Top autumn walks in Glasgow

View of Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow during autumn, with people walking across the park bridge and the University of Glasgow tower visible in the background. — Kelvingrove Park with the University of Glasgow in the background Credit: VisitScotland/Kenny Lam

It’s that time of year when the Dear Green Place changes into a glow of autumn colours. Check out our pick of five of the best city walks at this glorious time of year.

A city walk with a view

The Glasgow Necropolis is perfect for an autumn walk surrounded by history. Head to the top of the Victorian garden cemetery for panoramic views that take in the medieval Glasgow Cathedral.

Visit Friends of the Necropolis for tours and more information.

Rows of grand stone monuments and obelisks in a historic cemetery, illuminated by bright sunlight filtering through a dramatic cloudy sky. — The Glasgow Necropolis

A family-friendly day out in Pollok Park

For family-friendly walks, look no further than Glasgow’s biggest green space, Pollok Country Park. Start at The Burrell Collection, home to art, artefacts and interactive exhibits. Then stroll to Pollok House for a riverside walk, mini maze and fairy gardens.

Don’t forget to meet the Highland Cows along the way. Visit The Burrell Collection for more details.

A peaceful park path lined with tall trees and dappled sunlight, with several people walking beneath a canopy of fresh green leaves. — Pollok Country Park

Glasgow history on a riverside walk

The River Clyde is one of the best spots to see how Glasgow has changed through the ages. Famed for its shipbuilding past, the River Clyde is now home to many of the city’s most modern buildings.

Visit Glasgow’s Clyde Bridges Heritage Trail for an excellent walking route zig-zagging across the river. The walk takes in 21 bridges, some of Glasgow’s most iconic buildings, and finishes at the city’s oldest park, Glasgow Green. All this in less than 4 miles.

A picturesque stone and iron bridge over a river, with two people walking on the riverside path and a church spire rising behind trees in the distance. — Kelvinbridge on the Kelvin Walkway

A leafy walk joining two city parks

Enjoy a gentle riverside walk that links two of Glasgow’s most beautiful parks — Kelvingrove Park and the Botanic Gardens.

Follow the Kelvin Walkway along the River Kelvin, passing Kelvinbridge and the University of Glasgow.

Finish your walk at the Botanic Gardens, where the tree trail is at its most colourful in autumn. Visit Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens for more details.

A stone bridge spanning a river, framed by dense greenery, with the spire of the University of Glasgow visible above the trees against a partly cloudy sky. — Kelvingrove Park with the University of Glasgow in the backgorund

Wildlife spotting in a nature reserve

For nature-lovers, Hamiltonhill Claypits is a hidden gem just 10 minutes from the city centre. Stroll along the canal and through the woodlands as the leaves change colour. Look out for roe deer, dragonflies and finches in Glasgow’s only inner-city nature reserve.

Check out our north neighbourhood guide for more ideas on what to do nearby.