> Glasgow DIY Walking Tour – Route Map <
Distance: 7.2 km (nearly 5 miles); Duration: 2-8 hours
The Glasgow DIY Walking Tour is a competely step-free and level walk of just 7.2 kilometres (just under 5 miles), and as “normal” walking speed is around 7km/h (or 4mph), then if you were to simply rush round, the route would take just 2 hours – at a very easy pace.
Although with a 1 hour stop at each of the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art (GoMA), the Glasgow Clydeside Distillery, the Glasgow Science Centre and the Riverside Museum, I would allow for a 5-8 hour walk (and even more time if you plan to stop at either the rooftop Sky Bar at the Radisson RED Glasgow Hotel, or at the riverside cafe of the Hilton Garden Inn Glasgow City Centre (as either will allow you to break your journey in two, and the views are sensational from both: the views over central Glasgow and the River Clyde from the Sky Bar; and the riverside views of the River Clyde from the Hilton).
Eventually, the Glasgow DIY Walking Tour will start from George Square (at the eastern end of the route – the Glasgow City Centre end). However, there is currently work going on in George Square. So, for now, the route actually starts just before George Square – at the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art (GoMA).
Theoretically, the Glasgow DIY Walking Tour can be made in either direction – either by starting from the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art (GoMA), walking/rolling in a westward direction to the end at the Riverside Museum, and then taking a wheelchair accessible taxi to return to central Glasgow; or by taking a wheelchair accessible taxi TO the Riverside Museum, starting from there, and then just walking/rolling back to central Glasgow (in an eastward direction).
The time of day will be the determing factor of which way you choose. In the mornings, I would definitely recommend starting from the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art (GoMA), and heading east-to-west from there, as the sun will be behind you. And in the afternoons do the reverse (starting from the Riverside Museum and walking/rolling back from there in a west-east direction. Otherwise you will have the sun in your eyes almost continually [yes, we do see the sun up here sometimes].
And because it is indeed a DIY walking tour of Glasgow, you can take it at your very own pace; stopping for a coffee/snack/drink where, when, and for as long as you like; lingering at the attractions of central Glasgow that interest you (and speeding past those that don’t).
So if you were to simply rush round without stopping, you could easily complete the walk in 2 hours. However, I would recommend taking a full day to complete this route along the River Clyde in central Glasgow – as there’s just so much to see and do (and splitting the walk over two days would be even better).
Glasgow DIY Walking Tour: Walking Directions
I definitely recommend that you follow the Google Streetview route of the entire Glasgow DIY Walking Tour first, from the comfort of your own home before you head to Glasgow, as this will allow you to better visualise the entire route before you arrive].
START: Glasgow Museum of Modern Art (GoMA)
For a step-free exit from the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art (GoMA) building, turn LEFT at the the columned facade exit of the building, and you will immediately see the ramp that bypasses the steps, and head for the famous traffic cone-wearing statue of the Duke of Wellington on horseback.
On either side of the statue, there are ramps which allow you to descend to the pavement at street-level, then turn RIGHT onto the main Queen Street, and then turn RIGHT again into the pedestrianised Exchange Place [I’m personally really impressed with how this has been done – making historic buildings accessible, sometimes requires some very clever solutions].
After passing through the arch at the end of Exchange Place, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD until you reach the junction with the also-pedestrianised Buchanan Street.
Buchanan Street
[MAP]:
The entirety of Buchanan Street has been pedestrianised.
However, different paving stones have been used on what was the pavements, and what was the roadway. And these different paving stones cause differing vibrations for wheelchair-users. So, for a smoother ride, wheelchair-users should remain the darker stones, on what was the LEFTHAND pavement.
Continue until you reach the Pedestrian Crossing at the foot of Buchanan Street (and which crosses Argyle Street).
Argyle Street
After crossing here, turn RIGHT, and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD until the next pedestrian crossing appears directly ahead of you (and which crosses Jamaica Street).
After crossing here, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD, under the glass-walled bridge of Central Station, which carries the train tracks across Argyle Street. This tunnel is coloquially known as the Heilanman’s Umbrella.
Continue through the tunnel until you reach the first junction (with Oswald Street – you will see the Glasgow Motel One on your LEFT here).
Oswald Street
After turning LEFT into Oswald Street here, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD until the next pedestrian crossing appears directly ahead of you (and which crosses Midland Street).
