Waypoints: WP17 Wemyss Bay Station, WP18 Kip Marina, WP19 Spango Valley, WP20 Inverkip St Cemetery, WP21 Galt House, WP22 Beacon Arts Centre
Distance: X m, Y km; Time: Z hrs;
Terrain: footpath
Access: tbd
Download pdf of this section - in preparation
>> turning round? (F southwards)
Welcome to the Inverclyde section of the John Galt Way.
The Kelly Burn marks the division between North Ayrshire and Inverclyde. Our next stop is the lovely village of Wemyss Bay.
Take time to explore the wonderful award-winning Wemyss Bay Station. As well as trains from Glasgow, the station boasts a café, bar and second hand book shop. Ferries arrive here from Rothesay (on Bute).
photo Liz Smith
Waypoint 17 (Wemyss Bay station):
What3Words ///glue.wounds.laughs
Take time to explore the wonderful award winning Wemyss Bay Station. As well as the terminus of trains from Glasgow, the station also boasts a café, bar and second hand book shop. Ferries to Rothesay (on Bute) arrive here and there is a frequent #901 bus service north to Glasgow or south to Largs.
In 'The Ayrshire Legatees', Miss Pringle describes the scene to her friend Miss Isabella Todd:
"When we crossed the stream that divides the counties of Ayr and Renfrew, we beheld, in all the apart and consequentiality of pride, the house of Kelly overlooking the social villas of Wemyss Bay. My brother compared it to a sugar hogshead, and them to cotton-bags, - for the lofty thane of Kelly is but a West India planter, and the inhabitants of the villas on the shore are Glasgow manufacturers.” (Chapter 1, Letter 2)
The Wemyss Bay Caravan Park now takes the place of Kelly House which was destroyed by fire in 1913. The "West India planter" who owned the property was John Wallace and it was inherited by his son Robert Wallace in 1803. Robert Wallace later became Greenock's first MP in 1832.
Follow the roadside path (on the seaward side).
The path descends at the Hill Farm junction - the gated road on the left once led to the now-gone Inverkip Power Station - and rises to keep you going north.
At Inverkip, you reach a parking area with toilets and a sea view.
t.b.d.
photo I J Dickson
Waypoint 18 Kip Marina
What3Words ///...
Scotland’s Premier Marina has 600 protected pontoon berths, all facing the prevailing wind, available 24 hours a day seven days a week for vessels up to 24m. Kip Marina is a 5 Gold Anchor marina.
For more about Inverkip, see Liz Smith's article in 'The Greenockian'.
!! Because the Spango Valley route follows the main A78 road, less keen walkers may prefer travelling by bus from Inverkip to Inverkip St Cemetery in Greenock !!
Cross at the pedestrian crossing into Inverkip village and walk through the village.
Follow the path towards Bridgend Cottages.
Cross to the west side of the A78.
Continue along the footpath towards the junction with the A770.
Cross and continue to follow the path on the west side of the A78.
At the end of this path recross the A78 at Ardgowan Distillery. Visit their website to read about their 'Clydebuilt' brand and see times of distillery tours.
McGill's 901 or 906 can take you to Greenock
photo ...
Waypoint 19 Spango Valley
What3Words ///goggle.prominent.swoop
IBM – International Business Machines – opened in Spango Valley in 1954 and was a leading light in the 'Silicon Glen' electronics revolution - by 1978 with its own rail station serving a thriving IBM computer manufacturing plant, employing over 4,000 people.
The last remaining building on the site - the call centre - was demolished in 2020.
At the South West Library, turn left onto Old Inverkip Road.
Follow Inverkip Road, which will meet Brachelston Street.
Follow Brachelston Street and continue onto Orangefield till it rejoins the main road.
In a short distance, after passing Roxburgh St and One Bruce St Bar, the cemetery is on your right.
photo Tony Stewart
Waypoint 20 – (Inverkip Street Cemetery - John Galt's grave):
What3Words ///matter.media.bleat
A plaque at the gateway records this cemetery as the resting-place of John Galt. The grave itself is in the middle left of the graveyard. Recorded on the left are his parents and John Galt himself; in the middle his brother-in-law and family; and on the right, his sister. - Read more . . .
The photo shows Inverclyde Provost Drew McKenzie laying a wreath at Galt's resting place in 2026 on the anniversary date of his 1839 death, 11th April. The wreath-laying was also attended by members of Greenock and Irvine Burns Clubs and Inverclyde Historical Society.
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map (c) OpenStreetMap contributors
Turn right from the cemetery towards the centre of town.
Cross over towards Kilblain Street Bus Station.
Cross Kilblain Street and follow the path down towards the underpass.
Enjoy the underpass murals with the oak leaf celebrating Green Oak folklore, and continue through Oak Mall, with its murals of Greenock history.
Exit the underpass at Westburn Street and continue north.
After the corner of West Blackhall St and West Burn St, a plaque on the (white) wall records the site of the house where John Galt died in 1839.
t.b.d.
photo I J Dickson
Waypoint 21 – where Galt died (c.58 West Burn St)
What3Words: ///magma.mint.transit
When it was built by Galt's father, a sea-captain on the Jamaica run, their house here, on the town outskirts at the time, had a large garden and a view to the river.
Continue north on Westburn Street - see alternative route option below.
Take the pedestrian crossing at Dalrymple Street towards Tesco.
Follow the path passing the Tesco entrance.
Cross Container Way towards the Waterfront Cinema.
If, after crossing, you walk about 50 yards along the car-park hedge to the west for a moment, you will be at the place, marked with a pavement roundel, where Highland Mary had been buried, before being re-interred at Greenock cemetery when Harland and Wolff bought the ground.
Take the path passing the fascinating Wyllieum onto the riverside path.
Follow the path until you reach Custom House Quay and Beacon Arts Centre.
Along the promenade enjoy the interesting artworks such as 'The Yardmen' celebrating the workers who built the ships which made the Clyde world-famous.
Continue north on Westburn Street.
Turn right and follow the footpath passing the entrance to Oak Mall along Hunters Place.
Pass Greenock Central Library to Clyde Square.
Cross Cathcart Square to Cathcart Street East to admire Heritage Highlight: Ginger the Horse.
Cross Rue End Street.
Take the path to Custom House Quay and the Beacon Arts Centre.
t.b.d.
photo I J Dickson
Waypoint 22 The Beacon Arts Centre (and adjacent Custom House), with parking & cafe.
What3Words ///only.holds.daily
The Greenock Burns Club Exhibition and Archive Room is in the Custom House, featuring a history of the 'Mother Club' (founded in 1801), links with Highland Mary, who died and is buried in Greenock, Burns' career as an excise officer, and books of Burns' work dating back to the 19th century.
Walk from the Beacon Arts Centre westwards along the Esplanade for xxx metres
photo Liz Smith
Waypoint 23 (John Galt Memorial Fountain):
What3Words ///....
This memorial, appropriately beside the River Clyde which was so important to seafaring families like that of Galt, was restored in 2015; the John Galt Society was at the time recently established and its president, Prof. Gerard Carruthers, said “It is a real privilege to have someone like John Galt associated with Greenock".
+ change photo credit + drop pop-up
Email: info@irvineburnsclub.org
Museum: Wellwood Burns Centre, 28 Eglinton Street, Irvine, KA12 8AS
© Irvine Burns Club
Kip Marina to Spango Valley
