Canal and Kelvin Loop

Photo © Knightswood Camera Club
What Will You See?
This more challenging walk will
take you past Maryhill Locks to
join the River Kelvin Walkway, past
the Botanic Gardens and back
along the Forth & Clyde Canal
from Firhill Basin.
Lock 21 at Maryhill marks the start
of the descent of the canal towards
the River Clyde.You can still see
the Kelvin Dock between Locks 22
and 23. It was here that the very
first ‘puffer’ boat was built – the
‘Glasgow’ in 1857.
Distance: 7 km (4 miles) Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Canal and Kelvin Loop
A tour round the Botanic Gardens
makes a worthwhile diversion. The
20 hectare site has a huge variety
of plants from all around the
world, both outside and within two
glasshouses. One of these, Kibble
Palace, was originally a private
conservatory in Coulport, Loch
Long. It was moved to the Botanic
Gardens in 1873 and it underwent
a major refurbishment in 2006.
Number 3 of 6 Canal Walks in Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire
The source of the River Kelvin is
Dullatur Bog near Kilsyth. From
here it meanders 22 miles until
joining the Clyde at Yorkhill. In the
past, many mills used water from
the Kelvin. Today, it is home to an
abundant array of wildlife including
otters and salmon.
6 Walks To Try...
Old Kilpatrick
6 A Walk to
Just before you turn left to go
down to the Kelvin, you will see
the Kelvin Aqueduct. This was
completed in 1790 and, at this
time, it was the largest aqueduct in
Britain. It is well worth a look from
the Kelvin Walkway.
Bearsden
i
n
Bowling
Around
Knightswood
Canal and
the Clyde
4
5
y
de
Ca
Maryhill
2
3 Canal and
nal
Kelvindale
Ri
ve
rC
lv
Around
Cadder
Cl
Knightswood
e
rK
th
&
Clydebank
Fo r
ve
Ri
Kelvin Loop
1
ly
de
A Bit of Firhill
GLASGOW
View from the River Kelvin
If you would like to get more involved with your local canal, why not volunteer?
Contact The Waterways Trust Scotland on 01324 677809 to learn about the many opportunities available.
© The Waterways Trust Scotland. Maps © Ashworth Maps and Interpretation Ltd 2010. Maps contain Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2010.
One of the arches of the Kelvin
Aqueduct
The Claypits
Elles
N
o
Sp rth
p
r
St ingb ark
re a
et nk St
ens
Ro
Ga
rd
ide
ad
7 km / 4 miles
Distance/Time
1 hour 30 minutes
Gradient
Various
G
ro
v
et
re
St
ll
ha
rs
pie
Na
ds
Industrial
Estate
t
S
arr
B
pa rk St
re et
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C
r
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Bairds Brae
G ro ve
t
W
oo
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N.
de
These railings at the
White House tell the
story of the canal at
Maryhill
Challenging
d
oa
lR
hil
pe
Ho
llan
Path Types
Difficulty
o ods i d e R o a
d
th W
Ca
Start/Finish
Nor
Stree
t
Ro d
eet
Str
WOODSIDE
cro
ss
St
d
e
p
Ho
Sports
Centre
mere
5 Go straight on to Springbank
Street and walk the length of this until
you get to Firhill Road. Turn left. Walk
along Firhill Road until just before you
get to the Nolly Brig which crosses
the canal. Turn left onto Northpark
Street, cross over and take the path on
the left that leads down to the canal
towpath.
le
App
R
hill
Hami ltonh ill Road
d
oa
R
et
C a l d a r v a n S t re
R
e
d
White House,
Maryhill Road
Mostly good,
surfaced paths
Eight road
crossings, one
flight of stairs
Schools
et
S t o ny h u r s t S t re
l
3
4
S t re e t
si
riv
e
Belmont
Bridge
n S
t
ub
B a rd ow i e
et
os
nD
lto
Kirkland St
Road e Gdns
Braeside St
M
lto
sc
re
School
Partick
Thistle
FC
ar
e
St
P
ve
t Dr
i
a re
a rg
Wi
5 (G
School
m
kS
t
Pa
r
Av
en
ue
en
Ro
Ki
V i c to
Doun
NORTH
KELVIN
Firhill
Stadium
re
E ll es
Cra
ig
Dr mon
ive t
ea
re
St
ak
Sh
d
Sydenham Roa
6
rive
.
