Forth & Clyde Canal

I always wanted to go exploring along the forth and Clyde canal route but was a little wary to go alone. This year a friend organised a small group cycle along the canal path from Lock 27 to Balloch (with a little piece break in Bowling Basin).
What a joy to ride! I had great fun whizzing along past areas of Glasgow I only see briefly from the motorway. This was a real behind the scenes look at the city. I would definitely recommend a walk or cycle along this area on a sunny day. We even spotted a Boris bike trindling along so no excuses if you don’t own a bike!

As a volunteer ranger with Sustrans, I regularly cycle on the canal, it’s my responsibility to maintain the signage for the National Cycle Network, I regularly come across people drinking on the canal, but don’t find them threatening, they normally just say «awright big man» I say awright back and carry on my way, I notice these reviews were written quite a while ago, I’d be interested to know if people still feel uneasy using the canal routes, and if anybody has experience of cycling on the cycle route, I’m responsible for the section from Spiers Wharf down to Bowling Basin, any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated, good and bad. Cheers

I have a strong history with the Forth and Clyde Canal, from cycle trips with my friends over the years to my mum taking me up there to look over the main road and suddenly feeling like we were above all the city clutter.
As Maureen said, there are areas where the water gets muddy… with more than just mud. I wouldn’t recommend walking along certain parts unaccompanied as it can trace through some questionable areas, but it is nevertheless beautiful and great if you’re training for long distance running, walking or cycling. It runs alongside a large portion of Maryhill Road and is a nice alternative for walking your dog if you don’t fancy dragging your pooch along the congested main street.
They have gone to great lengths to clean the canal up over the years and it most certainly shows. Even in the areas lacking sanitation, as both Maureen and Chris suggest if you keep walking you’ll find yourself in an area that’s not bad at all. It’s nice walking out to Clydebank in the summer and catching the swans with their cygnets, the ducks and the occasional squirrel or fox (don’t let the fox at the ducks, though).
Stretching its leg up to Loch Lomond and its arm over to Edinburgh for a wee handshake, it’s great to set yourself challenges of cycling along either of these routes. but if you fancy a walk at a gentle pace, I’d highly recommend it. Just use your senses and don’t come up here at night, otherwise it’s a lovely venture right on your doorstep.

My memories of the Forth and Clyde Canal are mostly made up of watching young ruffians jump in from the bridge at Clydebank Shopping centre during the summer. Rumours they emerged with a third eye looking like some sort of Avatar creature have been unconfirmed.
Yes, some bits of the canal are certainly on the floating shopping trolley side. In fact, a friend of mine once walking alongside the canal in Maryhill, was astonished to see a homeless man swimming in its murky waters.
However, the canal does get pretty nice once you get past Clydebank. The path makes a lovely walk or cycle up to Loch Lomond.

Living just a stones throw from the canal i was compelled to write a wee review about it. OK, when you mention the canal to alot of folk in Glasgow they automatically think «eek, dodgy» and to be completely honest up until about 6 months ago i would have been one of those eek’ers.
however, living within such close proximity has forced me to have a bloody look and see what all the fuss is about. Spanning the breadth of the country form east to west, the Forth and Clyde canal has lain derelict for (insert knowledgeable number of years) years now, but has in recent times undergone somewhat of a revival.
Gone, to a larger extent, are the eek worthy elements, to be replaced by clean and well pathed track leading, for me to Anniesland one way and Cowcaddens the other (any further than that and i get a bit huffy).
In terms of beauty, the canal can offer a kind of tranquility and stillness i never thought could exist so close to civilisation. On any given day i can wander down the canal and check out the birds (the flappy ones, not the lady, human type ones), ducks, swans, those black and white ones and enjoy a calming walk into town rather than taking the bus or hoofing down the pavement.
Yes, the hooligans, ruffians and scalawags still frequent at certain times of the day, but this happens everywhere. I say to thee give it a go, bring your camera and go for a stroll, cycle or swim… actually no, don’t swim please.