Renfrewshire
8 miles / 13 km
The West Glen between Kilmacolm and Langbank is a hidden glen/gem. It is also the finest area in the whole of Renfrewshire. The small roads here are idyllic. There is a lot to love here.
There are three routes between Kilmacolm and Langbank over the West Glen. This walk is the grand tour of the West Glen, the longest walk. All three walks are very good walks and among my favourite walks. They are hilly as it crosses one glen and two hills. This walk takes in the whole West Glen from the bottom to the top.
Hard
There are three good climbs here and one steep descent. This walk is long and unrelenting on some good small roads. There is a 400 yards/meters long bit on the Houston - Langbank main road here. Besides of that, the roads are quiet and have almost no traffic. They are a paradise for physical training and great walks.
Good shoes and lots of water are required on this walk.
McGill's Bus 7/7A from Paisley Town Hall to Linwood 4 - 6 times an hour. Then bus X7 to Kilmacolm.
McGill's Bus X7 from Glasgow/Braehead/Linwood 1 -2 times an hour.
The walk starts from Kilmacolm village square, next to the well-stocked Coop Shop. From the bus stop, cross the road over to the Post Office and then the first road, Market Place to the right. 50 yards/meters up this road, take the next road, Gillburn Road to the right again. Follow this road up the hill for 300 yards/meters to the first proper road to the right again, Glencairn Road. Follow this road for half a mile/ 1 km until the end of this road. There are some really nice houses to the left of this road, btw.
At the end of Glencairn Road, take the Houston Road, which changes to Kilallan Road after 200 yards/meters, to the left up a steep hill to the first holes at the Kilmacolm Golf Course. The walk on this small road takes you between two of this golf course's holes and then down a long descent to a valley.
After the descent, take the first road, Corseliehill Road, up to the left. This small road is steadily climbing up the hill to a farm and then becomes more undulating with some good views towards the south. This area is truly astounding, peaceful.
The road drops down to the main road between Houston and Langbank. Follow the road to the left for the next 400 yards/meters to the beginning of the West Glen, signposted Kilmacolm.
The road is a bit flat in the beginning before it starts to rise again past the farm fields. This is a really hard climb.
The road climbs up past a fishery up towards the West Glen Road - Gallahill Road crossroad. The road flattens out a bit just before this crossroad...
Take the road to the right here, the Gallahill Road. This road are flat in the beginning, crossing a stream on a bridge before it starts to climb up towards the farm in the upper part of The West Glen.
The road flattens out past the final farm here, North Glen Farm, before the final climb out of the glen awaits the walker. This climb is very hard and unrelenting before it crests over the hill and the end of this glen. The Clyde valley is now awaiting you with some good views towards Helensburgh, Cardross and River Clyde.
After the descent past a farm, you are now at the Gallahill Road - Old Greenock Road crossroad. Take Old Greenock Road to the right, past some llamas and over the hill before the road falls down to the Old Greenock Road - Station Road crossroad. Take the Station Road to the left, down the hill to Langbank train stop and then climb this pesky, steep footbridge over the railway line to the other platform where this walk ends.
Train to Paisley/Glasgow 2 times an hour.
Enjoy the walk !!