Bell's Bridge to Erskine Bridge Loop

Another fine riverside route which has plenty of scope for improvisation!

The initial part from Bell's Bridge through Govan and Linthouse and past the George V docks down to the riverside path at Braehead is on quiet roads though you may have to brace strong headwinds and hold your nose whilst passing the sewage works between Linthouse and the docks.

 Kenny the Cormorant chilling out at Braehead opposite Yoker shipyards.

Once down at Braehead promenade you can marvel at the enormous shipyards at Scotstoun and Yoker, and wonder at how quiet the river is nowadays when once upon a time you could not see the water for traffic and pollution. Moving alongside the river past Xscape and the new riverside housing complex, take a left from the path onto the main road, turning right here into the industrial corner between Renfrew and the river. The path here is a little concealed so keep your eyes peeled. It follows a route behind the scrapyard eventually reaching Renfrew golf course and the river continuing round to the confluence with the White Cart Water whereupon it veers north towards Renfrew. 

Between the river and Renfrew Golf Course looking west to the Titan Crane, the Kilpatrick Hills and the Erskine Bridge.

At the Normandy Hotel and Inchinnan Bridge (here, you can see St. Conval's Chariot stone) turn right across the bridge and onto the Greenock Road towards the town of Inchinnan. Here, take the Old Greenock Road through Inchinnan until the main dual carraigeway. This is the only place where you need to take care since it is a main drag. You could take a more sedate detour through Erskine if this is a little hairy. 

From Erskine Bridge the views east to the city and west down the estuary are awe-inspiring. It is one of the city's many great vantage points from which to breathe things in. 

Looking over Old Kilptarick towards the Loch Humphrey path snaking up and over the Kilpatrick Braes.

On the other side at Kilpatrick we slide down through the glen by the burn to the Forth & Clyde Canal towpath which takes us back to the city serenely via Clydebank (check out the Titan Crane by the new riverside Clydebank College for more superb views!), Yoker (we could take the short ferry ride across the river back to Renfrew), Scotstoun (take a detour through the wonderful Victoria Park), Thornwood and Partick. After a serene and eye-opening 3-4 hour trip we are back where we started at Bell's Bridge.

From the Titan Crane looking towards Renfrew Golf Course (the path we took skirts the rim of this) and the confluence of Clyde and Cart rivers. [Clydebank College is just out of view on the left]