The River Kelvin is nearly 22 miles (35km) long as it flows from its source, Dullatur Bog, near the village of Kelvinhead, to the East of Kilsyth to its confluence with the River Clyde at Partick, Glasgow. Many burns and streams feed the Kelvin, the three largest of which are Luggie Water, Glazert Water and Allander Water.

The Kelvin turns south and enters the city at Killermont, on the border with Bearsden, which is where we first encounter milling at the saw mill. Unfortunately the majority of mills on the Kelvin have now been demolished.

As we follow the course of the river downstream we come to one of the oldest bridges in the city at Dawsholm, which was built in the late 18th century. Further downstream the river is crossed by an aqueduct, which at the time it was built was the largest in the UK, carrying the Forth and Clyde canal across the Kelvin and shortly after this we come across the support piers of an old railway bridge, highlighting Glasgow's past dependance on industry.

From here the river now enters Kelvinside and then the Botanic Gardens, flowing under the Ha'penny bridge. The original Ha'penny bridge was swept away by the river when it burst its banks in 1994. The bridge was subsequently replaced by the Friends Of the River Kelvin. As we leave the Botanic Gardens we pass under the imposing bridge which carries Queen Margaret Drive over the river and also pass by the former home of BBC Scotland.

A short distance later we come across the ruins of an old flint mill, the outlines of the buildings remaining just a few bricks high, the large millstones being instantly recognisable along with the mill race, lade and furnaces.

We now reach Kevlinbridge and another major bridge over the Kelvin, this time carrying Great Western Road (A82) over the now fast flowing river, past the remnants of Kelvinbridge railway station, with bars now occupying the tunnels where steam trains once ran. The river then passes under Gibson Street and enters Kelvingrove Park on the final leg of its journey towards the Clyde.The Kelvin then flows between Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery on one side and Glasgow University perched high on Gilmorehill on the other and then under Partick Bridge with the Kelvin Hall, housing the Museum of Transport and an indoor sports arena on one bank and Partick Pumping Station on the opposite bank.

We are now in Partick and pass the only operating mill on the Kelvin, Scotstoun Mill, which is operated by Rank Hovis. Opposite this we find the Regent's Mill which has been converted into luxury housing. We then come across the site of Partick Central railway station, which is currently the subject of a controversial attempt to build a large supermarket and housing complex. Shortly after this we reach the River Clyde.