Renfrewshire: get into your local area and start exploring

Paisley.is are here to provide you with a whole host of immensely fun and cost-effective adventures in Renfrewshire

Whether you want to get outdoors for a mindful escape – or are looking to enjoy a bit of leisure time with family and friends – we’ve got something for you as the weather – hopefully – improves over the next few months. With that, it’s time to get back out into your local area and start exploring.

Great family days out

Take great family days out that won’t break the bank, for example. We’ve got festivals, gala days, play parks and soft plays. Plus, farm parks, country estates and nature reserves. And, with a vibrant live event calendar happening all year round, there’s always something going on to entertain young adventurers.

Kids will love scrambling up to the top of an ancient volcano at Windy Hill, picking their own juicy strawberries at East Yonderton Farm or swinging through the trees at Finlaystone Country Estate. Or you could head to one of our many outdoor spaces and fly kites, spot highland coos, visit waterfalls, cycle new paths, and make some fantastic family memories. Just don’t forget to pack a coat – it is still Scotland after all!

Our top spots for family fun include: 

• Adventure Planet, Paisley

• Barnhill Farm

• Pandamonium Soft Play, Erskine

• RSPB Lochwinnoch

Stunning outdoor spaces are closer than you think

Paisley and Renfrewshire’s truly great outdoors couldn’t be simpler to explore. ‘Easy outdoors’ is all about getting out of the house and into nature without any stress, hassle or a long journey! It centres on easy walks with accessible parking, stunning viewpoints within a few minutes wander or short bike rides with tasty pub stops and café breaks. It’s about the outdoors being for you, no matter your age or ability. 

Sunset over the Clyde, Renfrew

So, why not try exploring one of our many open spaces? The Gleniffer Braes Country Park has one of the best views in the entire Clyde Valley. Fondly-known as ‘the Braes’, it has a vast network of trails, including spectacular woodland and open grassland where highland cows roam. Or head to Lochwinnoch to explore Castle Semple Country Park. A mixture of woodlands, wetlands, open water and accessible trails, Castle Semple is a must for anyone whose soul is soothed by the sound of water lapping at the shore.

Don’t forget, there’s also a great range of urban parks and woodlands waiting to be discovered. Paisley’s Barshaw Park and Renfrew’s Robertson Park are two modern green spaces with a great range of facilities and attractions. Or, for more of an escape, visit Bluebell and Rannoch Woods in Johnstone, where the trails wind through ancient trees and roe deer can routinely be spotted grazing. Meanwhile the summit of Windy Hill, set within Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park and one of the highest points in Renfrewshire, is the best place for uninterrupted views and peaceful isolation.

Our top easy outdoors spots include:

• Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch

• Barshaw Park, Paisley

• Robertson Park, Renfrew

• Gleniffer Braes Country Park

Murshiel Woods

See your local area in a new light 

Have a microadventure! Short, simple, cheap and fun, microadventures are all about shifting your perspective and finding a new way to explore the places around you – no matter your ambition or ability.

We’re spoiled for outdoor choices in Renfrewshire and it’s not hard to leave urban spaces behind and find yourself in wild woodlands or open moorland. We have a ton of ideas to inspire you, from overnight bikepacking and 5pm – 9pm adventures to trig-bagging and horizon spotting. So, with the lighter nights finally here, where will your next microadventure take you?

All of this is just a flavour of the experiences Renfrewshire has to offer. So, for more inspiration and to plan your next day out visit the Paisley.is website.