Walks you can reach from Branchton by train

Highly recommended: Lovely views as you'd expect; It was gorgeous; a gorgeous walk of three fairly different thirds; a wonderful route; Excellent view, a variety of scenery. A gorgeous coastal walk of three contrasting thirds: a winding climb out of Wemyss Bay onto a picturesque, slightly muddy and stony lane with a lovely tree tunnel, then a wooded shore footpath past beaches and finally a long pavement stretch beside the A78 with beautiful firth views. Several flights of steps at Inverkip. An excellent bus service runs down the Clyde coast between Glasgow and Largs, allowing the route to be split. Dolphins are occasionally seen offshore; Bute, Arran, Dunoon and Cowal are visible. Facilities at Inverkip and Lunderston Bay. Extensive woodland.

Lunch: Several possible lunch stops in Inverkip, midway, plus toilets and facilities at Lunderston Bay.

Warnings: The way up through Inverkip is extremely steep in places with several flights of stone steps (a switchback road bypasses them). The final third runs along a wide pavement beside the busy A78. The farm track has several gates to negotiate.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Highly recommended: wonderful views out across the Firth of Clyde to the islands and the Cowal Peninsula. Walks almost entirely on quiet tarmacked back lanes with verges and hedges full of wild flowers and well above the busy coast road. Easy going overall with a few quite steep uphill sections. Wemyss Bay has one of the most beautiful railway stations in the country.

Lunch: No facilities along the way (other than a bus stop north of Skelmorlie Bridge); cafe and toilets at Wemyss Bay and plenty at Largs.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 4h30

Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

the views however are excellent. A largely road-based route, fairly dull in places, leaving Bishopton on pavemented roads and a short estate path, then about a kilometre on pavement-less Drumcross Road before good pavement leads up onto the Erskine Bridge. The bridge crossing is safe behind barriers, with a few short diversions onto the cycle lane and a fairly simple but one steep downhill section into Old Kilpatrick. Crosses the Erskine Bridge. A garden centre at the south end of the bridge has toilets and a cafe.

Lunch: Garden centre with toilets and a cafe at the south end of the Erskine Bridge.

Warnings: Drumcross Road (after the M8) has no pavement or verge for about a kilometre, with bends requiring crossing sides; care needed with constant traffic. One steep downhill section into Old Kilpatrick.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Follows good paths all the way between the two town centres and sticking largely to the vehicular route with one quieter stretch beside Thornley Dam. Some exposed sections can be tough in strong wind.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

The views are wonderful. A straightforward route following the Clyde Coastal Path for most of the way: pleasant tarmac paths overlooking the Clyde estuary and with a less pleasant middle third diverting inland along the busy A8 on a wide pavement past dry docks and a marina. Follows the Clyde Coastal Path. Passes the old sugar warehouses, relics of the area's shipbuilding and shipping heritage.

Warnings: The middle third runs along the busy A8 dual carriageway; a wide pavement is provided but the going is not pleasant. A busy dual carriageway crossing near Port Glasgow (pedestrian crossing provided).

Walk details: Slow Ways.

particularly good views north to Ben Lomond. Follows the main road for most of its length and so fairly noisy with many side roads to cross. There are good views and one high point near Elderslie Golf Course; an adjacent cycle path offers a quieter but lonelier alternative.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: Coast path.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Mostly along the coast road.

Walk details: Railwalks.