Road · United Kingdom
West Loch Lomond Cycle Route
A flat 26 km road cycling route from Balloch, West Dunbartonshire through Cameron Home Farm, Auchendennan and Arden, with 45 m of climbing. 57% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 25.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 45 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 50 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Balloch
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 45 m
- 26 km
Route description
- Balloch
- Cameron Home Farm
- Auchendennan
- Arden
- Arnburn
- Porte o' Rossdhu
- Aldochlay
- Luss
- Inverbeg
Starting at Balloch, the route quickly climbs to its highest point at 45 m within the first kilometre before dropping to the lowest elevation of 9 m near 1.8 km. The route follows a paved surface throughout, with 57% on cycle paths, 20% on quiet streets, 17% on minor roads, and 5% on major roads including 1.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane.
The profile is mainly flat with 88% of the route on flat terrain and gentle gradients, with only 0.1 km exceeding 10% gradient near the start. The ride passes through places such as Cameron Home Farm, Auchendennan, Arden, Luss, Inverbeg, and Firkin before reaching Tarbet at 25.7 km. There is a longest stretch of 13 km from 12.6 to 25.6 km without a café, shop, or water.
Refuelling options include The Cruin restaurant near 2.4 km and fast food, a village shop and a petrol station near 12.5 to 12.6 km. Toilets and drinking water can be found at several points, especially near Luss (12.5 km) and close to the finish at Tarbet. Bailout points include stations at Balloch and Tarbet and ferries near 12.6 and 25.6 km.
Why ride this route?
- 57% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Longest stretch without cafe or shop: 13 km from 12.6 km
- Cycle paths comprise 57% of the route
- Low elevation gain: 45 m total climbing
- Passes through Luss at 12.4 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 57% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 57% cycle path · 20% quiet street · 17% minor road · 5% major road · 1% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 1.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 3.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 14.7 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Paved: 100% of the route is mapped as paved.
- Gradient
- 7% climbing · 5% descending · 88% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 10 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop, 5 water points, 1 petrol station, 4 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 2.4 kmThe Cruin · restaurant · on the route
- 12.5 kmSnack Shack · fast food · on the route
- 12.5 kmVillage Shop · convenience store · on the route
- 12.5 kmDrinking water · 50 m off route
- 12.6 kmGulf · petrol station · on the route
- 12.7 kmToilets · on the route
- 21.4 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 25.6 kmBonnie and Ben Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 25.6 kmDrinking water · 30 m off route
- 25.6 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 25.7 kmRepair stand · 40 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Balloch (station), 960 m off route
- 12.6 km — Ferry, 260 m off route
- 25.6 km — Tarbert Pier (ferry), 150 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2.5 km — Burial Ground (archaeological site)
- 8.8 km — Castle of Rossdhu (archaeological site)
- 21.3 km — Firkin Point Picnic Area (picnic site)
Stay after this ride
- Tarbet Hotel · hotel · 110 m from the finish
- Innischonain House · guest house · 260 m from the finish
- Tarbet isle camping permit area March-September · campsite · 1.2 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Balloch (960 m), Balloch Villiage Ferry Landing (990 m)
- Food and coffee
- The Churro Box (360 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Tarbert Pier (180 m), Arrochar and Tarbet (780 m)
- Food and coffee
- Bonnie and Ben Cafe (60 m), Tarbet Tearoom (200 m)
Know before you go
- 13 km without cafe, shop or water from 12.6 km to 25.6 km
- 1.2 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 3.3 km on roads with 80 km/h or more speed limit
