Routes2Ride

Aviemore to Carrbridge

2008-10-28 T;11:16:00+00:00

The route starts from the car park beside the Police Station in Aviemore and goes under the railway line before you turn left to join the off-road cycle route. The route runs parallel with the steam railway line then winds through residential streets as far as a footpath between two houses on Spey Avenue. At the end of the footpath you zig-zag down over a bridge and up to the proper track. Much of the next 3 miles roams along gravel track across heathland, close to the steam railway line, with wonderful wide views of the Cairngorms.
The surface improves in the middle section where the route goes under the railway line, then becomes stony again as it runs beside the railway on the north side and approaches Boat of Garten by the grand houses of ‘Millionaires Row’, built for Victorian holidaymakers. At the main road turn left and once out of the village, move onto the off-road cycle track that leads past an RSPB vantage point and on to a junction with the A95. Cross the A95, watching out for bursts of busy traffic, and take the road to Docharn. There is a fairly steep though short climb here, but it’s worth it for the superb views of the Cairngorms and Strathspey. The track descends to where it runs alongside the B9153 then immediately turns back into the woods to reach Carrbridge.

Clydebank to Slateford

2008-10-16 T;12:42:00+00:00

The ride is usually best done from west to east as this is the direction of the prevailing wind. To follow the full length of the canal, start on National Route 7 at Bowling, where the Forth & Clyde Canal enters the Clyde but note that this adds 4 miles to the distance given above. Pass through Clydebank, where Route 7 heads off alongside the River Clyde towards the centre of Glasgow and Route 754 continues on the canal, passing the imposing Maryhill Locks. Alternatively, if starting from central Glasgow, you can follow the branch canal north from Port Dundas for two miles until it meets the main canal at the Stockingfield Junction. Along this elevated section there are fine views right across the city. Take care making the connection at Stockingfield as you have to leave the canal for a short section on a difficult road. A bridge is planned to solve the problem here.
After Stockingfield, you reach Glasgow Road bridge, a bustling boating, eating and drinking centre. From here, youshortly come to the beautiful Kelvin Valley with the Kilsyth Hills to the north and soon reach the Falkirk Wheel. Follow the path up beside the wheel until you pass through a short tunnel onto the Union Canal. Take care through the Falkirk Tunnel which can be damp and slippery, although it is now well lit. A bit further, on watch out for the Laughin’ and Greetin' bridge.
After crossing the River Avon, with fine views of the Bathgate Hills to the south, you reach Linlithgow where there is a boating centre. Continuing towards Edinburgh, look out for the steps up to the magnificent Edinburgh International Climbing Arena in Ratho where you can sit in the café and watch the climbers, or have a go yourself!
You enter Edinburgh through Wester Hailes where the canal was infilled, but was reopened as part of the Millennium project. At Slateford, you join Route 75 which follows the canal for another 2.5 miles to its end at Edinburgh Quay at Fountainbridge. Continue on Route 75 for another mile to reach the Meadows and the centre of Edinburgh.
As this is a multi-use path, please take care of other users and make sure people know you are coming – ring your bell! There are barriers at regular intervals but in line with Sustran’s policy to improve access, we will be working with British Waterways to remove or upgrade these barriers. The route isn’t signed at present and this is something else we will be working on, but once you get onto the canal, it’s hard to get lost!

Note: the total distance along the canal towpath from Bowling to Fountainbridge is 62 miles.

Edinburgh-Balerno-Dalkeith Circular

2008-10-15 T;12:20:01+00:00

The ride starts at the Meadows in Edinburgh and follows National Route 75 to Balerno along the Union Canal and Balerno Railway Path. At the end of the railway path, turn left onto Bridge Road and left again onto Bavelaw Road. You should see Malleny Gardens (National Trust for Scotland) on your left. Follow the quiet Mansfield Road past Upper Dean Park to Red Moss nature reserve and cross the Redford Bridge.
After a steep climb you'll reach Bavelaw where you will be in the Pentlands Hills Regional Park. Continue along the off road path, through the spectacular Green Cleugh valley to Loganlea reservoir, from where a traffic free surfaced water board road takes you past Glencorse Reservoir to Flotterstone where there is a handy pub. Turn left and follow a short section beside the A702 and then take the first right down a quiet public road to Milton Bridge.
Turn right along a short section of cycle lane on the A701, and then left down Grahams Road to Auchendinny. Go ahead towards the river North Esk, then left along the railway path to Bonnyrigg on Regional Route 73. Take National Route 1 through Dalkeith, Whitecraig and Musselburgh to Edinburgh and back to the Meadows.

