Gourock to Greenock (3 miles)
The seafront town of Gourock lies at the end of a rail route from Glasgow Central. There's no getting away from the rather run-down feel of some parts but that's hardly uncommon in coastal resorts. The open-air swimming pool however has been completely renovated and also features a gymnasium. There is an adjacent terrace with bench seating offering excellent views across the firth. Follow the main road round the coast in the Greenock direction (water on your left). The vast green expanse of Battery Park is encountered and this spot is very popular during the warmer months. There is a promenade which looks across to the mountains of Argyll.
It's back to the pavement for 450 yards before we can turn left down to the Greenock Esplanade. At just over a mile long, this traffic-free stretch makes for very pleasant walking along the water's edge. There are even a few palm trees dotted around. Gourock and Greenock basically merge into each other and the esplanade continues right up to the shipping terminal, mainly used for freight but also hosting occasional cruise ships.
Either walk back to Gourock or continue towards the centre of Greenock, where trains are available to take you back to the starting point. The excellent McLean Museum & Art Gallery is unfortunately closed for refurbishment at the time of writing. It features displays on the area's maritime and industrial history with local boy James Watt taking pride of place. Although Watt didn't invent the steam engine, he significantly improved the design to make it a viable commercial proposition. There is a Wetherspoons pub in the town centre named after the great man which is a fountain of cask ale in a land that's otherwise a desert.
