An Introduction to Walking in Renfrewshire and Paisley
Welcome to Walking in Renfrewshire. In this guide you will find fifteen different walking routes in Paisley. The walks are varied in length and degree of difficulty. Some walks are completely flat, whilst others may include a moderate slope. All the walks are on surfaced paths although those starting near Ross House may be slightly muddy in wet weather.
ITS TIME TO GET WALKING!
Safety First
- Wear shoes that you find comfortable for walking on pavements. (Flat shoes or trainers are ideal)
- You should aim to walk at a brisk pace. You should feel warmer and be breathing a little harder than normal. You should still be comfortable and able to hold a conversation
- If you are breathless then you are overdoing it
- Most of the walks are around the busy Paisley streets and some use quieter paths. Take sensible precautions - if you are worried about walking on your own, why not get a friend to join you
- Use the routes during the day
Walk No.1
High Street /Oakshaw
DIRECTIONS
Start at the front entrance of Paisley Museum and Art Galleries. Facing the museum turn right down the High Street. Take the second on the left and at a steady pace walk up Church Hill, a steep cobbled pedestrian road. At the top you will find Oakshaw Trinity Church. Follow the path
round the right hand side of the church and then round to the left behind the church. Continue along Oakshaw Street to the end of the road, passing Coats Observatory on the left. At the end of the road you will find a large imposing building with a big dome, the former John Neilson Institute. A cobbled lane leads off to the right and a road to the left. Take this road leading downhill to the left of the building, this is West Brae. At the bottom of the hill turn left onto Well Meadow Streetand continue until you reach the front of the museum again.
Distance: 1.2 kms Approximate Time: 15 mins
Walk No. 2
Jenny's Well
DIRECTIONS
Starts at the junction of Hawkhead Road and Jenny's Well Road opposite the entrance to Ross House. Walk up Jenny's Well Road to the end, here the path becomes part of the national Cycleway Route 7. Follow the national cycle path for a few metres before veering off on a minor sloping path on the right. Take this path. At the top of the slight incline go up the steps on the right. (You can avoid the steps by continuing up the slope - if you do this walk around
to the top of the steps.) At the top of the steps bear right along the path. Keep following the path round. When you come to a junction take the path on the left. Continue on this path bearing left until you return to the top of the steps. Return down the slope and via the cyclepath to
Jenny's Well Road.
Walk
Starting at the same point as route 1 continue up the cycle path passing the football pitch on your right. Take the narrow path off to the right around the pitch. (There is a short, steep and sometimes muddy path down to the riverside if you wish to take it). Otherwise carry on along the main path. Continue to follow the path round to wooden steps on the left. Taking the steps rejoin the cycle path near the start of your walk.
Walk Distance: 0.75kms Approximate time: 15 mins
Walk Distance: 1.2kms Approximate time: 20 mins
Walk No. 3
Fountain Gardens
DIRECTIONS
Start at the main entrance of Paisley Abbey. Walk past the entrance of the Town Hall, cross Gauze Street and turn left passing the front entrance of the Piazza Shopping Centre on your right. At the war memorial turn right down Gilmour Street. Pass through County Square and underneath the railway arch, before crossing straight over at the traffic lights. Turn right along Old Sneddon Street. A few metres along, take the steps on the left down to the riverside. Go up the steps at the far end of the walkway and turn left onto Niddry Street. Cross over using the pedestrian crossing and then continue in the same direction along Niddry Street. Turn right onto Love Street and you will find Fountain Gardens a few metres along on the left. Walk
straight across the park and out of the other side onto Caledonia Street. Turn left and proceed to the mini roundabout, then turn left along St James Street. At the far end cross St James Street and turn left. Walk under the first railway arch. Continue along Moss Street and cross diagonally at Paisley Cross. Enter Dunn Square by the steps between the Coats brothers’ statues. Cross the square and then walk along cobbled Forbes Place. Continue along the river before turning left over the Abbey Bridge. To return to the start turn left into Abbey Close.
