Walks near Helensburgh by train

Easy, flat Kelvin Walkway and Forth & Clyde Canal towpath out of Glasgow, Kelvin Aqueduct to Bowling, through varied landscape and habitat.

Warnings: Towpath can be slippery after rain; good footwear advised.

Walk details: ScotRail (tips).

Recommended: Good path throughout.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 7h–14h

Walk details: Railwalks.

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Recommended: Excellent views of Bowling Harbour and the Clyde. A very straightforward, level walk following a national cycle route, almost entirely on good surfaces alongside the canal and River Clyde. It includes a beautifully landscaped elevated walk/cycleway over Bowling, tree-shaded cuttings and a section running alongside the railway and ending through suburban streets and a park. Follows a national cycle route, largely free of steps. There is a replica Roman distance stone marking one end of the Antonine Wall near Old Kilpatrick.

Coastal: three quarters along the coast.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 2h–4h

Lunch: Shops and a cafe under the old railway arches at Bowling, plus services accessible from the cycle track about halfway along.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 7h30–15h30

Warnings: Follows a busy road for two fifths of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

An urban route mixing busier roads (the B765) with the off-road Clyde Walkway into Uddingston and avoiding a rural 60mph road with no verges. Follows the Clyde Walkway. Detours possible into Cambuslang or Newton to break the journey. Sustrans plan to reopen the Carmyle–Westburn viaduct as a walking and cycling route.

Time: 3h–6h

Lunch: The only facilities on the route are a small shop and a pair of pubs in Carmyle, about a third of the way along.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A direct, mostly off-road route on paths and grass through parkland, with some single-track paths and stairs. A short and sometimes overgrown section near a petrol station at Mount Vernon.

Time: 2h–4h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 4h–8h

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 2h30–5h30

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a third of the walk.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A route on core paths, cycleways, pavements and minor roads and crossing main roads at traffic lights.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A route following the Clyde Walkway between the two stations. Follows the Clyde Walkway.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 2h–4h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Marvellous views along Strathfillan; the first real sense of the highlands ahead. A West Highland Way section, mostly on fire roads and good gravel trails so easy going, through mossy forestry land with some elevation gain early on, frequent views back towards Crianlarich and then almost flat to Tyndrum past wildflower meadows and along the river. Muddy in places with considerable erosion on steeper sections; recently fallen trees near Crianlarich. Follows the West Highland Way past the Glenbruar Viaduct and Strath Fillan. Information boards cover the area's wildlife and history, from missionaries to gold-mining. Facilities are limited out of season except in Tyndrum; great wild-camping spots beyond Tyndrum.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Time: 3h–6h

Lunch: A seasonal cafe at Strath Fillan; otherwise limited until Tyndrum, which has the Real Food Cafe, the Tyndrum Inn, the Ben Lui Restaurant and the Green Welly Stop with a shop.

1 end-of-walk reward: Real Food Cafe

Warnings: Crossing the A82, a fast and fairly busy road, at a well-marked good-visibility point with prominent road signs. Erosion on steeper sections.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: ScotRail.