Distance 6.5 miles (10.5km)
Classification Moderate
Duration 3 hours
Begins Greenock Cut visitor centre
OS grid reference NS247721
Walk in a nutshell
Sturdy paths and tracks create a breathtaking jaunt around the historic aqueduct Greenock Cut. Beginning from the visitor centre, the walk travels high above Greenock and the river Clyde and then over wilder moorland, before returning to the start.
Why it's so special
Greenock Cut is an ancient monument and a central ingredient of Clyde Muirshiel Park. The walk passes by 23 beautiful stone bridges and two bothies that provided basic accommodation for the workers when Greenock Cut was built in the 19th century. You'll also be treated to some of the best views in southern Scotland.
Keep your eyes peeled for
Lovely Loch Thom, and the Compensation reservoir. They were both built to supply water for the Greenock Cut aqueduct, which was designed by Robert Thom between 1825-27.
Recover afterwards
Located in the centre of Greenock, in one of the town's most historic buildings, the Square is an ideal place to refuel.
If it's tipping down
Thirteen miles from Greenock, in the village of Kilbarchan, you'll find the Weaver's Cottage. During the 1800s, Kilbarchan was home to around 800 working looms and the Weaver's Cottage houses the last one. It is open 30 March-30 September. Greenock is also home to the McLean Museum and Art Gallery .
How to get there
There are regular trains from Glasgow to Greenock Central station, which is 7 miles from Greenock visitor centre.
Step by step
1 From the visitor centre car park, turn right on to a single-track road, where the road splits. Take the centre path and follow it through a gate. Turn left over a bridge then right on to a path, which goes through another gate then forks. Take the right fork and continue along the path past Shielhill Farm to a gate. Go through it, cross a road and go through another gate.
2 A path travels high above the river Clyde. Go through another gate from where the views are stunning. Follow the path as it snakes its way through the countryside, through another gate high above Greenock. It then veers right above a steep gorge, crosses a bridge beside a waterfall and then sweeps left above the gorge.
3 Once across another stone bridge, a grassier path cuts through some woodland and through another gate. A footbridge crosses a burn from where the path meanders through several more gates to approach a cottage at Overton.
4 Just before the cottage turn right, cross a bridge and go through a gate on to a track. On reaching a fork take the right track, which passes a reservoir, and go through a gate. Follow the track as it climbs steadily to a fork.
5 Take the left fork, where the track drops to Loch Thom. Continue to Loch Thom Cottage, go through a gate on to a road and follow this alongside Compensation reservoir. The road passes a cafe and one final gate before returning to the visitor centre.