Lochs & Glens South

2008-09-04 T;07:37:01+00:00

Starting at the Town Hall Square in the historic city of Carlisle, National Cycle Route 7 takes you out of the city in a north-westerly direction. You then follow minor roads to Longtown where the A7 bridge takes you over the River Esk, before returning to minor roads to Gretna Green. Continue west through Eastriggs and Annan to Dumfries. The ride is flat but sometimes uses fairly busy secondary roads although get views over the Solway Firth in places. Caerlaveroch Castle and National Nature Reserve are well worth a visit. Traffic-free routes by the River Nith take you through Dumfries from where you head out on the track along the old railway line to Cargenbridge. From here it's an undulating ride along minor country roads to Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright and then nearer the coast to Gatehouse of Fleet. After travelling north to Gatehouse Station, those with sturdy bikes and provisions can take the off-road alternative to Glen Trool. Others return towards the coast at Creetown on minor roads and then on to Newton Stewart along a railway path.

After Newton Stewart, you enter the more remote country of the Galloway Forest Park. Minor roads lead to Glen Trool and then through Glen Trool Forest. Along this section you should carry a repair kit, food and drink as it's a long climb on a single-track road up to the Nick of the Balloch - watch out for timber lorries throughout this section. From here it's a rapid 1.5km descent to the River Stinchard and then another steep uphill stretch to Doughty Hill and The Pilot. Once over the summit, it's an enjoyable run down country roads to Crosshill, which offers the first facilities for 21 miles. From Crosshill the route leads you through Maybole, after which there is another climb that rewards you with magnificent views of Arran and the Ayrshire Coast. The route is pretty flat along urban roads and cycle tracks through Ayr, Prestwick and Troon and almost completely traffic-free from Troon to Kilwinning. After 6 miles along country roads to Kilbirnie, you join an excellent cycle track along an old railway line to Paisley. The route then passes through parks, along river banks, cycle tracks and quiet urban roads to Bell's Bridge on the Clyde in the heart of Glasgow.

Newton Stewart Circular

2008-04-17 T;12:54:00+00:00

This is a challenging but extremely rewarding ride in the heart of Dumfries and Galloway, where the beautiful landscape, attractions and fascinating history more than compensate for the steep climbs.

The ride starts in Newton Stewart and follows National Route 7 east, crossing the A712, to Creetown. The route continues along National Route 7 until you reach Gatehouse Station where you turn off onto a track towards Clatteringshaws and Glen Trool. This track travels north beneath the spectacular Big Water of Fleet Viaduct, as seen in Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps. You will then wind through forests and countryside, past Loch Granoch, until you reach Clatteringshaws Loch. If you feel like a break, you can turn off to the right along the main road to Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre for refreshments and toilets, as well as visit the nearby Bruce's Stone - the first of two that can be seen on this ride.

Follow the quiet road round Clatteringshaws Loch to Craigencallie House and you will come to the start of another traffic free section that passes Loch Dee. The route continues to Loch Trool where you'll find the second Bruce's Stone - where Robert the Bruce is reputed to have paused after his victory at the Battle of Glentrool in 1307! Here you'll rejoin the road downhill into Glentrool Village. Just past the Glen Trool Visitor Centre, you turn left onto a quiet road that runs near the River Cree through the woodlands and countryside back to Newton Stewart for a well earned rest!

Oban to Taynuilt via Glen Lonan

2008-01-16 T;15:51:00+00:00

This ride follows National Route 78, sneaking east out of Oban, past the golf course and the Rare Breeds Park (where there is a tea room). It then wanders along the delightful quiet road through Glen Lonan, past standing stones, rocky outcrops and outlying farmhouses, up and over the hill to Taynuilt.