s Dr
Nolly
Brig Firhill
Basin
St
iew
env
o B
et
e
r
S t
Auc klan d Stre
et
Lochbur
tre
et
es
p
Dri
ve
ad
dlan
ue
Le
ice
ste
r
Lo
ch
bu
Bar
ona
ld
N
Ch
e
Av ster
en fie
ue ld
d Ro
ad
2
Ruchill
Park
d
mi
A8
.
ill Road
Ha
RUCHILL
Oban D
u
Ferg
Q
808
ve B
oa
ill R
Hyn
e
08
School
et
Botanic
Gardens
B8
DOWANHILL
Str
e
ri
d D
Firh
riv
B
an
ilsl
Maryh
Kingsbor
gh
Gardeou
ns
ton
il l
School
r i a School
us
hm
oc
rr i
Ga
HYNDLAND
cus
Cir
elv
in
D
St
Schools
le St
e
ur
apd a
le
School
St
n
rk
d
Ruchill Park
Golf Course
t
St re et
C res
4 Cross
Kirkland
Street and
walk along
it until you
come to
Bonawe
Street on
your right.
Cross the
road and walk
the length
of Bonawe
The Mackintosh Tea Rooms
Street and
at Queens Cross Church hall
join Maryhill
FIRHILL
Road. Turn left and use the pedestrian
crossings to cross over Maryhill and
Garscube roads.
LAMBHILL
ra
oa
Ho
tsp
Clo
un a
Eriboll Str
eet
Hillend Road
d railway
Mu
R
Sh
eet
Eyn ort Str
of ol
Course
on
A81
rn
Bellshaugh Lan
e
Drive
ght
Shuna Street
te
en
Lei
9
over when it is safe to do so. Turn left
onto Kirkland Street.
Kn
t
nS t
S
rzo
Cu rrie
Cu
d
ns
Hazards
Wilton Street Gardens
a
ed
S tr
ee
Ru ch ill
o
Garde
Brass
ey
R
rough
o ad
ch R
ar D
r ive
Forth & Clyde C
anal
l
nsbo
Ga r r i o
es
rad
Er
A87
resce n t
St
ale
bu r n R
Works
oad
il
W
ev
C
Stockingfield
Junction
Road
s
K
Quee
Road
at
KELVINSIDE
No v
df
W yn
Winton Drive
Cl
yh
Gartnavel
Hospital
re
ar
G
Schools
e
2
ad
nnan
Av
ad
A8
Ro
le
B a l c ar
re
Ro
Ave
G l e n fi
ad
o rd
School
en
Playing
Fields
nda
o
nR
M
Ke l v i
kS
et
ie Stre
Guthr
KELVINDALE
in
.
Dr
a
Stirrat St
elv
rK
th
m p to n
Ma
nc
he
ster D
We
rive
ym
ou
th
Dri
ve
ve
ou
ba n
Sand
r
Ri
a
1
Collina
St
Loch
Canal
lyde h
& C Branc
rth w
Fo lasgo
G
Kelvin
Aqueduct
Drive
outh
Weym pton Dr.
m
h
or t
2
1
A8
Av e .
ved
3 Cross over the junction to Doune
Gardens then, when it is safe to do so,
cross over Belmont Street. Keep on
this path until you join Wilton Street.
Stay on this path until you have passed
Wilton Street Gardens then cross
ter
rches
Cle
2 Turn left onto the Walkway (signed
City Centre). Keeping the River Kelvin
on your right, cross over Kelvindale
Road and walk along this path past the
Botanic Gardens (on the other side of
the river). Do not cross over the river.
After approximately 2.6km, the path
will lead you to Belmont Bridge. Take
the steps leading up to the bridge. Turn
left when you reach the bridge.
Do
S
1 From the White House, cross the
footbridge over the canal and turn
right onto the towpath. Walk past the
Five sets of locks and take the turning
left just before you get onto the Kelvin
Aqueduct. (There is a stainless steel
marker post). Follow this path down
until you get onto the Kelvin Walkway.
Sk a e t h o r n R o a dLocks
t
ee
Str
Walk Directions
Road
n Cl .
ge’s
eor d
St GRoa
n ey S t
Garscube
Cross
6 Turn left onto the towpath. When
you get to Stockingfield Junction, stay
on the path you are on and keep
walking until you get to the footbridge
which crosses over the canal at the
White House. Cross this and return to
start point.
Local Greenspaces to Visit
• Dawsholm Park from Dawsholm
Road
• Botanic Gardens from Queen
Margaret Drive
• Ruchill Park from Firhill Road