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I've been offline for almost three weeks due to a tech fault on my line, no internet or phones, so I'm behind on my posts. This is a walk Alan and I did in September. It was a dull overcast day so I thought of Kelly Cut running from the Cornalees Bridge Centre car park to Wemyss Bay over Leap Moor. I've only walked this route once decades ago as I didn't find it very inspiring when I did it solo but it was new to Alan so we set off. The better known Cut Walk that runs above Greenock is a real 5 star classic for views. This walk is 2 out of 5 for me visually but it's all a matter of personal taste.
The start of the walk is good though from Cornalees Centre dropping down into a sheltered little green gorge filled with the last of the flying insects before colder evenings killed them off until next spring/summer. You follow the waterfall stream downhill then transfer onto a long twisting narrow boardwalk which leads you across then up the other side of this boggy ravine. The day we were there it was blocked off but we jumped the barrier. I've done dozens of blocked off routes only to find minor rock falls, planks missing, or other minor hazards which are never a problem for us. They usually only block routes off because they are deemed unsafe for visitors and they don't want to be sued but as experienced hill-walkers it's usually easy to see what the problem is and avoid it safely and so it proved in this instance. A couple of guard rails missing and a few planks removed. So we walked on the grass instead.
Having recently walked the length of Glasgow's Argyle Street from Glasgow Cross to Anderston Train Station I can confirm that's far more dangerous than this. At least 30 electric food bikes and scooters zipping silently and speedily between the packed pedestrians, half a dozen white young homeless males lying sprawled across the pavement semi conscious, numerous road works, busy traffic and fast bike lanes everywhere. This blocked off walk was a complete doddle by comparison. Even in a hyper alert state I nearly got flattened twice in Central Glasgow which is far more hectic than it used to be and the main culprit is the new bike lanes and a massive increase in silent cyclists. Many cycling happily along while using or reading mobile phones. At some point they will have to be implanted inside humans as many can't seem to exist without looking at them constantly, even when cycling at speed. Put it this way. I would happily walk this blocked off route with a blindfold on. Would not like to do that in Argyle Street yet blind folk don't have a choice and London's floating bus stops, where you cross constantly busy bike lanes getting on and off buses are just completely mental. Even the blind presenter demonstrating them nearly got hit by a speeding cyclist and he had a sighted TV crew to warn him.
Looking back at where we started from.
Daff Reservoir. Mostly a moorland walk with a few small lochs on the way.
Halfway marker. So six miles to Wemyss Bay then six back again. A long six miles....
Typical landscapes along the Kelly Cut.
A sheep bridge over the Kelly Cut which is a man made channel providing water power during the industrial revolution heyday but no longer used. The path follows it all the way. We only saw one other person all day on it so much quieter than the Greenock section.
Wood landscape in the Cornalees Centre.
Wood Owl.
A nice public bench somewhere else.
And a change of evening meal when I got back. All served cold with what was lying in my fridge that day.
10 comments:
Welcome back. Well, I was worried you'd been knocked down by one of the eyeless cyclists or suchlike. You're right what you say - they're very dangerous - why on earth can't they look where they're going - it's not like they won't be hurt as well if they do run into someone... I once accidentally knocked a very burly road workman down and he was fine but I went up the road by the side of the bike and knackered my troos!
And I climb over barriers to continue on shut paths and the like - as you say, it's only really for the suing culture. The rest of us walk around with our eyes open!
It looks a pretty nice walk to me - quite wild.
Thanks Carol. Can't say I missed being offline much apart from not having access to blogs and looking things up online, which is mainly blog related subjects I'm curious about on walks. Some of the roads in Glasgow City centre have two added bike lanes( both directions) then traffic lanes (both directions) then a middle section, then two more traffic lanes ( both directions) then bike lanes (both directions again.) Need eyes everywhere. Then you reach the safety of the Riverboat Casino and a pedestrian plaza area- with bikes flashing past in every direction possible. As a pedestrian you need to be on high alert every step you take nowadays and I'm not joking. I never turn a corner now without looking first for bikes coming at speed on pavements... same with canal walks... never move out or cross the path without first turning round to see if bikes, motor bikes, or scooters are flashing along at speed. I've had several near misses this year alone and I think I'm pretty aware of my surroundings when I'm outdoors.
Oh my, I think I would have to give it a 5 out of 5! So pretty. Glad you are okay! Now to your point about walking beside a busy road...you will never believe it, it is the parking lots that you have to be careful about here! Now it seems that everyone will just drive as fast as they can and you really have to watch and make sure you are not hit by a moving vehicle! You should see me when I exit a car, my head is spinning around in all kinds of directions, just looking, looking, looking. Also, at the Wal Mart that we go to, just last week two employees there had an argument in the parking lot, guns were drawn, and shots were fired! Thankfully, no one was hurt or killed. I just noticed the comment before mine...it is quite wild here but not in a good way. And if something is roped off here, we must pay attention to it. It might involve some kind of crime.
Hi Kay. I've never been that keen on flat featureless moorland. I find it boring so was happy to do it on a dull day. In good sunny conditions I prefer to go to more scenic locations. Luckily, we don't have much gun crime here and Glasgow is a fairly safe city.
Glad your gremlins have been fixed. I have done the Greenock Cut many times but not the Kelly Cut.
Hi Anabel. For me the wooded gorge at the start and the Wemyss Bay wooded gorge at the end are the best sections. Both can be done as separate walks on reasonable paths. The middle moor section is flat but a bit of a hike on the return if you do the entire walk end to end.
You have so much beautiful scenery there! The older I get the more I enjoy flat lands! Not that we have much of that, it's all rolling hills around here. The hills seem to get higher and higher these days. Didn't mean to complain to you so much in my last comment. Guns here, don't even get me started.
I smiled at your description of Argyll Street, but would also include to your list those geriatric electric chairs that zoom along the pavements. Their owners seem to feel that they have the sole right of way, and woe betide you, should you not immediately jump out of their way.
Hi Rosemary. You wouldn't smile if you knew what it was like nowadays compared to past decades. It's very run down now and I'd almost advise tourists to stay at one of the Finnieston hotels near the Hydro unless they particularly wanted to stay right in the city centre as Partick and the Byres Road shops are bucking the trend and look more vibrant... plus less bikes, far less graffiti and more things to do. I've got a couple of posts on that to come so you'll see what I mean next month. Plus half the streets in the city centre have road works at present. Bob. BSS.
Hi Rosemary, you're right about the geriatric mobility scooters - my Mum was knocked down by one of those in Tescos and injured badly enough to miss Christmas that year. The same woman who ran her down also injured a woman on the High Street
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