Active travel route opens connecting Paisley town centre to Renfrew, Clydebank and Yoker

A new walking and cycling route between Paisley and Renfrew has been officially opened and provides an active travel link between the two town centres for the first time in decades

The 5km route offers a safe travel option off main road routes running from Paisley Gilmour Street train station to the new Renfrew Bridge which connect the towns with Clydebank and Yoker across the River Clyde.

The route comes out of the town centre across the White Cart Footbridge onto Abercorn Street where it follows the path of the former railway track and runs behind West College Scotland’s Paisley Campus and the new Paisley Grammar School Community Campus which is being built on the site of the former Chivas Building.

It then runs behind the Abbotsinch Retail Park and connects into Wright Street in Renfrew where people can choose to travel across the water into the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) or continue on through Knockhill Park and Robertson Park into Renfrew town centre – with route going behind the Town Hall to reach the new Renfrew Bridge and across to Clydebank.

Councillor Michelle Campbell, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “I’m delighted that this route is now open and is providing a safe walking and cycling path between two of our main town centres, as well as into key sites like the new Paisley Grammar, West College Scotland and AMIDS.

“It gives people the option to travel more sustainably, links key transport hubs like Paisley Gilmour Street with the new Renfrew Bridge and the wider City Region and aligns with our local transport strategy which focuses on options to improve walking, wheeling and cycling in Renfrewshire.

“I look forward to seeing people using it for commuting or just for exercise as we continue to make Renfrewshire as accessible as possible through active travel.”

The active travel route was one of 13 projects in the Clyde Corridor awarded funding from the Scottish Government’s Clyde Mission Fund, receiving £935,000, with the fund aiming to put the river at the heart of the area’s place ambitions.

In total, £2.8 million has been awarded to Renfrewshire Council from the Active Travel Transformation Fund (ATTF), with the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project and Inchinnan Drive roundabout to Glasgow Airport projects also receiving significant investment.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “I welcome the opening of the new active travel route between Renfrew and Paisley which has now been completed through £935,000 of funding from the Scottish Government. This will connect to the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside active travel routes, which were funded by the Active Travel Transformation Fund with an investment of £1.77 million and were recently opened to the public.

“The new route will allow people to travel more safely and sustainably between the two towns and connect to Glasgow City. This means more people saving money, living healthier lives and leaving their car at home to reduce their emissions.

“To allow more projects like this to be completed across Scotland and to create more high-quality active travel infrastructure, we are investing £188 million into active and sustainable transport in 2025-26. This will help ensure more people and communities across Scotland can benefit from easier sustainable travel options.”

The route provides further connectivity throughout Renfrewshire and the City Region, with active travel routes available from Paisley Gilmour Street Station to Renfrew, AMIDS, Erskine, Bishopton and Glasgow Airport.

SPT chair Stephen Dornan said: “SPT is delighted to continue to help fund this important active travel project offering people more sustainable travel options within Paisley and Renfrew. This new active travel route from Paisley Gilmour Street station to Renfrew Riverside will offer people an option to walk or cycle safely between the two centres and beyond.

“Additionally, we have also helped the Council complete the strengthening, refurbishment and re-opening of the footbridge over the White Cart Water, linking Abercorn Street to Carlile Place, with the bridge having been closed to pedestrians for nearly 25 years.  The bridge serves as a key link on the route supporting complimentary projects such as Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project and Glasgow Airport Cycle Route.

“We continue to recognise the importance of investing in good active travel routes as well as promoting behaviour change initiatives.  Projects such as this help contribute positively towards achieving SPT’s vision for Active Travel in the west of Scotland which we set out in our recently published Regional Active Travel Strategy”. For more information on the route, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/paisley-to-renfrew