Parks, libraries, and culture

Thomas Shanks Park is named after a leading industrialist of the nineteenth century who owned a company of heavy machine toolmakers, Thomas Shanks and Company.

Little is documented about Thomas Shanks, other than that he was Johnstone's first chief magistrate and instrumental in advancing a scheme of public health work in the town. In June 1878, these works were completed at a total cost of £4,000.

At this time, Thomas's daughter, Mrs J Polson, gifted the park to the town in the name of her late father for the recreation of the local people of Johnstone.

Thomas Shanks & Co went into liquidation on 14 January 1928, but the park remains as a testament to a noted family who lived and worked in Johnstone.

Things to do

Thomas Shanks Park has a children’s play area, a pump track, and two grass football pitches.

If you’d like to book a football pitch, contact the Community Facilities team.

Thomas Shanks park is in Johnstone at the junction of Beith Road and Quarrelton Road.

You can get to the park by public transport or car.

RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve is wetlands that attracts wildlife across the seasons, which you can observe on the walking trails and birdwatching hides.

The reserve runs a programme of events across the year.

Events at Lochwinnoch (RSPB website)

You can get to RSPB Lochwinnoch by bus, train, or car. 

Cycle routes

The National Cycle Route 7 runs through the reserve, adjacent to the A737.

Parking

There are up to 30 parking spaces and three Blue Badge spaces 20 metres from visitor centre.

Car parking is free for members and £4.50 for non-members (up to 6 hours).

About Robertson Park

Robertson Park opened in 1912 as an open space for the children of Renfrew. It was gifted to the Royal Burgh of Renfrew by William Robertson, a successful local businessman.

The park is flat with grassy areas, a duck pond, tennis courts, cycling tracks, a skateboarding park, and play areas suitable for children of all ages.

Skateboarding park

The Council worked with local skate group ’30 Acres’, Gravity Engineering, and consulted with the local community to develop the skateboarding park. 

It’s suitable for skateboards, BMX bikes, and rollerblading; and includes features for beginners through to expert riders.

Tennis

The courts have had extensive work including resurfacing, repainting, new fencing, new nets, and gate system; as part of the Lawn Tennis Association’s Tennis Project.

The tennis courts are free to use:

• weekdays from 9am to 4pm
• weekends from 10am to 12pm.

It costs £6.50 per hour to use the tennis courts after 

• 4pm on weekdays
• 1pm on weekends.

You can book the courts in advance on the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) website.

The Friends of Robertson Park is a community group in Renfrew dedicated to improving the park through projects like the new sensory garden. They work closely with the Renfrew Development Trust to enhance the area for families, volunteers, and visitors.

Friends of Robertson Park on Facebook

Robertson Park is located close to the centre of Renfrew between Paisley Road and Inchinnan Road.

It can be accessed via public transport.

On street parking is available nearby.

Jenny's Well Nature Reserve is a local nature reserve less than a mile from Paisley town centre on the bank of the White Cart Water.

Walking

There are two walking routes through the nature reserve. 

The terrain is generally flat with a mixture of tarmac and gravel paths. There are some steeper hills on the paths leading to the river.

The Friends of Jenny's Wells Group is run by volunteers and organises litter picks, community events and has a wealth of knowledge on things to see in the reserve.

You can also help maintain Jenny’s Well Nature Reserve for others.

Join the Friends of Jenny's Wells Group on Facebook

Car, bicycle, and public transport

You can access Jenny’s Well Nature Reserve by bus, or by car, by bus or via the National Cycle Network Leg 7.

The entrances to the nature reserve are at:

• Jenny’s Well Road
• Cartha Crescent
• Whinhill Road
• Todholm Road.

Gleniffer Braes Country Park offers walking routes through woodland and open countryside, and features the outstanding Craigielinn Waterfall and superb views over the Clyde Valley.

Walking

The Country Park offers a mix of formal and informal walking routes through woodland and open countryside.

There are waymarked trails with outdoor information boards and maps, and direction signs.

The upland areas offer superb views over the Clyde Valley to Ben Lomond and the Arrochar Alps, particularly from Robertson Car Park.

Wildlife and biodiversity

The park is a haven for nature, including roe deer, foxes, wood mice, and field voles. 

Birds regularly seen include nuthatch, meadow pipit, kestrel and buzzard. In the Glen, small ponds are home to fish, frogs, newts and many water living insects.

Children’s play areas

There's a children’s play park within the Robertson car park area.

Craigielinn Waterfall 

There’s an outstanding waterfall to see within the Glen.

Grazing cattle

Cattle are used in the park to control vegetation and preserve biodiversity. The cattle are moved to different areas throughout the year.

Cattle are currently grazing on the following areas:

• the East side of Sergeantlaw Road - this area extends from Sergeantlaw Road eastwards to Braehead Road and north to Hillcrest Avenue
• Brownside Braes
• beside Glenburn Reservoir
• the West side of the electricity Substation.

Before entering a grazed area, check for alternative routes. If you cannot avoid the grazed area, please keep as far as possible from the cattle and watch them carefully. Cattle can be unpredictable and may be aggressive when young calves are present.

The areas without cattle are:

• the West side of Sergeantlaw Road - this area extends from Sergeantlaw Road westwards to Gleniffer Road
• MacDonald's Walks (west of Gleniffer Road)
• Foxbar area (north of Gleniffer Road)
• Glen Park.

If you are walking a dog or would like to avoid the cattle, check the cattle advisory note and map before you go.

Dog walkers

If you have a dog with you:

• never let your dog chase or attack farm animals - keep your dog under close control or on a short lead
• do not take your dog into fields where there are calves
• if cows react aggressively and move towards you, keep calm, let the dog go off the lead and take the shortest, safest route out of the field.

