The Kelvin Walkway (West End Section)
Around 5 to 6km one way (Riverside Museum to Botanic Gardens/Dawsholm) · Gentle riverside gradient throughout; a few sets of steps at bridge crossings elevation
About
A riverside path following the River Kelvin through Glasgow's West End, from the Riverside Museum at its confluence with the Clyde, up through Kelvingrove Park, past Kelvin Hall and the University of Glasgow, under the Botanic Gardens' iron footbridge, and on towards Maryhill and Dawsholm Park. This West End stretch, roughly 5 to 6km one way through genuinely green, tree-lined river corridor in the middle of a big city, is the section most visitors actually want; the full waymarked Kelvin Walkway continues a further 10km beyond the city boundary to Milngavie, where it meets the start of the West Highland Way, for anyone with a full day and the legs for it.
Highlights
- ✓A genuinely green river corridor through the middle of a large city
- ✓Passes Kelvingrove Park, Kelvin Hall and the University of Glasgow
- ✓The Botanic Gardens' iron footbridge over the Kelvin
- ✓Continues, waymarked, all the way to Milngavie and the start of the West Highland Way
Tips
- →Start at Kelvingrove Park if you want the short, central version rather than the full riverside walk from the Riverside Museum.
- →Paths are mostly good tarmac and gravel through the West End, rougher and muddier further out towards Milngavie.
- →Full route notes are in the Trails section.