Map: OS 1:25.000 Explorer map 342
(Glasgow).
Distance: 4 miles / 6.5km
Time: 2-3 hours
Start: Kelvin Bridge subway station ( GR: NS 573669 ). Finish: Speirs Wharf ( GB: NS 586664 ).
Public transport: Subway or buses from Glasgow city centre to Kelvin Bridge.
Twenty minute walk from Speirs Wharf to main bus and train stations.
Information: Glasgow iCentre, 0141 566 4083.
Route: Turn right out of subway station and cross river to pick up Kelvin Walkway signs.
Follow main path, recrossing the river.
After Kirklees Bridge path rises to cross open area then drops to cross a road.
At fork go left, down to the river again.
Just before canal aqueduct turn R up zig-zag path to the foot of Maryhill Locks.
Walk up beside the locks and follow the canal path all the way to Speirs Wharf.

Map of River Kelvin Walk

Waterways Cycle Route

Map of Waterways cycle route

Location: Glasgow city
Map: OS Landranger 64; www.routes2ride.org.uk
Distance: 6 miles (10km)
Time: 1 - 1 .5 hours
Terrain: flat; traffic-free and on-road cyclepaths

Glasgow City Council plans to boost cycling are timely and much needed. There are some great routes in and around the city, such as this family-friendly loop, but, in
general, cycle commuters face many difﬁculties. Perhaps now simple to ﬁx problems, such as inconsistent signage and parked cars on cycle lanes, will be addressed as
part of a grander ambition to make safe cycling the city’s no.1 participatory activity by 2020.
Start from Kelvinbridge subway station to follow the Kelvin Walkway upstream.
Tranquil trafﬁc-free cycling leads alongside the tree-lined river. Further on, look for a signed ramp to the Forth & Clyde Canal, part of Sustrans National Route 754.
Bear right to pass the impressive Maryhill lock ﬂight — ﬁve locks linked by oval basins. After about half a mile ( 800km ) you’ll reach Stockingﬁeld Junction, where
this route stays on the towpath as it veers south for Speirs Wharf along the old Glasgow branch of the canal.
Leave the waterway via the long ramp and veer right at a grassy triangle to cross Garscube Road on a pedestrian bridge.
Follow the cyclepath ahead by a running track and after the Braid Square ﬂats go right.
Keep straight and turn left on to Braid Street.
Cross St George’s Road on to North Woodside Road.
Follow this road across several junctions until a ramp on the right ( NCN 754 sign ) leads back to the start.