Tour Overview
Stroll along the streets
Hear the stories
Feel Greenock’s History
Hello, and a very warm welcome to this Greenock Westwards walk. My name is Vincent Gillen — I was born right here in Greenock and have spent my working life in the heritage sector, exploring the stories, characters, and buildings that shaped this remarkable town.
Whether you’re a local or visiting from across the world, it’s a pleasure to have you here. Today, we’re going to take a walking journey through Greenock’s west end — the elegant, riverside part of the town that reflects over 250 years of growth, industry, and innovation.
This walk will take us from The Wyllieum, through streets rich in Georgian and Victorian history, to the Esplanade — one of Scotland’s finest waterfront promenades. Along the way, we’ll uncover tales of ship captains, sugar barons, merchants, shipbuilders, codebreakers, doctors, and entertainers — the people who gave Greenock its soul.
The walk is split into stops. When you reach each stop on the route, audio will automatically start. The next audio will queue up if the previous hasnt finished. Don’t worry about rushing, if you need a moment to catch up or soak in the view. I will give instructions as to where each stop is.
Get ready to close your eyes (not while walking, of course!) and truly picture this town as it once was.
Try your local knowledge - take our Greenock History Quiz!
Stops
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Greenock History Walks
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Stop 1 Wyllieum
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STOP 2 OLD WEST KIRK
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STOP 3 FORT JERVIS
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STOP 4 ROPEWORKS
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STOP 5 THE OLD MANSE
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STOP 6 PRINCES PIER
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STOP 7 PATRICK STREET
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STOP 8 BROUGHAM STREET
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STOP 9 ROBERTSON STREET
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STOP 10 BAY OF QUICK
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STOP 11 CAMPBELL STREET
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STOP 12 SEAFIELD
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STOP 13 CAMPBELL TO FORSYTH STREET
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STOP 14 FORSYTH TO MARGARET STREET
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STOP 15 MARGARET TO FOX STREET
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STOP 16 FOX TO JOHNSTON STREET
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STOP 17 JOHNSTON TO MADEIRA STREET
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STOP 18 MADEIRA TO BENTINCK STREET
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STOP 19 BENTINCK TO ROSENEATH STREET
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STOP 20 ROSENEATH TO ELDON STREET