Cyclists.com

Bo'ness to Helensburgh

Bo'ness, Falkirk, United KingdomRoad

Signed route The waymarked John Muir Way (Green Action Trust JMW), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Stage 2 of 2 of the John Muir Way. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

106 km
Distance
618 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
Bo'ness Buoy
Photo: Colin Park · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
618 m
Distance
106 km
050100150200m0 km255075106 km170 m · highest, at 65.5 kmStartFinish

Route overview

Longer distance riders able to handle moderate climbing over 100 km

Stage 2 of 2 of the John Muir Way: 105.5 km from Bo'ness to Helensburgh with 618 m of climbing, on the signed route.

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

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Kinneil 2.3 km
  2. Linlithgow Bridge 6.4 km
  3. Linlithgow 7.7 km
  4. Whitecross 11.5 km
  5. Polmont 14.6 km
  6. Rumford 15 km
  7. Brightons 15.4 km
  8. Redding 16.3 km
  9. Reddingmuirhead 16.8 km
  10. Westquarter 16.8 km
  11. Hallglen 19.3 km
  12. Glen Village 19.6 km
  13. Lionthorn 20.5 km
  14. Lochgreen 21.2 km
  15. Tamfourhill 24.5 km
  16. High Bonnybridge 28 km
  17. Bonnybridge 29 km
  18. Greenhill 29.7 km
  19. Dennyloanhead 30.5 km
  20. Allandale 31.7 km
  21. Longcroft 32.2 km
  22. Haggs 32.8 km
  23. Castlecary 33.4 km
  24. Banknock 34 km
  25. Coneypark 34.6 km
  26. Barrwood 39.6 km
  27. Auchinstarry 40.5 km
  28. Kilsyth 40.5 km
  29. Auchinvole 41.3 km
  30. Twechar 43.1 km
  31. Langmuir 45.8 km
  32. Harestanes 46.4 km
  33. Cleddans 46.9 km
  34. Merkland 47.2 km
  35. Kirkintilloch 48.1 km
  36. Barleybank 48.1 km
  37. Milton of Campsie 51.2 km
  38. Lennoxtown 53.8 km
  39. Ballagan Farm 59.2 km
  40. Strathblane 61 km
  41. Blanefield 61.9 km
  42. Boards 63.9 km
  43. Dumgoyne 70.3 km
  44. Gartness 74.4 km
  45. Gaidrew 75.9 km
  46. Croftamie 77 km
  47. Balloch 89 km
  48. Jamestown 89 km
  49. Cameron Home Farm 91.6 km
  50. Auchendennan 93 km
  51. Arden 94 km
  52. Dumfin 95.7 km
  53. Helensburgh 102.3 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—1.4 km2.1 km84 m3.9 %8.1 %90 m
—61.5 km2.3 km102 m4.4 %7.3 %170 m
—96.8 km2.7 km59 m2.2 %2.9 %104 m

High point 171 m at 63.9 km; low point 2 m. Passes beneath Colt Hill, Pepper Hill, Croy Hill.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
48% cycle path · 18% path · 12% minor road · 8% quiet street
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
77% paved · 22% gravel or unpaved
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

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0 kmToilets · 110 m off route
  2. 0.6 kmHastons of Bo'ness · petrol station · 100 m off route
  3. 6.4 kmKeyStore · convenience store · on the route
  4. 15.2 kmaran · café · 100 m off route
  5. 16.6 kmTesco · supermarket · 60 m off route
  6. 25.4 kmFalkirk Wheel Cafe · café · 60 m off route
  7. 28.7 kmJET · petrol station · 230 m off route
  8. 29 kmRepair stand · on the route
  9. 43 kmRepair stand · on the route
  10. 50.9 kmAntermony Road Co-op · supermarket · 90 m off route
  11. 53.8 kmLennoxtown Service Station · petrol station · 270 m off route
  12. 70 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
  13. 71.8 kmCountry Cycles · bike rental · 90 m off route
  14. 87.4 kmToilets · on the route
  15. 89.2 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 70 m off route
  16. 102.1 kmCosta · café · 80 m off route
  17. 102.1 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 70 m off route
  18. 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

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

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)

At the start

  • McMoo's · café · 250 m
  • The Junction · café · 380 m
  • Sweet Bakery · bakery · 300 m
  • The Anchor Tavern · pub · 200 m
  • Pier Pizza · fast food · 150 m

At the finish

  • Costa · café · 150 m
  • The Terrace Coffee House · café · 80 m
  • Dino's Ice Cream · ice cream · 50 m
  • Vanilla · ice cream · 20 m
  • Helensburgh Cycles · bike shop · 100 m

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

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
7 h 32 min
Best months
Jun to Sep — daily highs of 16–19 °C in those months

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

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Colin Park · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Richard Webb · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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