The largest city in Scotland, and the third largest city in the United Kingdom, Glasgow is a pretty alluring destination from its perch on the banks of the River Clyde. It’s a flat seaport town, known for its shopping, fashion, historic center, and good-natured locals who speak with an attractive lilt. Our guide to running in Glasgow features great routes along the River Clyde, historic areas, and wonderful parks. Many thanks to Run the Sights, a group that conducts scenic running tours around the city, for their help with these routes!.
The city is extremely friendly towards runners, with great riverside paths, parks, and architecture that will make it hard to keep your eyes on the trail. Some highlights include the West End, where the scenic “Broomielaw,” path along the Clyde meets up with the River Kelvin, and Glasgow Green, a popular park for exercise of any sort. Trails and solitude can be found at Queen’s Park and Pollok Park, Mugdock Country Park, and Ruchill Park, while a tour of the East End or the Bridges Route will be of interest to architecture buffs. For a fantastic coastal run, take the train to West Kilbride to run on the Ayrshire Coastal Path.
Public transportation in Glasgow is a cinch. Gridlike and compact, Glasgow boasts an easy to navigate circular subway route which covers the city center and out to the west end. Check out the Traveline Scotland app and the Glassgow Walking app for additional information on the best of Glasgow by foot. And, be prepared for Scottish weather, which can be cool and damp any time of year.