Walk No. 4
From Romans To Reels
DIRECTIONS
Walk 1
Start from the main entrance of the Royal Alexandra Hospital on Corsebar Road. Turn left along Corsebar Road. Pass the end of three dead end roads on the right. Turn right along the fourth road, Cross Road. Follow this road to the end. You will pass a small area of woodland on your right with a small burn (the Candren Burn) at the bottom of the slope. At the end of Cross Road turn right onto the main road. You will eventually pass a cricket ground on your right. Continue on to the traffic lights and then turn right onto Corsebar Road and return to the hospital.
Walk 2
Start from the main entrance of the Royal Alexandra Hospital turn right passing the hospital car park on your right. At the first road junction turn right into Riccartsbar Avenue and follow the avenue to the top. Continue round to the left to the junction with Craw Road. Turn left along Craw Road and continue to the junction with Corsebar Way. Turn left and walk along the road, continue onto the footpath returning along Corsebar Road to the hospital.
Walk: Distance: 1.8kms Approximate time: 25 mins
Walk: Distance: 1.2kms Approximate time: 15 mins
Walk No. 5
Queen Street / Storie Street
DIRECTIONS
Starts at the main entrance of Paisley Museum and Art Galleries. Walk away from Paisley Cross passing Paisley University on the left. Just beyond the junction of Lady Lane you will pass a bench with ‘ginger bottles’ cut out of the back. Continue on the main road and at the traffic lights take the left hand fork. Cross over the end of Castle Street and take the next left into Queen Street. You will pass Tannahill’s thatched cottage on the left. At the bottom of the street continue straight through to George Street and turn left. As the road curves round there are thin metal bollards on the left separating two roads. At this point leave the dual carriageway and cross over onto the other road. Continue in approximately the same direction as before with 4 storey flats on the left and a high rise block on the right. Eventually you will pass the original university buildings. Just after these turn left into Storie Street. You will pass the Robertson Trust Library on the left. When you reach the top of the hill turn left again into the High Street. The walk ends back at the museum.
Distance: 1.8kms Approximate time: 20 mins
Walk No. 6
Sauchel Hill
DIRECTIONS
Start at the junction of Cotton Street and Abbey Close. Walk across Abbey Bridge away from the Abbey. Cross the bottom of Orchard Street and continue along Gordon Street. After passing the red sandstone church and the old fire station on your left use the pedestrian crossing to cross
both parts of Gordon Street. Head up Causeyside Street away from the town centre. At Canal railway station turn left down the steps onto the platform. Take the cycle path which heads up onto a grassy hill behind the platform. Take the path left around the base of the hill. (For a great view over Paisley and north, climb up the grass hill on your right). Continue along the cycle path to the end, turn immediately left into Patrick Street. Walk to the end, cross the bridge over the railway line and take the narrow path down to the dual carriageway - Lonend. Turn left, cross the road using the central island and continue down hill. At the traffic lights turn right aross the front of the Watermill Hotel. When you come to the river you will see the Hammils waterfalls on the right. Continue across the river, cross the road carefully or alternatively use the underpass via steps on your right. Head towards the Abbey.
Distance: 2.1kms Approximate time: 30 mins
Walk No. 7
Taking The Cycle Path
DIRECTIONS
Start from the main entrance of the Royal Alexandra Hospital, turn right onto the main road (Corsebar Road). You will pass a cricket ground on your left. As Corsebar Road rises up
towards the traffic lights turn right into Craw Road. After a few yards turn left onto the cycle path. Take the path labelledto Lochwinnoch and Kilmacolm. You will walk under the road then continue along the cycle path to the next bridge. Here take the spur off to the left and follow this up to
the main road joining Lounsdale Road close to the junction with Stranka Avenue. Turn left and continue to the traffic lights. Turn right along Corsebar Road to the start.
