Clyde & Forth Canal

6 miles / 11 km

A flat walk on some good tarmac on the towpath through some beautiful scenery.

Pretty Easy

A pretty easy walk on some really good surface, the towpath. It is still a long walk and it is really exposed to the elements (rain, sun). Bring plenty of drink and food. Good footwear is a big advantage here.



Bus from Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station (stance 37 etc) 4 - 6 times an hour.

On a personal note: This was my introduction to canal walks after ignoring them for the best part of 25 years. I just wanted do one walk on the canal and tick it off my list of things I have done. After 50 yards/meter, I met some elderly people who, when I told them I was walking to Glasgow, offered me money for the bus fare to Glasgow. Money I off course did not accept (but thank you for your kindness). After one mile, I fell in love with this canal. I have now completed both the Clyde & Forth Canal and the Union Canal.

The walk starts by going down from the bus stop at Cowgate/Townhead to the bridge over the canal. Go down the path to the canal, in the direction of west/Glasgow. The canal runs through the town and past a marina before it enters a more rural area and the scenery opens up a lot.




The walk now becomes peaceful, idyllic and scenic. There is a lot of wildlife here and some of it can be a bit disapproving. Look out for angry swans here. The canal now starts to gently bend towards left and right.



This part of the canal is really impressive as it is pretty high above the valley floor to the right. The views towards the Campsie Fells is really good here.



The canal and the walk now passes an old Roman fort. It is around 2000 years old too and it offers a good spot for a rest and something from the rucksack to eat and drink. It is a special feeling to rest on the same place as the Roman soldiers also have rested so many years ago.



The canal and the walk goes through a narrow canyon before it enters a more open landscape as we are approaching Maryhill. There is still a long way to walk.



The high rise flats north of Glasgow is also visible here. The towpath is now going past some strange looking houses and through a slightly narrow canyon before the end of the canal at the crossroad with the white bridges. The canal is over 200 years old. The bridges here is less than 25 years old.




The canal to the left goes down to Glasgow. The canal to the right goes down to Clydebank and Bowling. Visit these bridges and have a good look around before retracing your steps and then walk the path down to the road below, Lochburn Road which is going in a short tunnel under the canal. After 150 yards/meters, turn to the left into Maryhill Road and then the bus stop 100 yards/meters down the road where this walk ends.

Bus back to Glasgow Central Station 4 - 6 times an hour.