20 Attractions to Explore Near Thomas Shanks Park

Weaver’s Cottage vividly re-creates the living and working conditions of a typical handloom weaver. With low ceiling beams and period furniture, it helps give an insight into life before the Industrial Revolution. The property has an attractive garden, where traditional dye plants including woad and madder are grown, along with a wide range of cottage garden plants.

Gleniffer Braes is an upland park of moorland with woods and hill farming areas. Attractions include the wildlife and waymarked trails. The Glen Nature Trail and Guided Walks programme introduces visitors to the interesting wildlife. The area is situated on the edge of the Clyde plateau lavas, an interesting feature is Gleniffer gorge situated along the Tannahill walkway. It reaches some 50 feet deep in places and is eroded by the Gleniffer burn.

Castle Semple is a former mansion house located in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is situated near the eastern end of Castle Semple Loch, within Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

Castle Semple Collegiate Church is located in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is situated near the eastern end of Castle Semple Loch, within Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, and 2 miles west of Howwood on the B787, then on to the B776. The late Gothic church is under the protection of Historic Environment Scotland as a Scheduled monument.

Coats Observatory is Scotland's oldest public observatory. It is currently closed for refurbishment as part of a 4-year long £42m transformation of the observatory and museum buildings. Located in Oakshaw Street West, Paisley, Renfrewshire, the observatory has been operational since 1 October 1883 and continues to function to this day, offering visitors the opportunity to view the night sky through the powerful telescopes housed within the building. The observatory is currently closed for redeve

It is a museum and public art gallery located in the town of Paisley and is run by Renfrewshire Council. It houses one of the largest municipal art collections in Scotland, including over 800 paintings. The Museum holds the collections of Renfrewshire Council and the Paisley Art Institute Collection, held by Paisley Museum and Art Galleries. The painting collections consist of over 800 works.

The Sma’ Shot Cottages are a major tourist attraction of historical significance in the Renfrewshire area, offering a unique insight into two distinct periods of Paisley’s textile history. On crossing the yard, you will discover the house of a foreman of a nearby mill in the mid-19th century. Within this house, visitors can experience what family life was like within the kitchen/living area, bedroom, children’s room and parlour – each room is decorated to represent various time periods from the

Fountain Gardens is Paisley’s oldest public park. It consists of a grand geometric layout with broad walkways, all of which lead to the Grand Fountain – an ornate cast-iron fountain at the centre of the park which contains statues of herons, dolphins and walruses. The A listed fountain consists of dolphins, herons, cherubs and walruses. George Smith and Company of the Sun Foundry in Glasgow constructed the fountain. Stained-glass artist and designer Daniel Cottier was enlisted to paint and colou

Paisley Town Hall is a popular entertainment and conference venue that is host to a variety of concerts, shows and conferences. The main auditorium of the building can seat up to 750 people with a balcony, gallery and stalls area.

Castle Semple Loch is a 1.5-mile-long inland freshwater loch at Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire, Scotland. Originally part of an estate of the same name, it is now administered by Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park as a watersports centre. An RSPB bird sanctuary is located on the loch's southern shore. The ruins of the early mediaeval Peel Tower stand on the southern shore of the loch at Air Meadow, inaccessible except by boat.

Paisley Abbey is a parish church of the Church of Scotland on the east bank of the White Cart Water in the centre of the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, about 12 miles west of Glasgow, in Scotland. Its origins date from the 12th century, based on a former Cluniac monastery. Following the Reformation in the 16th century, it became a Church of Scotland parish kirk.

The Cathedral Church of Saint Mirin in Paisley is dedicated to Saint Mirin – the patron saint of Paisley. Designed by Thomas Baird in 1932, the church which is the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Paisley and the seat of the Bishop of Paisley became a cathedral in 1948. This remarkable building is Romanesque with canted apse and tower-flanked narthex, and home to an organ constructed in 1912. The church is also the largest in the Diocese, accommodating around 1300 worshippers.

The Lagoon Leisure Centre is the flagship centre of Renfrewshire Leisure and caters for activities such as swimming, fitness, aerobics, various sporting activities and events. The centre is a one-stop shop for local leisure and fitness, offering you learn to swim programmes, water fun, a fitness centre, outdoor pools and group fitness classes.

A long, shallow freshwater loch with aspen growing in the shallow waters and a hillside cloaked in mature sycamore and ash woodland. The Lugton Water has its source from the southern end of loch, running 14 miles before reaching its confluence with the River Garnock near Kilwinning. The loch is now owned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) and is managed as a nature reserve.

Lochwinnoch is the perfect place to watch whooper swans. wigeon and a wide varity of ducks during winter months. In spring you wont want to muss the elaborate displays of the great crested grebes. The reserve has an outdoor natural play area, an accessible trail and runs events suitable for the whole family as well as daily drop-in kids activities, pond dipping and bug hunting.

Barshaw Park is the biggest of the formal parks in Paisley. Facilities include a pond used by model boat enthusiasts, an outdoor gym, children’s play areas, BMX park, crazy golf and putting, peaceful walled gardens, café, fantastic miniature railway (seasonal), and its very own golf course.

This is an artificial loch in Kilmacolmhaving been created by a local angling club in the early 20th century. It is a lovely place for a peaceful walk.The Loch and the area around it is used for recreational activities and events in the village.

Formakin House, known locally as the Monkey House, was built in the early twentieth century by John Augustus Holms. The house is protected as a category A listed building, and other structures including the arched entrance gateway and bothy are category B listed. The grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.

Barr Castle is located near the village of Lochwinnoch. The castle was a four storey tower house, with the main hall was on the first floor, accessed via a turnpike stair. The chambers were in the upper floors. The castle is now in ruins, and the gable ends of the castle have collapsed. There is little remaining of the courtyard.

Neilston Pad is a mountain summit in the Ayr and Sanquhar to the River Clyde region in the county of East Renfrewshire, Scotland. Its highest point is 261 metres and is characterised by a relatively flat summit plateau surrounded by steep slopes and distinctive forestry on its eastern side. Its odd shape and prominence make it easily identifiable and visible from many areas in Glasgow.The area is managed by Elderslie Estates.