Greenock Cut & Cornalees Bridge

Saturday 13th September 2008

I won't go into a lot of detail about this walk as you can find any amounts of information about it on the web via Google etc.

Basically the Greenock Cut was the Idea of an engineer called Robert Thom who developed it to supply not only drinking water for the inhabitants of Greenock but also water to power the local mills and engineering industries that survived at that time. It was officially opened on the 16th April 1827 and runs for approximately 8 km at a height of 165 metres. One of It's greatest feats was to drive the 21.3 metre, (70'ft) x 180 ton Great Wheel of the Spinning works of Messrs.Neil, Fleming and Reid and power more than 34,000 individual spindles in their factory.

The Cut was given protection as a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1972. A popular walking route, it was gifted by its owners, Scottish Water, to Inverclyde Council in 2005. The Council immediately began a £1 million project, in collaboration with the Heritage Lottery Fund, to restore the structure to its original condition.

All in all this circular walk was thoroughly enjoyed by the 16 Bosco Wanderers who turned out for it. I'm wondering if it was only to taste the delicious cake that was supplied by our "Sherpa" Sadie McGarry or was it for the benefit of their health??????

Joe Roche

Last Updated Sunday 23rd August 2009

Scottish Charity No13514