[1] Start at Charing cross train station. Leave the station onto Elmbank terrace and turn left onto Elmbank street. Turn left on Bath street shortly, passing Kings Theatre on the left, and continue over the motorway bridge onto Berkeley street. Continue on down Berkeley street, passing Mitchell Library on the left.
(A)The library was established with a bequest from Stephen Mitchell, a wealthy tobacco manufacturer, whose company, Stephen Mitchell &Son, would become one of the constituent members of the Imperial Tobacco Company. It contains a large public reference library, with 1,213,000 volumes. While composed mainly of reference material it also has a substantial lending facility which began in 2005. The original North Street building with its distinctive copper dome surmounted a bronze statue by Thomas Chaperon, entitled Literature, often referred to as Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, opened in 1911. The architectural competition for the library's design took place in 1906 and was won by William B. Whitie. The Edwardian Baroque building is protected as a category B listed building.
[2] Cross straight over Elderslie Street and continue on past the Sikh Gurudwara on the right. A little further, on the right is the Muslim Mosque in construction, that promises a feast to the eye with its architecture; and the Gaellic school on the left. Continue on Berkeley street, and toward the end, turn left on Brechin Street. Take the second left onto Argyle street, with the Brass Monkey pub on your left.
Alternative route - If you would like to visit the Hindu Temple , you need to turn right at [2] and continue on Elderslie street, crossing Sauchiehall street, before turning left at Claremont gardens, straight to La Bella Place. An Clachan cafe and children's play area in on the right in Kelvingrove park and Hindu Mandir on your left. Turn left at the end of La Bella Place to re-join Berkeley street and then turn right to continue on Berkeley street.
[3] Cross the road at The Brass Monkey and continue left to Minerva street on the right. Keep left on this street. Go past Finnieston Evangelical church and follow round Minerva street with Finnieston business park on the right. You can now see the big Clydeport crane in the distance.
[4] With the Exhibition centre train station on your right, cross the road and go through the tunnel. As you emerge from the tunnel, you will see the SECC on your right and the Hydro (under construction) on your left. Go round the SECC (veering right to join the walkway by the river Clyde.)
[5] Cross Bell bridge to the other side of the river. You will see the science centre and the BBC Scotland building on the right and the ITV building on your left.
Alternative route for easy access - Instead of crossing the river when at the Bell bridge, turn left and walk along the walkway with the river on your right. Walk along the walkway along the river, past Squinty bridge on your right, along the path of Lancefield Quay, Anderston Quay and Broomielaw, turning left to Oswald Street at [9]. There are stairs at the end of the Gala Casino, which may not be ideal for wheelchair users, so you may wish to stay on the path along the road for this stretch).
(C) The plaque commemorates the Cheapside Street disaster, in which 14 members of Glasgow Fire Service and five men from Glasgow Salvage Corps died.
At the end of Bell bridge, turn left, and walk along the river walkway, past the ITV building on your right, and up the stairs to Squinty Bridge. Do not cross the river at the Squinty Bridge but cross the road and turn right.
[6] At the traffic lights, in front of you, turn left onto Govan Road. At the end of Govan Road, turn left onto Paisley road with the Grand Ole Opry on the left.
(B)Glasgow's Grand Ole Opry was founded by the late Alex Fleming, opening its doors as a Country & Western club in 1974. It was, and still is, the largest club of its kind in the UK, if not in Europe.
Continue on Paisley Road, until you see the sign for Springfield Quay.
[7] Turn left here and continue straight ahead to the river. Join the walkway along the river at this point with the Harvester on the right and Frankie and Benny's on your left. Turn right here and continue alongside the river.
[8] At the next bridge, cross the water, turn right and continue until you reach Gala Casino on your left. Walk up the stairs just past the casino on the left, cross the road to Oswold Street.
[9] Continue up Oswald street and then cross Argyle Street (St. Enoch Subway station is to the right - under and beyond the bridge) and continue on to Hope Street, past Glasgow Central train station.
[10] At the end, turn left on St Vincent Street. Turn right on Blythswood Street and left on West George Street, past Blythswood Square on the right. Turn left on Holland Street, right on St Vincent Street again and then right onto Elmbank Street. You can turn left into Elmbank Terrace to go to Charing Cross station, enjoy a show at Kings Theatre on Bath Street or relax at the many coffee shops and pubs/ restaurants in the area.
This walk involves crossing busy roads and streets, please observe caution whilst crossing roads, using designated crossings where possible. Please stay away from the river as the walkway may get slippery in wet weather.