Directions
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Glen Walks
The Short Glen Walk (or Sculpture Trail)
Although all glen walks involve a certain amount of uphill walking and climbing steps, the short glen walk is the more gentle and least precipitous following a route up the South Glen path from the Centre, over the New Bridge and down by the North Glen path past the Monument.
The walk is about half a mile long, takes a leisurely forty minutes and is recommended for older visitors and families. Regrettably, however, it is not suitable for wheelchairs and parents pushing child buggies may find some of it hard going.
Along the route of the short glen walk is a succession of wooden sculptures in the shape of animals, birds and fish that can be found on Kelburn Estate. The trail starts with a fox at the viewpoint above the pond overlooking the Castle and ends with a hare on the corner above Sanham’s Bridge.
There are ten other wooden creatures to discover and a children’s quiz sheet relating to the sculptures can be obtained at the Information Office or downloaded, to make the trail more stimulating for those children who usually find walks boring.
The Middle Glen Walk (via Three Falls Bridge)
For the Middle Glen Walk, carry on up the South Glen Path (passing the turning to the New Bridge) and cross the burn by the Three Falls Bridge. The path joins the North Glen Path by a grassy plateau of beech trees where seats have been set. From there you can descend to the Centre by way of the New Bridge or carry on down to the Castle past the Monument or leave the Glen altogether by taking the Corkscrew Road into the Gardens.
The Long Glen Walk (via the Bow Brig)
For those with sufficient energy the Long Glen Walk takes you right up to the top of the Glen. One hundred and fifty yards from the top on the South Side is a lovely 30 foot waterfall, simply called ‘the cascade’, and at the point where the path meets the Upper Estate Road, there is the Bow Brig which overlooks a series of rocky pools of running water.
Once on the Upper Estate Road there are some magnificent views looking across to the islands in the Firth of Clyde. It is advisable on this walk to ascend by the South Glen Path and come down by the North Glen Path, which is much steeper.