Walks Along the River Kelvin

Snow Bridge and Azalea Garden

Orange Route (15 minutes)

From Museum turn right through the car park and just before the wee boat statue turn left to the path by the river. Walk downstream to where the river runs over a weir. This is where the Bunhouse Mills ground flour for Glasgow’s bread using water power fron the Kelvin. You can see the sluice-gates that opened so water ran through the lade or channel to turn the mill wheels.

Cross the river at the Snow Bridge before you reach Dumbarton Road. The gates in the railing used to be opened to clear away snow when this was the main Partick Bridge. Turn right then bear left along the riverside footpath. As you reach the Azalea Garden look out for the Chalybeate Spring Well. Pass ‘The Psalmist’ statue and stop at the weir opposite the Museum. The Archle Clayslaps Mill once stood there. It ground tobacco into snuff before the bakers took it over to grind flour. you may see a heron and goosanders nearby.

The footpath leads to Kelvin Way Bridge which takes you back to the Museum grounds.

Kelvingrove Park

Orange & purple routes (20 minutes)

From Galleries go right through the car park and cross Kelvin Way into the park.

Bear left along the river, and after the play park go right to the pond. Moorhens and mallards nest on the island in the pond.

Cross the river at the Prince of Wales Bridge near the South Africa Memorial and trun left, downstream. Look out for the bird feeder in a tree on your left before you reach the bandstand. You should see bluetits, great tits, chaffinches, possibly long tailed tits and coal tits, dunnocks and robins as well as the pigeons who are hoping you will feed them.

Continue along the path to return to Kelvin Way Bridge and the Museum.

Kelvin Walkway and Flint Mill

Orange, purple & red routes (25 minutes each way)

Follow the route through the park but do not cross the river, continue past the stone circle and keep left beside the river under Gibson Street Bridge. Paper mills and cotton mills once stood on the flat ground here. Continue across the foot bridge where the river was dammed to send water down a lade (not there now) to the mills. A railway used to run through here. pass the Big Blue Café and steps which lead up to the Great Western Road. Go under the Kelvin Bridge and along the walkway. You may see a kingfisher. FORKs have planted wildflowers on the slopes of your left. Look for the ferns, lichens, mosses and liverworts on the walls under Belmont Street Bridge.

A footbridge leads to North Woodside Flint Mill, and this part of the walkway used to be the old Garriochmill Road.

An interpretation Board explains how the flint was used and what the ruins are.

Ha’penny Bridge House

Orange, purple, red & green routes (40 minutes each way from the Museum)

Two paths lead on from the Flint Mill. The land between the paths used to be the miller’s garden. They join at the end of the lade. On the riverside path you may see mallards with ducklings (in spring), dippers and possibly a tree-creeper. The weir has steps on the far side so fish can swim up to reach the streams where they spawn. This is a favourite spot for the heron. Queen Margaret Bridge is good for echoes

Continue past the Botanic Gardens Footbridge (the Humpback bridge), 5 minutes walk brings you to Ha’penny Bridge house . you can read about it under the Cormorant on the door.

On to the Botanic Gardens and back to the Museum.

Orange Route, purple, red, green and yellow routes

Over Ha’penny Bridge turn right to find the Arboretum, or left then left again to return through the Botanic Gardens. Keep left for a good view of the Kelvin from above and a walk through the trees spotting birds. the main path bearing right leads to a play area and gardens.

The riverside path bring you back to the Humpback bridge, with steps leading to the Kibble Palace, Public Toilets and Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre. The footbridge is a good place for waterfowl spotting.

This time keep to the path on the left at the weir, looking out for the strange carved face in the wall on your left.