The Greenock Cut, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park — Parking

From the car park

Cornalees Bridge sits above Inverkip on the moorland road between Loch Thom and the coast, signposted from the A78. The Cut path leaves from the visitor centre and follows the contour of the aqueduct — that is the character of the whole walk: it was engineered to fall gently and consistently, so it is almost level the entire way round with the Clyde open below you.

The walk

The standard circuit from Cornalees is around 12km and takes most of a morning, on a path that barely climbs. That flatness is the reason to come and also the reason to take it seriously in bad weather: it is open moorland the whole way, exposed to anything coming up the Firth, with no shelter and no shortcut once you are committed. If you want a summit out of the day, Hill of Stake is the Marilyn behind it — reached along the same path to Loch Thom and then over pathless peat, which is a different walk again.

Facilities

• toilets
• cafe
• picnic tables

Busy times

Weekends, especially bright winter ones — a level path with a view over the Clyde is exactly what people want when the hills are in cloud.

Getting here without a car

Trains to Inverkip or Greenock and then a stiff climb up onto the moor; there is no service to Cornalees itself. Check Traveline Scotland.

Current conditions

Frequently asked questions

Is parking free at the Greenock Cut?

Yes — free parking at the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre at Cornalees Bridge, PA16 9LX, with toilets and a seasonal cafe. The trails are open daily all year; the cafe and toilet hours are seasonal, so check the current times with Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park before relying on them.

How long is the Greenock Cut walk?

The usual circuit from Cornalees is around 12km and takes most of a morning. It is almost flat throughout because it follows an aqueduct, so the distance is easier than the same figure would be on a hill.

What is the Greenock Cut?

A water aqueduct designed by Robert Thom and built between 1825 and 1827 by Shaw’s Water Company to supply Greenock’s mills and townspeople from Loch Thom. Historic Environment Scotland put it at around 7.9km long and schedule it along with its reservoir, sluices, sluice houses and workmen’s bothies. It became obsolete in 1971 and was scheduled as a monument in 1972.

Is the Greenock Cut a hill walk?

No — it is a level path along an aqueduct and appears on no hill list. If you want a summit from the same car park, Hill of Stake at 522m is the Marilyn behind it, reached along the Cut path to Loch Thom and then over genuinely pathless peat and bog.

Open in maps

Coordinates: 55.9103, -4.8065