Glasgow’s parks are the real strength here — big, free, open-at-all-times green spaces across the city — plus two long-distance routes along the Kelvin, the canal and the Clyde if you want to go further.
Glasgow Green, East End
55 hectares on the banks of the Clyde, a short walk from the city centre, with flat lit paths and public toilets. Open at all times. The council’s own page doesn’t mention dogs specifically, so general Scottish Outdoor Access Code guidance applies (see below).
Kelvingrove Park, West End
34 hectares along the River Kelvin, with cafés, bowling greens and tennis courts. Open at all times. Again, no dog-specific rule is published, so follow general guidance.
Queen’s Park and Victoria Park
Queen’s Park in the Southside has a boating pond and amphitheatre; Victoria Park in Whiteinch (West End) has a model yachting pond and around 20 hectares of green space. Both are open at all times, and neither publishes a dog-specific rule.
Pollok Country Park, Southside
Glasgow’s largest park and its only country park, with woodland and riverside walks along the White Cart Water. Car parking at the Burrell Collection and Riverside car parks is charged (£5 for 4 hours, £10 all day). One thing to check before you go: Pollok House itself has been closed for conservation work, though the council says alternative routes around the wider park remain open. No dog-specific rule is published for the park.
Kelvin Walkway
Starts at the Riverside/Transport Museum where the Kelvin meets the Clyde, running through Kelvingrove Park and on towards Maryhill and beyond the city boundary. The in-city stretch is mostly tarmac; expect some boggy sections further out and limited signage in places.
Forth and Clyde Canal towpath
Scottish Canals’ own page confirms dog walkers are welcome on the towpaths, asking owners to keep dogs under control and clean up after them. It’s traffic-free and well maintained, open and walkable year-round.
Clyde Walkway
A long-distance route from Glasgow city centre to New Lanark (65km in total), mostly low-level and well-defined, though not always well waymarked and less scenic through the city’s urban sections. No dog-specific rule is stated for this route.
The general rules behind all this
Under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, your dog needs to be under proper control to benefit from access rights: close at heel or on a short lead in public places and recreation areas, on a short lead near farm animals at any time of year, and on a short lead or close at heel on moorland, in forests, on grassland and on shorelines during the bird breeding season, roughly April to July. The Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 applies across the city, requiring immediate clean-up in any public open place. We specifically checked Glasgow City Council’s own byelaws page and found no dog-specific byelaw currently in force — no on-lead zone, no park exclusion rule. A 2014 council proposal for exactly this kind of rule circulated but, as far as we can tell, was never adopted, so don’t take old articles about it as current policy.
A good long walk is also a great way to burn off energy that can turn into reactivity — our calming collars and treats can help take the edge off on busier paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Glasgow City Council have an on-lead rule for parks?
We checked the council’s own byelaws page and found no dog-specific byelaw currently in force. A 2014 proposal for one appears not to have been adopted.
Can I walk my dog in Pollok Country Park?
Yes, though Pollok House itself has been closed for conservation work — the council says alternative routes around the wider park remain open.
Can I take my dog along the Forth and Clyde Canal?
Yes — Scottish Canals’ own page confirms dog walkers are welcome on the towpaths, as long as dogs stay under control and you clean up after them.
Written by Georgiana & Figo. Check local signage on the day, especially near livestock or ground-nesting birds.
