Kip Water, Inverclyde

John Ainslie's 1800 map of the County of Renfrew shows the upper reaches of the River named "Shaws Burn" and the lower reaches at Ardgowan Policies named "Ardgowan Water".[1] This was before the construction of Shaws Water Scheme, which opened in 1827 and modified the source of the river.

John Thomson's 1832 map also shows the upper reaches named "Shaws Burn", with the lower reaches named "Ardgowan or Kipp Water" (note the double 'p').[2] It is not clear when the name "Kip Water" was formally adopted for the entire length of the river.

There are several extant bridges across the river, the highest upstream being Cornalees Bridge which crosses the waterfall as the river exits Compensation Reservoir. This is a late 20thC concrete and steel construction which carries a minor road over the river. A few hundred metres downstream is a wooden footbridge which is part of the Cornalees nature trail.

There are traces of a bridge at the site of the disused sandstone quarries near the top of Shielhill Glen. Slightly downstream from this, the sandstone abutments and piers of a three span former railway bridge can be seen at Majeston Farm . This carried a short lived mineral line from Dunrod to the sandstone quarries in the late 19thC.[7] A wooden farm bridge also crosses the river at this point.

Millhouse Road crosses the river on a stone arched bridge, from which can be seen the impressive single span of the 'Roman Bridge' in the private grounds of Millhouse. Just downstream from Millhouse is a sandstone and steel railway viaduct which carries the existing Glasgow to Wemyss Bay line. Parallel to this viaduct can be seen the piers of a second viaduct which was removed in the late 1960s.

A steel and timber bridge crosses at Bankfoot Farm. The remains of a further small bridge can be seen between Bankfoot and Bridgend. At Bridgend, there are two parallel bridges, one of which is disused, having been replaced when the A78 road was realigned in the early 1970s. Between this bridge and Kip Marina there is a dilapidated farm track bridge leading from Ardgowan Policies to Swallow Brae plantation. At Kip Marina there are two more parallel bridges, one of which is now a footpath only and which served Ardgowan House. This was replaced by a new concrete bridge in 2006 when Kip Marina Village was constructed. The final bridge is the pontoon bridge within Kip Marina.

• Kip Water Bridges Photo Gallery - From Source To Sea
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  The furthest upstream bridge, at Compensation Reservoir
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  Nature trail footbridge, near the top of Shielhill Glen
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  Remains of railway bridge in Shielhill Glen
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  The dilapidated wooden bridge near Majeston Farm
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  'Roman Bridge' and Millhouse Road bridge at Millhouse
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  Dunrod Glen railway viaduct
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  Bankfoot Farm bridge
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  The stone abutments of a former bridge, one on each bank, downstream from Bankfoot.
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  Disused bridge at Bridgend
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  View upstream to the A78 road bridge at the north end of Inverkip
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  Bridgend Cottages and the A78 road bridge over Kip Water
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  a disused bridge between Ardgowan Policies and Swallow Brae Plantation
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  Old bridge to Ardgowan House, now a footbridge
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  Old and new bridges at Kip Marina
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  The river is tidal at this point. The old bridge to Ardgowan can also be seen.
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  The furthest downstream bridge on the river

Kip marina

The marina, which stands at the confluence of the Kip and the Clyde, also takes its name from the river. Scotland's first marina, it opened with 250 berths in 1971 and was one of only three in the UK at that time. It has expanded considerably since then and now (2018) has over 600 berths.

Kip Marina Village

A recently built (2000s) housing estate, located adjacent to the marina. It stands on three sides of the marina, giving most of the houses marina views, with some also enjoying uninterrupted views of the Firth of Clyde.[8] Kip Marina Village is considered part of Inverkip, but is physically separated from the main village by the busy A78 Main Road. A footbridge provides access from the centre of Inverkip to the marina and Kip Marina Village.

• Kip Water Photo Gallery - From Source To Sea
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  The source of Kip Water at Compensation Reservoir
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  Kip Water waterfall at Compensation Reservoir outflow
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  Kip Water near the top of Shielhill Glen
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  Kip Water in Shielhill Glen
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  Kip Water upstream from the bridge at Millhouse
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  'Roman Bridge' crossing Kip Water at Millhouse
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  Kip Water in Dunrod Glen
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  Kip Water at Bankfoot Farm
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  Land erosion just downstream of Bankfoot, which can be seen in the background
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  A weir on Kip Water just above Bridgend
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  Kip Water. Daff Water joins on the right
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  Kip Water entering Kip Marina
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  Kip Water enters the Clyde at this point

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kip Water.

• Map sources for Kip Water, Inverclyde

55.90835°N 4.87643°W / 55.90835; -4.87643

• A video of "Roman Bridge" as it crosses Kip Water.