Kelvin Walkway, Glasgow

Path at Kelvin Walkway in summer sunshine

Welcome to this illustrated guide to the Kelvin Walkway on the north bank of the River Kelvin. It covers the walk from the Belmont Bridge in the heart of the west end to the abandoned railway bridge over the river, which once carried the disused line from Maryhill towards the Botanic Gardens.
The walkway passes by some very interesting and picturesque sites on this stretch of the river. It is a little known treasure of Glasgow’s west end, only a stone throw from the area’s hub at Byres Road on the other side of the Botanic Gardens.
The original stretch of the walkway, on the north bank facing the Botanic Gardens, has been in public ownership since 1895. The City had taken over the privately owned Gardens on 1st November 1891 and thereafter added another 8 acres on both sides of the river in 1895. Footbridges were provided to give visitors to the Gardens access to the narrow strip of parkland on the other side of the river.

Kelvin Walkway from Belmont Bridge to disused Railway Bridge

Footbridge leading to Kelvin Walkway at North Woodside Flint Mill

Footbridge, upstream from Belmont Bridge, leading to Kelvin Walkway at North Woodside Flint Mill

Map of North Woodside Flint Mill from 1858

Map of North Woodside Flint Mill from 1858, showing "Mill Lade" channelling water to power the mill

Channel leading to sluice gate at North Woodside Flint Mill

The sluice gate controlled the flow rates of the water being channelled in to drive the millwheels

Ruins of North Woodside Flint Mill

Stone millwheel at North Woodside Flint Mill

Stone millwheel at North Woodside Flint Mill, placed here from another site

South pier and stunted remains of central pier of original Queen Margaret Bridge which was dismantled in 1971

South pier and stunted remains of central pier of original Queen Margaret Bridge, which was dismantled in 1971

Weir on River Kelvin, downstream from Queen Margaret Bridge

Uprooted tree at weir on River Kelvin, downstream from Queen Margaret Bridge

Reflections on calm water appoaching weir on River Kelvin

Underneath the Queen Margaret Bridge on the Kelvin Walkway

Shadows underneath the Queen Margaret Bridge on the Kelvin Walkway

Humpback bridge over River Kelvin

The Kelvin Walkway was the scene of the first ever murder in "Taggart", back in the early eighties.
One of the many suspects reached a dead end at this bridge which had an outsized stage padlock stopping him from crossing the Kelvin!
The guy they chased across the bridge was not the eventual culprit of the dastardly deed filmed at the riverside.

View through ironwork at Humpback Bridge, Kelvin Walkway

The present day Ha’penny Bridge dates from 2002, when it was erected as a replacement for the ugly wrought-iron box-girder toll bridge which was washed away by floodwater on 10th December 1994.
The original bridge was constructed to provide access to Kirklee Station, which had been created at the northern edge of Botanic Gardens for the residents of the new suburb of North Kelvinside, which had been established on the other side of the river in the early 1870’s.
This neat little timber footbridge is one of the few modern features to be seen along the Kelvin Walkway.

Ha'penny Bridge, Kelvin Walkway