Distance: 1.3kms Approximate time: 15 mins
Walk No. 8
To The Edge Of The Cart
DIRECTIONS
Start on Hawkhead Road at the entrance to Ross House. Walk along the drive passing Ross House on the right. At the end of the drive carry straight on to the cycle path and follow this to the residential road. Turn left and follow the road up to a wood at the top. The cycle path continues along the edge of a small coniferous wood. Continue to follow the cycle path passing a children's playground on the right. Pass a small football pitch on the left and continue until the cycle path goes through a gate over a small burn. If you have a little more time continue along the edge of the river and then turn back the same way retracing your steps to the football pitch. Take the small path to the left up the hill passing the children's playground on your right. The lane between the houses will take you out to Ben Lawers Drive. Turn left and follow the road to Ben More Drive. Turn right into Ben More Drive and follow it to the end. You should see the cycle way ahead of you and take this path back to Ross House.
Distance: 2.2kms Approximate time: 35 mins
Walk No 9.
Two Walks Around The Abbey
DIRECTIONS
Start the walk from the junction of Abbey Close and Cotton Street. With the Abbey on your left and the Council offices on your right walk along Cotton Street to Gauze Street. Follow the road round to the left onto Gauze Street. Head towards Paisley Cross passing the Town Hall on your left.
After passing the Coats brothers’ statues at the entrance to Dunn Square turn left along St Mirren Street.. For the short walk take the second road on the left, Forbes Place, this will take you into a narrow cobbled street. At the end of this street you will come to the White Cart Water turn right along a pedestrian way. At the bridge turn left and return to the Abbey. For the longer route continue along Causeyside Street, crossing over and then turning right up New Street. Cross over and take the first street on the left, Shuttle Street. Follow the road round into George Place (the Sma’ Shot Cottages are on your right) and then left into George Street. Cross over and walk down Wardrop Street to the junction with Canal Street. Turn left and cross Causeyside Street, carry straight on along Gordon Street, bear left across the end of Orchard Street and walk back towards the Abbey over Abbey Bridge
Walk Distance: 0.8kms Approximate time: 10 mins
Walk Distance: 1.5kms Approximate time: 20 mins
Walk No 10.
Smithills to Causeyside
DIRECTIONS
Start at the main entrance of Paisley Abbey. Pass the front of the Town Hall, cross straight over Gauze Street and walk down Smithhills Street. Carry straight on under the railway arch before turning left onto Old Sneddon Street. Walk along Old Sneddon Street passing an entrance to
Gilmour Street Railway Station on the left. Then turn left into Moss Street. At Paisley Cross walk over to St Mirren Street and cross over using the pedestrian crossing. Walk down the street with the laid out gardens of Dunn Square on your left. Continue along Causeyside Street to the Russell Institute on the right, turn left into Orchard Street. At the end turn left again into Bridge Street. Cross the river and return to the start by turning left into Abbey Close.
Distance: 1.5kms Approximate time: 20 mins
Walk No. 11
University Cycle Path
DIRECTIONS
Start at the junction of Lady Lane and George Street at the back of Paisley University buildings. Turn left along George Street and quickly turn right into West Buchanan Place. Walk through the pedestrian way to Canal Street. Use the pedestrian crossing to cross Canal Street and walkstraight up Camphill opposite. A few metres up the hill, bear right onto the cycle track. Follow the cycle track and you will go through a tunnel with carvings in the stonework above the entrance way. Further on, an exit on the right would take you onto Maxwellton Road. However continue
along the cycle track, further on you will see a bridge over the path but another path leaves the cycle track on the left. Take the path to the left, at the top of the slight slope turn slightly to the right and then immediately left onto Craw Road. After a short walk take the road on the left
blocked off by metal bollards. This is High Road follow this down hill to the junction with Main Road. Here bear off to the left. You will be able to see Canal Street at the bottom of the road. Cross over the dual carriageway and cross into the blocked off road George Street. Turn towards the right and head back along George Street to where you started.
Distance: 2.0kms Approximate time: 35 mins
