Mixed · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 2 · John Muir Way← Stage 1
Bo'ness to Helensburgh
A rolling 106 km road cycling route from Bo'ness, Falkirk to Helensburgh through Kinneil, Brightons and Lochgreen, with 618 m of climbing. Mixed surface: 77% is mapped as paved and 22% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 105.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 618 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 32 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Bo'ness → Helensburgh
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 618 m
- 106 km
Route description
- Bo'ness
- Kinneil
- Brightons
- Lochgreen
- Allandale
- Auchinstarry
- Cleddans
- Strathblane
- Croftamie
- Helensburgh
The route begins at Bo'ness and heads past Kinneil and Linlithgow before continuing through Polmont, Redding, and across various small towns including Bonnybridge and Kilsyth. It covers 105.5 km with an elevation gain of 618 m. The initial climb starts shortly after the beginning at km 1.4, reaching 90 m after 2.1 km at an average gradient of 3.9% with a maximum of 8.1%. Graded sections of climbing also occur near km 61.5 and a gentler ascent near the end of the ride from km 96.8.
Highlights
- Climb near km 1.4 with max gradient 8.1%
- High point at Boards at 171 m elevation
- Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath 17.6 km
- Union Canal Towpath 10.1 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 1.4 km | 2.1 km · 84 m · 3.9 % · max 8.1 % | 90 m |
| Unnamed climb | 61.5 km | 2.3 km · 102 m · 4.4 % · max 7.3 % | 170 m |
| Unnamed climb | 96.8 km | 2.7 km · 59 m · 2.2 % · max 2.9 % | 104 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 5.8 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 48% cycle path · 18% path · 12% minor road · 8% quiet street · 14% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 5.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 4.9 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 49.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath (18 km), Union Canal Towpath (10 km), C9 (4 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 77% is mapped as paved and 22% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 12% climbing · 13% descending · 75% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.5 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.4% at 2.9 km
- Longest descent
- 2.7 km from 67.6 km, dropping 107 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 149 cafés and restaurants, 45 shops, 3 water points, 3 petrol stations, 12 public toilets and 7 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmToilets · 110 m off route
- 0.6 kmHastons of Bo'ness · petrol station · 100 m off route
- 6.4 kmKeyStore · convenience store · on the route
- 15.2 kmaran · café · 100 m off route
- 16.6 kmTesco · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 25.4 kmFalkirk Wheel Cafe · café · 60 m off route
- 28.7 kmJET · petrol station · 230 m off route
- 29 kmRepair stand · on the route
- 43 kmRepair stand · on the route
- 50.9 kmAntermony Road Co-op · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 53.8 kmLennoxtown Service Station · petrol station · 270 m off route
- 70 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
- 71.8 kmCountry Cycles · bike rental · 90 m off route
- 87.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 89.2 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 70 m off route
- 102.1 kmCosta · café · 80 m off route
- 102.1 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 70 m off route
- 102.3 kmToilets · 40 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 1.4 km — Kinneil Halt (station), 130 m off route
- 15.2 km — Polmont (station), 200 m off route
- 24.9 km — Camelon (station), 1.4 km off route
- 39.9 km — Croy (station), 1.4 km off route
- 48.1 km — Seagull Trust Cruises (ferry), 760 m off route
- 89.2 km — Balloch (station), 120 m off route
- 101.3 km — Helensburgh Upper (station), 80 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2.8 km — Kinneil House (castle)
- 27.8 km — Antonine Wall (ruins)
- 43 km — Antonine Wall (ruins)
- 87.4 km — Balloch Castle (castle)
- 93 km — Burial Ground (archaeological site)
- 102.1 km — Celtic Cross (monument)
Stay after this ride
- La Jupe · guest house · 30 m from the finish
- Riva · hotel · 70 m from the finish
- Sinclair Guest House · guest house · 360 m from the finish
- Ashfield · guest house · 400 m from the finish
- Moorlands B&B · guest house · 1.0 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- McMoo's (250 m), The Junction (380 m), Sweet Bakery (300 m)
- Shops
- Tesco (250 m)
At the finish
- Bikes and repair
- Helensburgh Cycles (100 m)
- Food and coffee
- Costa (150 m), The Terrace Coffee House (80 m), Dino's Ice Cream (50 m)
Know before you go
- 11.2 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from km 77 to 88.2
- 5.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 4.9 km on roads with speeds 80 km/h or more
- 22% gravel or unpaved surface