Gleniffer Braes Country Park is located to the south of Paisley and Johnstone.

Public transport

The entrance at Glenfield Road can be accessed by public transport. It's a five-minute walk from the bus stop at the junction of Glenfield Road and Caplethill Road.

Car and bicycle

The park can be accessed by car and entrances are located at the car parks:

Parking

You can park at:

• Robertson Car Park, Paisley, PA2 8UQ
• Glenfield Road, Paisley, PA2 8TE
• Braehead Road, Paisley, PA2 8TY
• Brownside Farm, Caplethill Road, Paisley, PA2 7TX.

Finlaystone Country Estate includes a historic mansion, woodland, gardens, forest trails, animal ark, play areas for children and dogs, café, visitors centre, gift shop and ranger-led activities.

It's set in approximately 500 acres of woodland with walking trails varying in length and difficulty, BBQ and picnic areas, wildlife and nature including trees over 400 years old.

A variety of events take place all year round, including ranger-led activities.

The estate is managed by the family of the Chief of the Clan MacMillan. 

Public transport

Langbank Railway Station is 1.5 miles from Finlaystone Country Estate. 

Driving

The estate is accessible from the A8 road.

Clyde Muirshiel is Scotland’s largest Regional Park covering 108 square miles of countryside and the only Dark Sky location in Central Scotland.

It includes Castle Semple Park and Muirshiel Country Park.

Walking

At Castle Semple, the lochshore walking trail goes along part of Castle Semple loch and into Parkhill Woods before looping back along the cycle track or down the Johnshill through part of the conservation village of Lochwinnoch.

At Muirshiel Country Park, 3 miles up the Glen from Lochwinnoch a family friendly walking trail to Windy Hill leads to an extinct volcano and views across Renfrewshire. 

Cycling

Castle Semple Centre is on National Cycle Route 7.

Bike hire is available from RT Cycles near the Castle Semple Visitor Centre. 

Fishing

Fishing permits are available from the Castle Semple Visitor Centre.

Outdoor activities

Outdoor activities and water sports are available on or beside Castle Semple loch.

Watersports include RYA sailing and power boating, BCU kayaking, canoeing and SUP. Land-based activities include cycling and bushcraft.

Group bookings must be organised in advance.

For full information, including taster sessions and course dates, visit the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park website.

Muirshiel Visitor Centre

Muirshiel Visitor Centre is open during summer weekends.

Castle Semple Visitor Centre 

Castle Semple Visitor Centre has a cafe and gift shop, and is open all year for sit in and takeaway refreshments. They serve hot and cold drinks, savoury snacks, cakes, and ice-cream.

Adult Conservation Volunteers meet every week, usually on Thursdays for full or half day sessions and a Youth Conservation Volunteer Groups meet on Sunday morning. 

Email the Countryside Rangers cmrp.rangers@renfrewshire.gov.uk for details.

Development plans

Public transport

Lochwinnoch Train Station is 1 mile away. The A737 and A760 national bus routes stop nearby.

Car and bicycle

You can access Muirshiel Country Park by car or bicycle. It’s 3 miles up a single-track road, north-west of Lochwinnoch.

Parking

Parking is free at Castle Semple and Muirshiel Country Parks. Please park responsibly. 

Electric Vehicle (EV) charging is available.

Boden Boo and Erskine Beach are a woodland and riverside beach that sits under the Erskine Bridge. 

The area is looked after by Forestry and Land Scotland.

Walking trails

Boden Boo has a network of informal walking trails. The paths along the trails are wide and smooth making them suitable for walking and cycling. 

Very popular with dog walkers, Boden Boo and Erskine Beach is a great day out. Enjoy views from the grassy slopes or explore the network of informal trails, easy for walking and cycling.

The paths are suitable for buggies meaning the whole family can enjoy Boden Boo, including your canine friend. Dogs love the mix of beach and woodland areas.

Coastal routes

Boden Boo is also on the Firth o Clyde Rotary Trail. This 161mile long distance path is an umbrella name for three long-distance coastal routes. 

The routes are the 

• Mull of Galloway Trail
• Ayrshire Coastal Path 
• Clyde Coastal Path. 

Together they run from Mull of Galloway along the Ayrshire coast and Upper Clyde to Milngavie.

Boden Boo is located on the A726 just south of the Erskine Bridge. 

The turn off can be found between the roundabouts for Erskine town and Erskine Bridge. 

If using a SatNav – PA8 6AX is the nearest postcode.

Public transport

There are regular buses to Erskine. Check Traveline Scotland to plan your journey.

Parking

Parking is free at Boden Boo. Please Park responsibly and do not block entrances or gates.

Dating back to 1797, Fountain Gardens is Paisley’s oldest park. 

It’s located close to Paisley town centre and is best known for its A-listed cast iron fountain at the centre of the park. 

The 1868 cast-iron fountain was designed and built by the Sun Foundry, Glasgow. It is the only one of its kind and stands an impressive eight metres tall as the centrepiece of Fountain Gardens. 

The fountain was gifted to the town by the Coats family of threadmakers, making it an important part of Paisley town’s textile-making legacy.

It was restored to its former glory during a year-long restoration project in 2014. 

The park is also home to a statue of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet, and has been described as one of the finest statues of Robert Burns.

Public transport

You can get to Fountain Gardens by public transport.

It's within walking distance of Paisley Gilmour Street train station.

Car and bicycle

If travelling by car, use postcode PA3 2DZ on your satnav.

You can enter the park at Love Street or Caledonia Street.