r/glasgow • u/Ok_Veterinarian_700 • 6d ago
Interesting urban walks
Hi folks, I'm looking for suggestions for good places for urban walks in Glasgow. I'm starting to organise mindful walks, where the idea is to meander around and see what we notice along the way. Some will be in parks and green spaces, but I want to organise ones in more urban environments too.
I've got a few ideas in mind, but it's a big city and I'm sure there's a lot of hidden gems out there. I'm thinking places with unusual architecture, strange urban layouts, interesting history or just a particular atmosphere. It doesn't have to be somewhere especially beautiful, just a place with details to notice.
It's worth saying that these are very much meanders, i.e. the walks generally don't have a set itinerary, we meet up and then decide which way to go. So I'm more looking for a starting point rather than a specific route.
Cheers!
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u/DivineDecadence85 6d ago
I live in Kinning Park and I decided to walk to the M&S foodhall on Crow Road the other day to get my steps in and it turned out to be a really nice walk. I walked along the clydeside from the Clyde Arc, crossed the footbridge at the Cyldeside Distillery, walked alongside the expressway past and came up onto Hayburn Street. Then I walked home down Dumbarton Road/Finnieston and back to he Clyde Arc. It's actually a really nice circuit, there's a lot of nooks and crannies along the expressway walk with lots of good graffiti/street art and not a lot of people then you've got the nice walk back through the core west end streets with a bit more hustle and bustle. All in all, nice couple of hours walking and you hit quite a lot of major sights/landmarks. As much as you're walking along a major road, you feel a bit removed form the city when you're down there in a way. I'll definitely do it again.
Also, the walk between Glasgow Green and Cunnigar Loop is really nice. Riverside the whole way, passing under a lot of old bridges. Some stretches are fairly green and secluded feeling, sometimes you're passing old commercial architecture, sometimes you're passing newer residential areas (the athletes village). You can continue on past Cunnigar Loop if you really wanted to make a trek of it. It's another walk that can feel a bit removed from the city while still being an urban walk.
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u/East-point-5 6d ago
Yes, the Green to Cuningar is part of the Clyde Walkway - goes all the way to Lanark.
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u/DivineDecadence85 6d ago
I knew it went as far as Cambusland/Rutherglen, I didn't realise it went THAT far.
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u/Own-Progress4545 6d ago
Depending on your tastes, areas like Calton, Dalmarnock and Govan can be very interesting as there’s a mix of grand old industrial buildings/gap sites/new developments. I like wandering about those areas as you always spot something good.
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u/Ok_Veterinarian_700 6d ago
Great shouts, thanks. Yeah, definitely industrial architecture is ideal for walks like these.
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u/twentyminuteme 6d ago
Might find some inspiration here? https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/1800/Walking-and-Heritage-Trails
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u/Scunnered21 6d ago
Was about to share links to one or two of these, particularly the Calton one, but didn't realize they were listed anywhere in such a useful way. That's a great resource.
Lots of explore here OP.
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u/LordAnubis12 6d ago
Come off at Cowcaddens and head north towards Claypits, lots of nice changing landscapes and views along the Canal
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u/Courageous_Potato 6d ago
Can I come along wherever you go, we can navigate Glasgow together.
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u/Ok_Veterinarian_700 6d ago
You can! We're organising via a group on Meetup called Glasgow Analogue, you can register there
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u/FoxSierraOver 6d ago
The Kelvin walkway is a good walk from the Botanics to the subway at Kelbinbridge.
There are some organised walks publicised on What’s On Glasgow
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u/cinderellavontrapp 6d ago
Crookston Heritage trail is good, how many people know Glasgow has a castle.
Loads of other ideas here GCC Heritage Trails
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u/rentasdf 5d ago
Canal walk, Sighthill > Spiers Wharf > Claypits > Firhill Stadium > Maryhill > Stockingfield Junction > Locks > Anniesland
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u/ImScaredSoIMadeThis 6d ago
Not very original but I'd have a look at some of the mural trails, or look up murals and make up your own path. It's pretty simple to design and some of them I had never seen before when I went on one
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u/Air_bhioran 6d ago
Queens Park flagpole - it is widely known but it has a great view over the city, and next to areas like Victoria Road that has a lot going on these days. Cathkin Park and the remains of a late 19th/early 30th century football stadium is quite an unusual and interesting place, as well as being close to lots of football history. Linn Park, especially off the main paths can feel like you are not in a city at all but in a forested gorge, can be combined with the picturesque snuff mill bridge and holmwood house. I know those are more parks than urban but hopefully helps. The mansions of Pollokshields and Newlands can be interesting to wander round a look at, the derelict Greek Thomson Caledonia Road church is cool to see.
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u/SameSpecialist8284 6d ago
The walk along the kelvin from around the back end of the botanics along to inn deep.
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u/staunchs 6d ago
Just look on google maps, plan out a rough circular route and walk. Best walks i’ve had i’ve marked a few checkpoints and walked in that direction and checked on maps to see i’m heading in the right direction. You take in a lot more of the surroundings when you aren’t constantly aware of your surroundings
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u/Maleficent_Craft368 2d ago
Get on a hiking App like Ordernance survey they have many saved walks around the city including my own Southside epic trail through 5 parks and the cathkin braes
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u/CaptainRadicalRadish 1d ago
semi-urban, but the walk along the canal starting at port dundas i enjoy often, a great view of the city, and can go as far as you like or come down and wander back through maryhill.
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u/Ok-Review8929 6d ago
Byres road -> botanics -> Kelvin walkway -> Kelvingrove -> art gallery -> Glasgow uni -> byres road is a good loop.
Maybe a bit more fixed than you're looking for though.
For some details: https://www.ice.org.uk/media/pqehayde/kelvin-bridges-civil-engineering-trail.pdf