Weekend Walks near Glasgow
The Route
This route follows a section of the Clyde Coastal Path that runs from Kip Marina, around Ardgowan Point, all the way to Lunderston Bay, the closest sandy beach to Glasgow and a popular destination for families when the sun is shining.
From the main car park, pick up a paved path that runs past a play area and between the marina and a restaurant. This leads to Harbourside where you turn left to continue around the marina to a T-junction. Turn left here, then after just a few metres go right onto the Clyde Coastal Path, which quickly reaches the coast. Turn right for Lunderston Bay, following the path north around Inverkip Bay with the outlook extending across the Firth of Clyde to the Cowal Peninsula.
Enter Crowhill Wood, then after 75m keep left at a fork and continue to hug the coastline with the firm path providing easy walking. Crowhill Wood is soon left behind as the route now heads along a rockier stretch of coast with fine views extending to the craggy mountains of the Southern Highlands and with open countryside to the right. In a while the path curves east and then north again along the southern edge of Lunderston Bay, which is part of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.
The Sights
Depending on the time of year, oystercatcher, redshank, red-breasted merganser red-throated diver, common guillemot and great black-backed and black-headed gulls may be spotted out on the estuary and along the sandy and rocky shore. Grey seals and porpoise are also regular visitors.
Continuing north, the route is simple and leads all the way to the northern tip of Lunderston Bay where the sandy beach is extremely popular with visitors, especially when the weather is good. In the 1920s a tented village was set up during the summer months by families living in the nearby towns and villages who would spend their summer holiday here. Lunderston Bay was also used as a tented village for soldiers wounded in the First World War. As well as the tents and chalets, the camp included a first aid station, grocery shop, chip shop and baker’s, with games and social events organised. The tradition of tented villages ceased with the onset of the Second World War.
To return to Kip Marina simply retrace your steps along the outward route, with views of Toward Point and across Bute to Arran’s serrated profile.
For more of Pocket Mountains favourite walks in Inverclyde and Renfrewshire, weekend walks near Glasgow, pick up or order copies at your local bookshop.
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