The Shiel: Wild and Free
Driving
Revel in the wondrous variety of the Shiel's great outdoors
This tour is 55 miles long, please allow at least 1 hour 25 minutes to complete it, excluding the time taken to enjoy the destinations along the way.
The Shiel Wild and Free route takes you on a tour through rugged, romantic scenery that inspires and excites the body and mind. Drink in the natural wonders of cascading waterfalls and rocky rapids formed through centuries of geological change. Make sure to ascend the Spout of Garnock – the county’s highest waterfall – or climb Lyle Hill, gazing over Greenock and across to the Isle of Arran. The Shiel’s wildness is perfectly encapsulated in the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, which is home to nearly 300km2 of preserved and protected wildlife. Lochs, walking trails, and beaches inhabit the Park alongside plenty of outdoor activities, watersports and educational centres.
What you'll see
Ardeer Quarry Local Nature Reserve - Stevenston
Nature & Wildlife
Ardeer Quarry Local Nature Reserve contains a mix of wetland, woodland, scrub, and grassland habitats.
04 The Bute
Kirktonhall Glen - West Kilbride
Parks & Gardens
The Kirktonhall Glen runs from the centre of the Village to the Beaches at Seamill
04 The Bute
Spout of Garnock - Ayrshire
Nature & Wildlife
The Spout of Garnock is approximately 60–70 ft high, making it is the county's highest waterfall
04 The Bute
Greeto Waterfalls - Ayrshire
Nature & Wildlife
The Greeto Waterfalls are along the Gogo water, in Gogo Glen near the town of Largs.
04 The Bute
Lyle Hill - Greenock
Nature & Wildlife
Lyle Hill is a viewpoint in Greenock, Inverclyde, with a high point of 426 feet above sea level
04 The Bute
Loch Thom - Greenock
Nature & Wildlife
Loch Thom is a reservoir which since 1827 has provided a water supply to the town of Greenock
04 The Bute
The Greenock Cut Visitor Centre and walks - Greenock
Parks & Gardens
Greenock Cut Visitors' Centre is situated close to Loch Thom in Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park
04 The Bute
Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park - Lochwinnoch
Nature & Wildlife
Clyde Muirshiel - literally meaning "moorhut" - is the collective name for countryside set aside for conservation and recreation on the South Clyde estuary.
04 The Bute
Lynn Spout - Ayrshire
Nature & Wildlife
Lynn Spout is a stunning waterfall on the Caaf Water near Dalry in Ayrshire.
