Auchmountain Glen links the Strone area of Greenock to the Whinhill reservoir. It is a place of outstanding natural beauty where the Cartsburn descends the 300ft ravine through a series of spectacular waterfalls. During the Great Depression of 1887, the landowner, Sir Shaw Stewart, gave permission for local unemployed men to create a pathway through the Glen.
The ‘Glen Boys’ received materials from local shipyards and set about creating paths, stairways and bridges across the many waterfalls – their ‘fairy glen’ was a major local attraction and inspiration for a photograph ‘Waterfalls in Auchmountain Glen’ (1890) by James Valentine, a pipe tune ‘Auchmountain’s Bonnie Glen’(1903) by Pipe Major John Balloch, a poem by Daniel King (1893) ‘In Auchmountain Glen’ (2000). More recently an iconic girder sculpture ‘Monarch of Auchmountain Glen’ (2000) by George Wyllie was displayed at the Glen entrance.
The ‘Glen Boys’ group continued to develop the Glen and created a fishpond & drinking fountain as well as displaying figureheads of Walter Scott, James Watt & Robert Burns acquired from old sailing ships. The Glen was highly popular in the late 19th/early 20th century.
In the late 20th century, The Glen deteriorated due to vandalism and the destruction of the bridges, benches, and walkways as well as persistent fly-tippng and constant anti- social behaviour. The Monarch was knocked over and the Glen was regarded as a ‘no go’ area – a local eyesore.
The Glen's Restoration
In 2013, a community group of friends & volunteers decided to ‘clean-up’ The Glen – a massive task!
After many setbacks, the Auchmountain Glen Project Team of volunteers was formed and developed an improvement plan in partnership with local schools & community groups, Inverclyde Council, the Community Council, Inverclyde Trust, RIG Arts & Auchmountain Women’s Group with the aim of restoring The Glen to its former glory.
The volunteers cleared tons of domestic rubbish, removed fallen trees, excavated paths, repaired walkways and bridges. They fundraised regularly to pay for building materials, but labour was always freely given. After 8 years and overcoming many problems ‘The Glen Team’ restored Greenock’s ‘lost Glen’ to unveil a ‘Glorious Glen’ which has been recognized in the Scottish Walking Awards as ‘The Most Improved Walking Place’ in Scotland. The route – the walk starts from the large sculpture ‘Monarch of Auchmountain Glen’ and follows a well reconstructed path through the ‘fairy glen’ ascending 15 staircases and crossing 8 bridges - but take a leisurely pace and enjoy the natural beauty of the spectacular waterfalls as the Cartsburn cascades down The Glen. Follow the path out of The Glen to reach the Whinhill Reservoir.
Turn right at the reservoir and follow the path over the bridge and along the public access track skirting the fairways of Whinhill Golf Course to reach the whitewashed clubhouse. Turn right after the big modern shed into the club car park and proceed to the yellow shaded ‘no parking area’ at the end of the car park.
Follow the path which sweeps behind the clubhouse and opens to spectacular panoramic views of the River Clyde. Travel 500 yards along this path to the radio mast and the Whinhill Trig Point is on an adjacent hillock. Ascend the grassy path to the Trig Point and enjoy the fantastic panoramic views across to Ben Lomond, the Gare Loch, Rosneath and Helensburgh.
Look down on Greenock town and see the many ships in the Great Harbour, James Watt Dock and the busy container terminal and if you’re lucky, the PS Waverley berthed at Custom House Quay. Descend from the trig point to the path and turn right and uphill behind the rustic van feature and along a meandering grassy path back downhill with spectacular views to Dumbarton Rock and the distant columns of the Erskine Bridge.
About a half mile on, the grassy path joins a deserted narrow tarmac road, follow this road downhill, back to the Kilmacolm Road and to ‘The Monarch’ and entrance to The Glen.
Auchmountain Glen walk
Getting there
Auchmountain Glen is accessible by train from Whinhill Train Station (PA15 3AH) on the Glasgow to Wemyss Bay line.
There's an hourly train service and the current ScotRail timetable is available here: https://www.scotrail.co.uk
Specific information on Whinhill Station is available here:
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/whinhill
Tickets via Trainline available here: https://www.thetrainline.com/
Bus services– see https://bustimes.org/stops/6130584 or look for Leven Road, Greenock on traveline:
https://www.travelinescotland.com
The 543 McGills buse runs all year and they stop at bus lay-bys on main road. https://bustimes.org/services/543
By car: There is free car parking on Kilmacolm Road opposite the entrance to The Glen which is accessible all year.
The Auchmountain Glen Project Hall provides access to public toilets. Currently open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Further information is available here:
32 Burnhead Street, Greenock, PA15 3LG
T: 01475 0791818
or by email: auchmountaincentre@hotmail.co.uk
Auchmountain Glen location map
Auchmountain Glen image gallery
Recent images © Inverclyde Ramblers, June 2021.
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