Branchton

The bridge provides a safe pedestrian route between Inverclyde Royal Hospital and Branchton railway station.

The A78 runs for 42 miles between Greenock and Prestwick. For much of its route, it follows the northern section of the Ayrshire coast. Although it is classified as a primary road throughout its length, the standard varies. Much of the road is single carriageway, both for a short distance through Greenock and a 21-mile stretch between Inverkip and Ardrossan. The rest is dual carriageway; between the Eglinton and Warrix interchanges there are in fact 3 lanes in each direction, and the road is constructed to motorway standard (with full grade separation at junctions) except for a lack of hard shoulders.

View from Lyle Hill.

A war memorial to the Free French forces who fought in the Second World War stands on the western brow of Lyle Hill. There was a large Free French Naval Forces base at Greenock during the Second World War and at its end, they designed and built the Memorial which stands beside the highest point on Lyle Road. It was funded by subscriptions raised among their personnel. The Free French Memorial is in the shape of the Cross of Lorraine combined with an anchor. It was unveiled in 1946. See NS2576 : Dedication on Free French Forces Memorial, Lyle Hill

The inscription on the base of NS2576 : Monument on Lyle Hill THIS MONUMENT IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE SAILORS OF THE FREE FRENCH NAVAL FORCES WHO SAILED FROM GREENOCK IN THE YEARS 1940-1945 AND GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC FOR THE LIBERATION OF FRANCE AND THE SUCCESS OF THE ALLIED CAUSE

A war memorial to the Free French forces who fought in the Second World War stands on the western brow of Lyle Hill. There was a large Free French Naval Forces base at Greenock during the Second World War and at its end, they designed and built the Memorial which stands beside the highest point on Lyle Road. It was funded by subscriptions raised among their personnel. The Free French Memorial is in the shape of the Cross of Lorraine combined with an anchor. It was unveiled in 1946. See NS2576 : Dedication on Free French Forces Memorial, Lyle Hill

On 5th November, 1920, 134 years after Mary Campbell’s death in 1786 the remains of Burns’ ‘Highland Mary’ were removed from the Old West Kirkyard and re-interred in Greenock Cemetery on 13th November, 1920 after an impressive religious ceremony. The monument was designed by William Mossman snr., and carved by his son John Mossman in about 1841. “To Mary in Heaven” was written by Burns at Ellisland Farm on the third anniversary of her death. To Mary In Heaven Thou ling'ring star, with lessening ray, That lov'st to greet the early morn, Again thou usher'st in the day My Mary from my soul was torn. O Mary! dear departed shade! Where is thy place of blissful rest? See'st thou thy lover lowly laid? Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast? That sacred hour can I forget, Can I forget the hallow'd grove, Where, by the winding Ayr, we met, To live one day of parting love! Eternity will not efface Those records dear of transports past, Thy image at our last embrace, Ah! little thought we 'twas our last! Ayr, gurgling, kiss'd his pebbled shore, O'erhung with wild-woods, thickening green; The fragrant birch and hawthorn hoar, 'Twin'd amorous round the raptur'd scene: The flowers sprang wanton to be prest, The birds sang love on every spray; Till too, too soon, the glowing west, Proclaim'd the speed of winged day. Still o'er these scenes my mem'ry wakes, And fondly broods with miser-care; Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear, My Mary! dear departed shade! Where is thy blissful place of rest? See'st thou thy lover lowly laid? Hear'st thou the groans that rend his breast? Mary Campbell (Highland Mary Link

The Greenock Cut is a nineteenth-century aqueduct that once transported water from Loch Thom to the industries of Greenock. This is one of numerous small bridges over the aqueduct, with the derelict former IBM site visible below, and the outskirts of Greenock in the middle ground.

The Greenock Cut is a nineteenth-century aqueduct that once transported water from Loch Thom to the industries of Greenock. This path alongside is now a popular walk.

The south-western outskirts of Greenock are visible in this view towards the distant hills of the Cowal Peninsula.

A night view of the single platform station, which is on the Wemyss Bay line from Glasgow Central.

A night view of the single platform station, which is on the Wemyss Bay line from Glasgow Central.

A night view of the single platform station, which is on the Wemyss Bay line from Glasgow Central. Taken from the A78 Inverkip Road footbridge.

A night view of the single platform station, which is on the Wemyss Bay line from Glasgow Central. The station building stood in the area in the foreground. The footbridge crosses the A78 Inverkip Road.

A night view of the single platform station, which is on the Wemyss Bay line from Glasgow Central. Note the tactile paving strip on the platform.