Renfrewshire

4 miles / 6 km

A short walk to one of the true beauty spots in Renfrewshire.... Glanderston Dam. This is a very nice dam with the Dungarnock hill as a dramatic backdrop. This is a walk for the whole family, 3-4 generations. The opening of the Balgray train station has made this walk even more accessible. It is a beautiful walk.

Easy

An easy walk on small tarmac roads and very little traffic. The walk is undulating with a good climb in the beginning. The scenery is very good throughout. Good shoes and plenty of drinks as usual. Don't drink the water in Glanderston Dam as it is used by the local farm animals. This whole area is superb for walks and physical training. It is a lovely area, indeed.

McGill's Bus 51 to Newton Avenue from Paisley Town Hall/Barrhead 2 - 4 times an hour.
Train from Glasgow Central Station to Balgray railway station (opening date 27. Sept) 2-3 times an hour

The walk starts at the bus stop in Newton Avenue. Walk to the left here until the first road to the right, Hawthorn Drive. Climb the staircases and follow the signpost to St. Luke's High School. Walk around the school or cross through the car park(if the school is open) to the gates. Cross Springfield Road and take the Balgraystone Road straight ahead. This road past a housing development now crosses under the Balgray railway station and the Glasgow - Neilston railway line.

This is the start on the walk for those who has taken the train from Glasgow/Neilston to Balgray railway station. A railway station that is opening up a new area for walks and physical training. Which is a welcome side effect of this railway station.
The wal
The walk continues straight ahead (take the road to the left, under the railway bridge, if you are coming from the Balgray railway station) and up a single track road past a dog park called Harris Park. I have with great fun observed the dogs running around, chasing each others and having great fun in this park. I think dog parks is a great idea.... And these words come from a cat lover who prefers cats to dogs.
Canines aside... The walk/road climbs a bit along the farm fields up to the Balgraystone Road - Glanderstone Road crossroad. Dungarnock Hill comes into view here in all it's glory.



Take Glanderstone Road to the right here. There are some great views from this crossroad towards Barrhead, Neilston and Paisley.



The road is undulating with a drop to the bridge crossing the Aurs Burn. The climb up from this bridge is steep but mercifully short. At the top of this climb, a gravel track takes you to the Glanderston Dam through a gate. The next two pictures speak for themselves.






The path straight ahead takes you all the way to the top of Dungarnock Hill, which I have yet to climb due to some mobility problems now resolved (I will post this walk as soon as I have done it, although there are numerous other guides to this walk on other websites).

Return to Glanderstone Road again and walk straight ahead. At the next crossroad, Glanderstone Road - Springhill Road, take the road to the left up the hill. The road is climbing pretty steadily to the next crossroad. Take the Kirkton Road to the right here. This is an undulating road which takes the walk to the playing fields at Neilston. When at the playing fields, take the road to the right down to the bus stop/Neilston railway station where this walk ends.

Train to Balgray/Glasgow 2 times an hour.
McGill's Bus 3 to Glasgow 2 times an hour.
McGill's Bus 66 to Barrhead/Paisley 2 times an hour.