Photographs and map of a circular walk in Clyde Muirshiel Country Park in the South West of Scotland

Signpost near the Daff Reservoir

Dunoon and the Cowal Hills from Leapmore Forest

Dunoon and the Cowal Hills

across the Firth of Clyde

from Leapmore Forest

Marina at Inverkip

on the Firth of Clyde

from Leapmore Forest

Dunoon and the Cowal Hills

across the Firth of Clyde

from the trig point on Blood Moss

Dunoon and the Cowal Hills

across the Firth of Clyde

from the trig point on Corlick Hill

The views from Corlick hill on a clear day include:-

Dunrod Hill, the Clyde valley, the Cowal peninsula,

the Arrochar Alps, Ben Lomond and beyond.

Clyde Muirshiel Park - Corlic Hill

Arran Hills

across the Firth of Clyde

from Blood Moss

Wemyss Bay reservoir on the Kelly Cut

The Kelly Cut was constructed in 1845
to bring more water to Loch Thom from the south.

Signpost

at the Wemyss Bay reservoir

The Daff Reservoir

and the Cowal Hills

Shielhill Farm

beneath Hillside Hill

Board Walks on the Nature Trail

at Greenock Cut Centre

in the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

Boats on Loch Thom

at the Greenock Cut ( Cornalees ) Visitor Centre

Loch Thom

and the Greenock Cut ( Cornalees ) Visitor Centre

from Hillside Hill

The Daff Reservoir

and the Arran Hills

from Dunrod Hill

The Kelly Cut

from Hillside Hill

Port Glasgow

on the Firth of Clyde

from the Old Largs Road

Route Map of Kelly Cut Walk in the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

Route Map

of Kelly Cut Walk

in Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

Route Description and Map

of Kelly Cut Walk

in the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

Map of Nature Trail

at Greenock Cut Centre

in the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

Route Description and Map

of Greenock Cut Walk

in the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

Location Map

of the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park

KELLY CUT WALK - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: South of Greenock
Map: OS Landranger 63 ( GR 267 722 )
Distance: 16km ( 10 miles )
Time: 4 hrs 38 mins
Terrain: Tracks, paths and moorland

This feeder aqueduct for the better known Greenock Cut transports water across the Leap moor from the Kelly Reservoir to Loch Thom.
It's not such an impressive work of engineering as its twin and isn't a listed monument.
Parts of the aqueduct are in a poor state of repair as a consequence.
It still provides the focus for an excellent walk with variety and fie views although the route feels wilder with sections of open moorland and some
boggy bits requiring appropriate outdoor footwear.
The cut is accessed from the Cornalces Bridge Visitor Centre near Loch Thom.
From the car park follow the road back to Cornalees Bridge and take the path before the bridge to the footbridge to gain
the path alongside the Greenock Cut to your right.
Follow to a kissing gate then leave it for a path on the left which drops to the river.
Zig-zag back and forth over the river on small bridges and board walks ( these can be slippery ) to where the path moves away from the riverside.
Go through a kissing gate and board walks can be seen ahead.
Do not follow these, instead turn right, follow the wall for a short distance and work your way left through trees and bracken to quickly gain open heather moorland.
Follow the wall and fence to reach level moor and paths leading to a corner where the wall and fence meet another wall surrounding a conifer plantation.
Turn left and follow the boundary to Inverkip impounding reservoir ( Duff Reservoir on the map ).
This section is marshy in places but the worst bits can be bypassed. Go through an open gate and gain the access track to the reservoir.
A slightly drier alternative might be to follow the fence left to the reservoir edge where the track can also be gained.
The access track leads to a crossroads at Inverkip ( Daff ) Water Treatment works where a left turn puts you onto a longer track through conifer
plantations with views over felled areas to Dunoon, the Cowal hills and Inverkip.
Sections of woodland are followed by open areas until the track ascends, then swings to the right with views to Dunoon and begins a steady descent.
Here a tracl turns left through a short strip ofwoodland to a stile leading to open moorland crossed by electricity pylons.
Continue ahead to gain a clearer track leading past the trig point of Blood Moss to arrive below the pylons.
Contour the hillside down to the track leading through the glen to Kelly Reservoir and the Greenock Cut.
The path leads to the visitor centre.