The Greenock Cut

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Greenock Cut
Greenock Cut

The Greenock Cut was built in 1825 to carry water into the town from Loch Thom reservoir. These days a tunnel carries the water supply, and the Cut is part of Clyde Muirshiel Park forming a 6.5 mile circular walk above the Firth of Clyde with spectacular views. First, you look down at Inverkip (for context, the red vessel and Kip Marina are both in the first picture if you enlarge it enough).

Firth of Clyde
Red ship on Clyde
Kip Marina

The path then passes 23 stone bridges, a couple of workers’ bothies and some drainage equipment (this was explained in more detail by the engineer, but don’t ask me. It’s a bucket with a hole in it, basically.)

Old bothy
Overflow
Building for overflow
Bridge
Bridge

As the path meanders over the moorland, there are grand views of the mountains.

Greenock Cut
View of the Arrochar Alps
View from Greenock Cut

The houses of Greenock then come into view. We spent quite a while here looking down and trying to identify where my Grandad used to live – somewhere on the road running up the middle of the first picture I think. My other grandfather used to walk his whippet up here.

Greenock
Greenock
Greenock from the Cut

More of Greenock –

Greenock
Greenock
Greenock

When the path met a minor road, we turned and climbed upwards to a ridge from where we made our way down to Loch Thom.

Loch Thom
Loch Thom

At the bottom we discovered a memorial well and benches. Where’s a bench challenge when you need one?

Loch Thom Memorial Well
Loch Thom Memorial Well
Loch Thom Memorial Well
Loch Thom Memorial Well
Loch Thom Memorial Well

From here, it was a short walk back to the car which we’d left at the Greenock Cut Visitor Centre. We’d hoped to get a coffee there, but it was shut (4pm). However, there is also a little café at Ardgowan Fishery at the other end of the car park which, although basic, is a better bet – we’d had some tasty lentil soup there before we started the walk so we couldn’t complain. In fact, we’d had a lovely afternoon all round.

Linked to Jo’s Monday Walks where there are lots of goodies as usual.

Scotland, UK , , ,

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  1. Pingback: Glasgow Gallivanting: July/August 2019 – The Glasgow Gallivanter
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    • Interesting that it reminds you of Colorado! We’ll find out later in the year. Currently on a spring break then will turn our attention to summer. Glad your husband liked the bench.

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  9. What amazing views!

    I have to say, over the last year (since I am pretty sure I first showed up here during last year’s A to Z Challenge), I have learned so much about Scotland and its amazing countryside (and cities) that I never knew, thanks to all your posts. This one in particular struck me as a place I don’t think I ever would have heard of/known without you, so I just wanted to say it in honor of that.

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  10. 23 stone bridges? How cool, Anabel! I love the architecture of the olden days, but I love your photos of the scenery around Greenock even more. The landscape reminds me of the South Island in New Zealand. I keep being amazed at how much Scotland has to offer. It is about time, I get my a… over there! 🙂

    Liesbet @ Roaming About – A Life Less Ordinary

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    • I’ve often seen Scotland compared to NZ. From your comment I deduce the answer to the question I have just asked on your blog about highland roads (single track with passing places, would hate to drive a camper along them, though people do. Often bring roundly cursed by those behind!)

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      • I guess we are having this conversation going on two sites at once. How exciting! 🙂 I’d love to check the highlands out in a camper van, but I would hate holding other drivers up. Although, by doing so, I might actually save their life. 🙂 But, what if I get there and have to turn around? I assume some research will be involved, or I will just have to believe you and explore with an electric bike when the sun is out. 🙂

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        • We are! Yes, I think research might be necessary. We have only been in a car. Etiquette is that larger, slower vehicles pull in to a passion place and let everyone else by. It’s the one’s who don’t that cause problems, but I’m sure you’d be polite!

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          • You are right. I am very polite! 🙂 And, safe as well (most of the time). We have been in a few places with pull outs to the side and I’d rather pull off and let others go by than knowingly annoy them. The horror of having a car pushing behind you, on a small road. Common sense to let them by when possible…

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  11. It does look like a beautiful place to walk a whippet, with plenty of space to run and no dangerous traffic about. My daughter and I are whippet fans, so the idea really appeals!

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  21. I have to say ‘lucky Greenock’, Anabel! The views are wonderful 🙂 I’ve never been to that area, much less walked a whippet there 🙂 Maybe, one of these days (minus the whippet) because I still have a Rennie Mackintosh trip to undertake. Thanks a lot for the link up. 🙂

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  22. Had a lovely walk in Greenock and Gourock a wee while ago and plan to go back- as you’ve shared, so much interesting history

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