After crossing here, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD (the NCP car park will be on your LEFT here), until you reach the junction with Broomielaw.
Don’t cross Broomielaw yet, but take the crossing on your RIGHT, and cross the end of Oswald Street first instead.
Broomielaw
After crossing the end of Oswald Street, turn LEFT, then immediately turn RIGHT, and cross Broomielaw using the pedestrian crossing on your LEFT, and cross towards the King George V Bridge.
King George V Bridge
After crossing the bridge, turn RIGHT into Clyde Place, then immediately turn RIGHT again, and follow the new riverside walkway until you reach the first bridge (the Squiggly Bridge aka the Tradeston Bridge).
Tradeston Bridge (aka the "Squiggly Bridge")
After crossing the S-shaped bridge, turn LEFT onto the riverside walkway (on the NORTH bank of the River Clyde); pass below the Kingston Bridge; and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD until you leave the river (and briefly rejoin the road) at Launceston Quay.
Turn LEFT here, and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD until a pedestrian crossing appears ahead of you (which crosses the road at this northern side of the Clyde Arc (aka the “Squinty Bridge”) towards the Hilton Garden Inn.
Clyde Arc (aka the "Squinty Bridge")
After crossing here, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD (with the Hilton Garden Inn on your immediate LEFT, and the Radisson Red on your RIGHT across the road).
Continue following this LEFTHAND pavement, by the Titan Crane (with the flying saucer-shaped Hydro Arena on your RIGHT), until turning LEFT onto the path that leads the riverside walkway again.
Continue following the riverside path until you come to the covered & pedestrian Bell’s Bridge.
Bell's Bridge
Turn LEFT onto the bridge and, at the end of the bridge, turn RIGHT onto Plantation Quay (the BBC building will be on your LEFT here).
Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD (with the BBC building on your immediate LEFT, and the river on your RIGHT), until you arrive at the Glasgow Science Centre.
Instead of heading directly to the main entrance first, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD until you arrive at the Glasgow Tower.
Then, simply retrace your steps, turn RIGHT, and RIGHT again, and you will see the main entrance to the Glasgow Science Centre.
Glasgow Science Centre
After visiting the Glasgow Science Centre (which is geared more towards families and young people), turn LEFT and head directly towards the pedestrian Millennium Bridge.
After crossing the bridge, turn LEFT and follow the riverside walkway until it ends/you are diverted away from the river [HERE].
After following the path away from the river, turn LEFT, and follow the pavement until you reach the FIRST of two crossings (neither are controlled, but traffic is next-to-non-existent at each).
After the SECOND crossing, continue following the path until you see the entrance to the Clydeside Distillery on your LEFT.
Clydeside Distillery
After visiting the Clydeside Distillery, turn LEFT and continue following the footpath until it bends LEFT, and ends at the pedestrian crossing which leads to the main entrance of the Riverside Museum.
Riverside Museum
Pass through the Riverside Museum, leaving by the riverside exit (just before you exit here, there is an excellent restaurant in the museum building, which has huge tinted windows looking over the Clyde, the Glenlee tall ship, and now the Govan-Partick Bridge too – the restaurant is seriously recommended [light meals] – there are toilets, including an accessible toilet, here too).
Govan-Partick Bridge
Turn RIGHT as you leave the Riverside Museum here, and head over the new Govan-Partick Bridge.
At the end of the bridge, turn LEFT, and head back to the riverside, for an amazing view of the Glenlee tall ship, and the Riverside Museum behind it.
YOUR GLASGOW DIY WALKING TOUR NOW ENDS
To return to central Glasgow (or to your Glasgow hotel), simply take a taxi back. Glasgow Taxis is the largest operator, with the greatest number of wheelchair accessible vehicles. Their telephone number is: 0141 429 7070 (their taxis can also be booked online).
Glasgow Guide Books & Glasgow Maps
Powered by Waterstones
If this Glasgow DIY Walking Tour information has helped you in any way, please consider making a small donation via Ko-Fi.
Your support enables me to maintain and create even more of these informative DIY Walking Tour/accessibility articles.
Alternatively, and at no additional cost to yourself at all, do your Online Shopping via www.ataxia.scot (I’ll also tell you what Sales are on at the moment too – so it might end up saving you a few pounds – spending-money for Glasgow perhaps?).
Thank you SO very much for your kind support – and have a great time in Glasgow!