Friday October 2nd 2026
New Victoria Tower webcam west with cruise ship docked at Greenock Ocean Terminal.
Written by Glasgow View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Inverclyde’s stunning scenery has reached new heights thanks to state-of-the-art technology in the area’s tallest and most recognisable landmark.
For over a decade, a camera located at the summit of the famous 245-foot high Victoria Tower has beamed live images around the clock showing the east of the town, wider Inverclyde and as far as the Erskine Bridge on a clear day.
That single device, having reached the end of its functional life and being of poor quality compared to modern day visuals, has been replaced by two ultra-high definition 4K cameras providing stunning, crystal clear images of Inverclyde to the east and now also the west, showcasing the area’s stunning scenery.
The webcam page is consistently the most viewed on the Inverclyde Council website by a long way with over one million views in the past 12 months alone from people all over the world.
The original camera was installed in May 2013 as part of a tourism initiative and £2,600 was spent on the replacement cameras, including installation and changes required to the website to accommodate the enhanced views.
The project was funded by the Greenock Town Centre Regeneration Forum.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, chair of the Greenock Town Centre Regeneration Forum and vice-convener of environment and regeneration, said: “I’m always taken aback at how popular the Victoria Tower webcam is in terms of page views and it’s a fantastic way to showcase the beauty of the area to people around the world and encourage them to discover what Inverclyde has to offer.
“For a relatively modest amount of money, the new cameras provide crystal clear views of Inverclyde and beyond to the east and also the west for the first time allowing people from near and far to enjoy our stunning scenery.
“There is, of course, nothing better than seeing Inverclyde in all its glory for yourself in person but the Victoria Tower webcams are the next best thing and I know the images bring joy to so many people at home and in every corner of the globe.”
A new feature is the ability to click on the images to display a full screen, high-resolution image.
The upgrades took place during recent annual survey and maintenance work on Victoria Tower.
Analytics show that in the last 12 months the webcam page had over one million views and is the most popular page on the website.
Next on the list, but a long way back, are the pages for school holidays, recycling, the Central Greenock Project, contact us and council tax.
A large proportion of viewers are from Canada, which perhaps reflects the historic links with Inverclyde and Canada including through migration.
The old camera captured landmarks including the Custom House, Beacon Arts Centre, Victoria Harbour and beyond.
It also documented activity on the River Clyde and there were noted increases in traffic when events such as the maiden voyage of the Glen Sannox ferry and the launch and manoeuvring of sister vessel Glen Rosa.
The additional west-facing camera now takes in other parts of the town centre, Port of Greenock, Greenock Ocean Terminal and visiting container vessels and cruise ships.
Such was the popularity of the old camera that if it was unavailable for any reason, such as being obscured by steeplejacks working on the tower or blown over by strong winds, there would be several calls and emails to the council’s customer service centre to raise the alarm.
The webpage is available at Victoria Tower Webcams – Inverclyde Council.
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