Best walks to or from Glasgow Central

Glasgow Central Station to Shettleston Station

A very direct, varied urban walk full of contrasts, mixing main roads, residential streets, high streets, footpaths, parks and greenspaces through old and new and upmarket and downmarket neighbourhoods. Some steps at the Shettleston end. Passes the Hovis factory and over the St Enoch subway station; intersects many bus routes.

Easy: 7km, moderate ascents.

The wooded entrance to Greenfield Recreation Ground may feel daunting for solo walkers at quiet times. Some steps, including at Shettleston station.

Lunch: Many shops, cafés, takeaways and restaurants, especially around Glasgow Central and Argyle Street; a wide choice of eating around the halfway point near Duke Street, then options thin out until Shettleston.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Glasgow Central Station to Rutherglen Station

An easy, well-surfaced city walk with lovely sections beside the Clyde and through Glasgow Green and following the Clyde Walkway. Straightforward to navigate. Follows the Clyde Walkway and the main cycle route; a riverside stretch near the Police Scotland building was under repair (April 2022) but easily detoured via the road bridge.

Easy: 5km, moderate ascents.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Kelvindale Station to Glasgow Central Station

One of my favourite routes so far; an interesting and attractive route; incredible how lovely the route is; so many great scenes of natural and man-made beauty. A pleasant, mostly leafy and largely accessible walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Kelvin Walkway, following the river on good, shaded, mostly paved paths through parks and Glasgow's more attractive districts and with only one road crossing. A little steep in Kelvingrove Park with a few cobbles onto Elderslie Street. Follows the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Kelvin Walkway, passing through Kelvingrove Park and Glasgow Botanic Gardens (including the arboretum). Good for wildlife watching; dipper, grey wagtail and kingfisher have been seen. Note the navigation switchback at the Kelvin Aqueduct where the walkway meets the canal.

Tough: steep ascents. 6km.

Long stretches of the riverside route are unlit, so it can feel lonely, especially in the evenings. Botanic Gardens and some parks are gated and close around dusk, so it is not a 24-hour route.

Lunch stop: the Inn Deep.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Pollokshields East Station to Glasgow Central Station

really good views along the river; the wonderful Glasgow Central Station. A short, straightforward and functional urban route through south-west Glasgow, taking a necessary long way around to avoid motorways, railways and sometimes-derelict industrial areas and before reaching the River Clyde and crossing the traffic-free Tradeston (Squiggly) Bridge into the city centre. Past the grand tenement houses of Pollokshields. Passes the Charles Rennie Mackintosh-designed Scotland Street School Museum (recently under renovation). Crosses the Clyde on the Tradeston 'Squiggly' Bridge.

Easy: 3km, moderate ascents.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Glasgow Central Station to Bishopbriggs Station

A fairly direct urban route on pavements that climbs out of Bishopbriggs to Springburn Park, then drops through Springburn and follows the main road into central Glasgow and weaving cleverly through underpasses and flyovers around the M8 junction. Includes a number of steps. Connects Glasgow's two main railway stations and the bus station, passing George Square; Springburn station is also on the route.

Tough: steep ascents. 7km.

A short stretch runs along the busy A803, and the footways negotiating the M8 junction can be fume-filled and tricky to navigate.

Lunch: Shops and facilities at Springburn around the halfway point.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Gilshochill Station to Glasgow Central Station

An easy, mostly flat urban walk along busy main roads through Maryhill and housing estates and with a stretch beside the Forth and Clyde Canal towpath. Sections of the canal towpath at Maryhill have been subject to closures for upgrade works; check before relying on it.

Easy: 6km, moderate ascents.

Crosses beneath the M80 and follows several busy main roads.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route