Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Glasgow

Summary

This fascinating city centre links up the major works of architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Leave plenty of time to visit the attractions on the way including the Glasgow School of Art, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and Scotland Street School (though the latter involves a dull section with busy roads - avoidable by using the subway).

Please read the WARNING below before setting out on this route.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

City streets, shared cycle path and footpath, road crossings, steps.

Getting there

Start

Central Station, Glasgow.

Public Transport

Bus or train to Central Station.

Start Grid Ref

NS587653

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 12.9km / 8 miles
Time: 4 hours
Ascent: 90m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (2)

WARNING

It's curently an unfortunate time for Mackintosh archtectural enthusiasts. The Mackintosh building at the School of Art closed due to fire damage not expected to reopen until 2030. Scotland St School is also closed for refurbishment until 2027. The Lighthouse is also currently closed for redevelopment. All three buildings are currently hidden by scaffolding. Currently the Clyde Walkway footpath at Stage 6 is also closed between the Riverside Transport Museum and Clyde Distillery. It's expected to re-open late summer 2026. A poorly signed diversion crosses to the other side of the Clydeside expressway to avoid the closed section. Please let us know if this section has reopened.

The information shown above is the latest we have. If you have an update then please email us.

Stage 1

This walk starts from Central Station in the heart of Glasgow city centre and takes in many Mackintosh buildings as well as the exhibitions at the Kelvingrove Museum and the new complex on the Clyde. The out and back detour to the Scotland Street School can be shortened by taking the subway for the return section. From the station exit onto Hope Street and turn right, passing the fireman memorial and going straight across Gordon Street. Take the next right onto narrow Renfield Lane where you can look up to view the Daily Record Building, decorated in white glazed bricks and green tiles. Continue along the lane and then left onto Renfield Street. Continue until the pedestrianised Sauchiehall Street is reached and turn left.

Stage 2

Soon the Mackintosh Tea Rooms are passed on the left. Designed by Mackintosh in 1903 at the height of Glasgow's tea room boom, it was originally known as the Willow Tea rooms, one of several owned by Miss Cranston. Many original features remain following restoration. Keep following Sauchiehall Street and then turn right to head steeply up Dalhousie Street to what was regarded as Mackintosh's 'Masterwork' - the Glasgow School of Art. The School of Art was badly damaged by fire in 2014 and then almost destroyed again by another fire just as the restoration was almost complete in June 2018 when it was devastated by another fire; it is now being reconstructed.

Stage 3

The original building was completed in two stages in 1899 and 1909. Mackintosh was himself a graduate of the School before it moved to its current location and it was here that he met his wife, and artistic collaborator, Margaret Macdonald. Turn left along the front of the art school along Renfrew Street, continuing along the road to pass through the building ahead. Keep ahead until the road bends right, then bear left up onto the cycle path that rises to pass over the M8 motorway. On the far side, turn right along Woodside Crescent but then immediately left onto Woodside Place. The walk now passes through an area of elegant terraces, with park on your right. After two blocks you can bear right into Kelvingrove Park - keep along the path close by the left edge of the park.

Stage 4

Eventually the route emerges at the road at Kelvin Way. You can go straight across here to detour to visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which is free and has a large collection of Mackintosh and Glasgow Style work including stained glass, metalwork, ceramics and furniture. The building itself provides a stunning backdrop for all the varied displays and you can easily lose yourself for a few hours. From the museum return to Kelvin Way and turn left until University Avenue where you turn left to climb uphill. At the crest of the hill the buildings of Glasgow University surround you with the ornate building on the left housing the Hunterian Museum. Our destination is the Hunterian Art Gallery on the opposite side of the road up steep Hillhead Street.

Stage 5

The gallery on the left side houses the reassembled rooms of 6 Florentine Terrace, home of Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald from 1906 to 1914, in a reconstruction of their home. There are also changing displays from the Mackintosh Collection. To continue the walk retrace your steps back down University Avenue and turn right for a short distance back down Kelvin Way. Bear right down the second path that leads downhill into the park, passing a statue, to reach the River Kelvin. Turn right here and follow the riverside path. At a fork bear left to cross a bridge and reach Dumbarton Road. Cross the road and turn right and then immediately left down Bunhouse Road. At the junction turn right into Old Dumbarton Road and at the next junction keep straight ahead onto Ferry Road.

Stage 6

At the end of Ferry Road pass under the railway line and then turn right along a path (signed for Riverside Museum). As the path comes alongside the Clydeside Expressway turn right onto a loop that passes under this busy dual carriageway. On the far side the path leads out towards the Riverside Museum - a striking building and well worth a (free) visit (the best view is from the bridge behind it). To continue the walk, however, turn left across the approach road and follow a cycle path which runs parallel to the Clyde Expressway. The path emerges at a road outside the Clyde Distillery. Keep straight ahead here, then bear right to follow the cyclepath signs to reach the River Clyde. Follow the riverside walkway to the left, passing the SECC and the Armadillo. On the far side the Glasgow Science Centre and Imax Theatre can be seen and then the headquarters of BBC Scotland and STV.

Stage 7

The walkway continues past the inland side of the massive crane at Finnieston, and the Clyde Arc road bridge which crosses the Clyde at an angle and is known locally as the 'Squinty Bridge'. Pass under the M8, and further on cross the 'Squiggly Bridge' at Broomielaw, a footbridge with distinctive white triangular suspension arms. The next section - a detour to visit Scotland Street School - is fairly dull; you could avoid it using the Glasgow Subway to Shields Road, or just use that for the return walk. If walking, head along busy West Street. Continue ahead at all the junctions, passing under a motorway, until Scotland Street is reached, turn right here and walk to reach the Scotland Street School almost opposite Shields Road subway station.

Stage 8

The School was Mackintosh's last major commission in Glasgow and shows his mastery of light and space. The building is open as a museum telling the story of education in Scotland from 1872 with recreated classrooms. The route now retraces the detour south of the river back to the footbridge over the Clyde, however it is possible to take the subway to St Enoch and pick up the walk there. Once back over the footbridge turn right to follow the Clyde Walkway passing under a road bridge, a rail bridge and another road bridge. Now leave the river and bear left to cross Clyde Street and follow the street, pass St Enoch subway station and continue into Buchanan Street, the main shopping street in the city. After 150m, turn left into Mitchell Lane.

Stage 9

On the left side of this narrow lane is The Lighthouse, formerly the Glasgow Herald Building and another Mackintosh commission. Today it is being redeveloped; when complete you will be able to visit to climb to the top of the Mackintosh Tower, and a more modern viewing platform for a stunning vista out over the city. To return to Central Station continue along Mitchell Lane and turn right along Mitchell Street and then left onto Gordon Street.

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