From Taynuilt it is worth following the B845 to its end at the pier on the shores of Loch Etive for some of the best views of the day across the Loch. You then return to Taynuilt by the same road.

From Taynuilt you have the choice of returning to Oban by train (there are only a few trains per day, so it is worth checking train times and reserving bikes in advance), or cycling back to Oban through Glen Lonan again.

Paisley and Clyde Railway Path

2008-01-14 T;15:48:00+00:00

National Routes 7 and 75 run together from Paisley to Johnstone, where the route junction is marked by a large, multi-coloured sculpture. National Route 75 is also known as the Clyde to Forth Cycle Route, as it runs from Edinburgh to Gourock.

The cycleway and footpath mostly follows the lines of the former railways and starts at Paisley Canal railway station and ends in Gourock at the railway station and ferry terminal. Along the way it passes the town of Johnstone and crosses attractive open country between Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm, before reaching Port Glasgow, Greenock and Gourock on the Firth of Clyde. Ferries ply between Gourock and Dunoon, a gateway to the Cowal Peninsula area of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

The route is mainly traffic-free apart from short sections through Elderslie and Kilmacolm and longer sections in Port Glasgow and Greenock, where there are also some steep gradients. There is wheelchair access to the whole route.

Perth to Almondbank & Pitcairngreen

2008-01-14 T;15:39:00+00:00

The route runs north through North Inch and continues on multi-use track alongside the River Tay, with a splendid view of Scone Palace, where Scotland’s kings were crowned. It then follows track beside the River Almond, passing near Huntingtower Castle, which is worth a detour. The castle is medieval in origin and is a well-maintained and atmospheric time capsule, complete with tales of star-crossed lovers, a Maiden’s Leap and a colony of pipistrelle bats.

The route continues along riverside paths to Almondbank, where the weir makes a pleasant picnic spot. Less than one mile further on is Pitcairngreen. Plans to create an industrial village to rival Manchester failed to materialise, but have resulted in Pitcairngreen being one of the few Scottish villages with a village green. This, together with pubs and shops, make this a pleasant end destination. Return to Perth via the same route. For a longer ride continue following National Route 77 to Dunkeld from where you can return to Perth by train or continue to Pitlochry.

Perth to Dunkeld

2008-01-14 T;15:17:00+00:00

The route runs north from the North Inch in Perth and continues on a traffic-free path alongside the River Tay, with a splendid view of Scone Palace, where Scotland’s kings were crowned. It then follows tracks beside the River Almond to Almondbank. passing near Huntingtower Castle, and continues along quiet roads through the pretty village of Pitcairngreen to Bankfoot.

The route then follows minor roads through Birnam Wood (of Macbeth fame) and joins a dedicated cycle route alongside the A9 through the Pass of Birnam. It goes past Dunkeld and Birnam railway station and into the village of Birnam, where you can visit the Beatrix Potter Garden and the Birnam Institute (café), Just over half a mile further on across the river lies Dunkeld. Dunkeld was Scotland’s first ecclesiastical capital, and its cathedral contains a wealth of Scottish history.

From Dunkeld you can ride back to Perth, return by train, or continue northwards along National Routes 77 and 7 to Pitlochry (about 10 hilly but beautiful miles) or to the railway station at Blair Atholl (about another 7.5 miles).

Tayport to Broughty Ferry

2008-01-11 T;16:13:00+00:00

This route (on National Route 1 and also part of the North Sea Cycle Route) starts from the harbourside in Tayport and uses a railway path along the southern shore of the Firth of Tay to the Tay Road Bridge. There is a noticeable climb up to the bridge and onto the central elevated cycle path giving great views in both directions along the Firth of Tay.

Access to and from the bridge on the Dundee side is via a lift. The route then heads through the Dundee port area (You require a security pass in advance – telephone 01382 224121. To date there is no access for pedestrians through the port. If you are not allowed through, there is an alternative route on public roads.) As you continue around the bay, you’ll see Broughty Castle jutting into the estuary. There are several pubs and restaurants in Broughty Ferry and entry to the castle museum is free. You can return by the same route or take a train back to Dundee from Broughty Ferry.