Long distance
Clyde Walkway
Follows the River Clyde from the centre of Glasgow upstream to New Lanark World Heritage Site and the Falls of Clyde, ending above the topmost fall at Bonnington Linn. Urban and suburban at first, genuinely rural later, and never above 200 m. Works equally well in either direction over 3 days. The full route covers 65 km (40 mi) with 720 m of climbing.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 65 km/ 40 mi
- Typical days
- 3
- Total ascent
- 720 m
- Difficulty
- easy
- Start → Finish
- Glasgow → New Lanark
- Best direction
- Either direction
- Water sources
- The route passes through Glasgow and a string of Lanarkshire towns and villages, with Strathclyde Country Park and New Lanark on the way — refill there. The river is not a drinking source.
- Mobile signal
- Good coverage along the populated Clyde corridor; expect brief gaps in the deeper wooded gorge sections above Crossford and around the Falls of Clyde.
✔ Waymarked throughout
Approximate profile derived from per-stage ascent — accurate on total climb and pattern, not a pixel-precise GPX trace.
Our take
The Clyde Walkway is the most accessible long-distance route in Scotland — it starts at Partick station in Glasgow's west end, so you can step off a train onto it. The first section through the city is urban riverside regeneration; the middle section through Lanarkshire is pleasant farmland; the finale through New Lanark and up the gorge past Corra Linn to Bonnington Linn is spectacular. An excellent winter walk when the hills are out of condition. Waymarking is not continuous, so carry a map for the urban sections.
Highlights
- Glasgow riverside — from the SEC to Dalmarnock
- Bothwell Castle and Strathclyde Country Park
- New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Falls of Clyde upstream of New Lanark — Dundaff Linn, Corra Linn and the route's end at Bonnington Linn
Day-by-day itinerary
A suggested 3-day schedule. Adjust to your fitness and conditions.
1Glasgow to Strathclyde Country Park29km
From Partick through the city along the Clyde waterfront, past Cuningar Loop to Cambuslang Bridge, then by Bothwell Castle to the watersports centre at Strathclyde Country Park.
- Terrain
- Urban riverside paths, cycle paths, parkland. Flat and surfaced.
- Overnight
- Hotels at Strathclyde Country Park; more choice in Hamilton and Motherwell nearby.
- Stats
- Glasgow (Partick) → Strathclyde Country Park · 29km
2Strathclyde Country Park to Crossford24km
Past the Baron's Haugh RSPB reserve, then through the Clyde Valley woodlands and orchard country by Cardies Bridge to the village of Crossford.
- Terrain
- Riverside paths, farm tracks, woodland trails.
- Overnight
- Limited in Crossford itself; Lanark is the nearest town with more choice.
- Stats
- Strathclyde Country Park → Crossford · 24km
3Crossford to New Lanark and Bonnington Linn11km
Up the wooded Clyde gorge to New Lanark World Heritage Site, then on upstream past Dundaff Linn and Corra Linn to the end of the walkway at Bonnington Linn, the topmost of the Falls of Clyde.
- Terrain
- Gorge paths, woodland trails, some steep sections near the falls.
- Overnight
- New Lanark has a hotel. Lanark above has more hotels and B&Bs.
- Stats
- Crossford → Bonnington Linn (New Lanark) · 11km
Transport
To start (Glasgow)
Train · ScotRail
Partick station (Argyle / North Clyde lines) at the western trailhead
Check times & book →
From finish (New Lanark)
Best months
Accommodation
Plentiful hotels in the urban sections, with hotels at Strathclyde Country Park and at New Lanark. There are no campsites along the route. Good bus and rail links mean the walk can also be done as day sections from Glasgow.
Night-by-night guide: where to stay →Resupply
Shops are easy to find through Glasgow and the Lanarkshire towns at the start. Once the route turns rural beyond Strathclyde Country Park, the villages are small, so carry the day's food and stock up in Lanark for the final section.
Connect with
Chain into a longer expedition by combining with adjacent long-distance routes.
Current conditions
Weather at the start point (Glasgow)
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:15
- Sunset
- 16:48
- Civil dawn
- 06:36
- Civil dusk
- 17:26
NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 2026
Share your experience
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Getting to and from the Clyde Walkway
Train and town anchors at each end of the route — on TripSCOT.