Clybea one

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Review of Slow Ways route Clybea one (Clydebank to Bearsden)
I walked this route on a mild, dry day in October 2023. I had read the previous review and found the description and the warnings contained within it very helpful. In practice however, I found the route perfectly doable, if a little challenging in places. I agree however that it should probably best be undertaken by those falling into the categories of (reasonably) “fit” and “adventurous”. The main issue, as described, is the steep, earth path which heads uphill from the main track through Garscadden Wood (at NS53217179) and emerges on Thorn Road (at NS53267209). The path is obviously poorly used and is in danger of being lost altogether (although I notice that the new housing estate being built at the top of the hill is preserving the line of the path, so it may end up being preserved after all). For this specific reason, I am actually minded to recommend the route – to encourage others to use it (albeit with due care, for the reasons given). The route overall is not untypical of many I have walked in Glasgow. There are sections along busy roads, awkward road crossings, very neglected green patches, slightly lonely and frightening stretches, well-intentioned “nature-areas”, very neglected housing estates and (in contrast) leafy suburbs. In fact, this route straddles the wafer-thin boundary between two of the most socio-economically diverse areas in the Glasgow region (Bearsden has a male life expectancy of 80.5 years while Drumchapel’s is 68.9 years). I would recommend the route (but for walkers only), with the warning that there are several muddy sections, several rather lonely sections and one steep/overgrown section (specified above).

Although I walked this route a closely as possible, I don't recommend it in it's present state!

Firstly, on leaving Clydebank, we walk alongside a busy road, before we head down residential roads.

Descending into Drumry, down steps to the dual carriageway, the route has us crossing the road at the roundabout. Where there is no crossing. There is one to the right of the steps, and it makes more sense to go up the steps or slopes into the estate opposite.

Again, we go through residential areas, before hitting the wooded valley between housing estates (quite a bit of flytipping, unfortunately). Over the road, the path is a bit more ill-defined in places. Once past a substation, the path is nice and wooded. Then it goes steeply uphill. It's almost impossible, but it appears to be well used; it becomes a linear footpath between fences at the top, before hitting the streets again, which brings us into Bearsden.

As it presently stands, it's foot-only, but only those fit and adventurous due to terrain and some route choices. Due to accuracy and access, I cannot recommend this route.

I'd recommend a route that follows the canal before turning towards Bearsden; I'd do one myself, but I'm not local and wouldn't be able to test it! Hopefully someone from the locality will come up with a better option!.

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