Walks near Paisley 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: Ayrshire Coastal Path with a 1.6-mile inland walk to the station.

Walk details: Railwalks.

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.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Time: 4h–8h

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

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

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.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Time: 3h–6h

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.

Reverse direction: Railwalks.

Recommended: Predominantly flat and on good surfaces, following riverside paths along the River Irvine and Annick Water and then a long straight former-railway cycle track and a few kilometres of farmland. Makes good use of underpasses; well signed as cycle route 73. Follows National Cycle Route 73 and is suitable for cycling. The riverside is tucked away through trees and grassland and is rich in nature.

Time: 3h30–7h30

1 lunch spot: the Brae

Warnings: Building work near the river at the Irvine end means some areas are cordoned off; the riverside route itself is unaffected. Giant hogweed grows beside the path in places and should be avoided as it has a nasty sting.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: Coast path.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Time: 4h30–9h

Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Coast path — Ayrshire Coastal Path all the way.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Time: 3h30–6h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Time: 3h–5h30

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

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Beautiful scenery. Pavements and coastal footpaths out of Largs, then mostly tarmac forest tracks and estate roads inland, with sections of foot/cycle path beside the A78. Easy walking surfaces throughout and with a final uphill stretch on Drummilling Road. A tidal lagoon along the route is full of birdlife. The author has not walked it on the ground.

Coastal: three fifths along the coast.

Time: 3h30–7h

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a third of the walk. The route crosses the busy A78 twice with no formal pedestrian crossings; take care. Drummilling Road into West Kilbride has no verge and blind summits and corners, so walk with care.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Time: 3h–6h30

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

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Coastal: two thirds along the coast.

Time: 4h–8h

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

Walk details: Slow Ways.