Renfrewshire

6 miles / 10 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 long one, the medium one. The other two walks are the short walk and the grand tour. All three are very good walks and among my favourite walks. They are hilly as it crosses one glen and two hills. This walk is also great fun.

Medium Hard

This walk is a hilly walk with some steep climbs and descents. It is also a very scenic walk with some great views. Good shoes and plenty of water are required.

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

Step of the bus at Kilmacolm village square next to the Coop Shop. Cross the street and walk up the first street to the right, Market Place. Then take the first street to the left again and walk 300 yards/meters to a playing field on the right side. Take the road, West Glen Road, up to the right here. This road climbs steadily up through Kilmacolm to a farm field where it becomes pretty flat. The road follows this farm field until a small, sort of, flat mountain pass. This mountain pass takes you from the Gryffe Valley to the West Glen. The views just after passing through this pass are like this one below...




The walk becomes a bit flatter now. After 500 yards/meters, there is a superb viewpoint with, on a clear day, views towards Paisley and Glasgow. The road now drops past some farm fields towards the West Glen Road - Gallahill Road. At this crossroad, take the Gallahill Road first through a forest and then over a bridge before the road comes to the Gallahill Road - Netherton Road crossroad. Continue straight ahead (while the Kilmacolm - Langbank short walk is taking the road to the right) and up some climbs towards a farm.



This road is climbing steadily past the farm to the end of West Glen. The final climb is both hard and long. The views from here are really good. The walk is now leaving West Glen behind and is entering the wide Clyde Valley.



The road is now dropping down the hill with some great views towards River Clyde, Helensburgh and Cardross. At the end of the descent, take the Old Greenock Road to the right and up a small incline and past some farm fields which now have some llamas. Weird.... The views towards the Bowling area and Kilpatrick Hill are very good from this hilltop. At the bottom of this big hill, which the walk is now descending, take the road to the left, the aptly named Station Road, which descends down to Langbank train stop where this walk ends... and unfortunately, it ends with a steep climb on the footbridge over the railway line to the other platform, direction Glasgow.

Train to Paisley/Glasgow 2 times an hour.