Cyclists.com

Bonhill to Ayr

Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire, United KingdomRoad

Signed route The waymarked EuroVelo 1 (EuroVelo EV1), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Stage 5 of 7 of the EuroVelo 1. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

110 km
Distance
203 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
This is a photo of listed building number
Photo: Iroberts696 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
203 m
Distance
110 km
020406080m0 km255075110 km75 m · highest, at 69.4 kmStartFinish

Route overview

Riders suited to a long mostly flat ride of 110 km with moderate elevation gain.

Stage 5 of 7 of the EuroVelo 1: 110.2 km from Bonhill to Ayr with 203 m of climbing, on the signed route.

Starting in Bonhill, west of Alexandria, the route heads south-east passing through several towns including Dumbarton, Clydebank and Glasgow. It follows the Dalry and North Johnstone rail trail for 8.2 km and the Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath for 4.3 km, using mostly cycle paths which account for 58% of the route. There are 3.7 km on main roads and 4.8 km on main roads without cycle lanes, including 8.4 km on 80 km/h or faster roads. The profile is mostly flat with 97% of the route level, a total elevation gain of 203 m, and a highest point of 75 m near km 67. The steepest 500 m stretch has a 3.6% gradient. The route passes near Dumbowie (at 8.1 km) and the Hill of Dun (207 m high, near 11.4 km). There is a longest descent from km 75.9 over 1.5 km dropping 22 m. Food, drink and bike facilities are well provided early on with cafés like The Park Pit Stop at 5.1 km and Paton's Place at 12.1 km. There are long stretches with no café or shop for 11 km between km 63.2 and 74.2. Bailout points with railway stations are frequent, including Dumbarton Central (km 5.8), Clydebank (18.5), Dumbreck (29.7), Paisley Canal (40.4), and Irvine (81.1). Amenities at the start in Bonhill include a station and convenience stores; at the finish in Ayr there are several cafés and pubs.

Highlights

  • Dalry and North Johnstone rail trail for 8.2 km
  • Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath for 4.3 km
  • Near Hill of Dun (207 m) at 11.4 km
  • Highest point 75 m at km 67

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Castlehill 4.1 km
  2. Dalreoch 4.9 km
  3. Kirktonhill 5.1 km
  4. Brucehill 5.1 km
  5. Dumbarton 5.5 km
  6. Townend 6.1 km
  7. Silverton 6.6 km
  8. Milton 9.5 km
  9. Bowling 11.8 km
  10. Old Kilpatrick 13.2 km
  11. Erskine 15.4 km
  12. Dalmuir 16.3 km
  13. Kilbowie 17.9 km
  14. Clydebank 18 km
  15. Drumry 18.2 km
  16. Whitecrook 19.3 km
  17. Renfrew 20.3 km
  18. Yoker 20.7 km
  19. Garscadden 21.7 km
  20. Braehead 22.2 km
  21. Scotstoun 22.5 km
  22. Whiteinch 23.9 km
  23. Linthouse 24.4 km
  24. Broomhill 24.9 km
  25. Partick 25.7 km
  26. Govan 26.3 km
  27. Yorkhill 26.5 km
  28. Kelvinhaugh 27.1 km
  29. Finnieston 27.7 km
  30. Glasgow 28 km
  31. Plantation 28.3 km
  32. Kinning Park 28.3 km
  33. Cessnock 28.6 km
  34. Ibrox 29.2 km
  35. Bellahouston 29.5 km
  36. Dumbreck 29.8 km
  37. Corkerhill 33.5 km
  38. Pollok 33.9 km
  39. Crookston 35.7 km
  40. Ralston 36.8 km
  41. Hawkhead 38.6 km
  42. Dykebar 38.9 km
  43. Hunterhill 39.4 km
  44. Blackhall 39.4 km
  45. Seedhill 39.7 km
  46. Lochfield 39.7 km
  47. Charleston 39.9 km
  48. Williamsburgh 40.1 km
  49. Paisley 40.5 km
  50. Castlehead 40.9 km
  51. Meikleriggs 42.2 km
  52. Lounsdale 42.4 km
  53. Ferguslie 42.7 km
  54. Elderslie 44.6 km
  55. Linwood 45.6 km
  56. Johnstone 46.7 km
  57. Kilbarchan 49.2 km
  58. Lochwinnoch 55.9 km
  59. Kilbirnie 61.5 km
  60. Glengarnock 62.5 km
  61. Longbar 64 km
  62. Highfield 67.4 km
  63. Kilwinning 75.1 km
  64. Irvine 80.6 km
  65. Fullarton 81.1 km
  66. Gailes 84.2 km
  67. Shewalton 85.9 km
  68. Barassie 89.4 km
  69. Troon 93.4 km
  70. Monkton 98.2 km
  71. Prestwick 100.1 km
  72. New Prestwick 101.7 km
  73. Newton-on-Ayr 103.9 km
  74. Wallacetown 104.7 km
  75. Ayr 104.9 km
  76. Fort 104.9 km

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
58% cycle path · 17% minor road · 11% quiet street · 8% path
Main roads
4.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
8.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
61.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
Dalry and North Johnstone rail trail (8 km), Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath (4 km), NCN7 (3 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
1% climbing · 2% descending · 97% flat

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. 5.1 kmThe Park Pit Stop · café · on the route
  2. 5.5 kmDumbarton Pharmacy · pharmacy · 120 m off route
  3. 9.5 kmDunglass Service Station · petrol station · 90 m off route
  4. 12.1 kmWater tap · 100 m off route
  5. 12.1 kmMagic Cycles · bike rental · 40 m off route
  6. 18.7 kmThe Great Wee Roll Shop · café · 40 m off route
  7. 23.3 kmBikechain · bike shop · 160 m off route
  8. 25.9 kmLidl · supermarket · 110 m off route
  9. 26.3 kmToilets · 120 m off route
  10. 33.8 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 90 m off route
  11. 40.5 kmSpoons Coffee House · café · 100 m off route
  12. 47.1 kmStarbucks · café · 100 m off route
  13. 81.7 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 220 m off route
  14. 91.7 kmElectric Bikepost · bike shop · 180 m off route
  15. 93.5 kmBlueberry's Coffee Shop & Bakery · café · 100 m off route
  16. 100.2 kmStation Café · café · 60 m off route
  17. 100.5 kmToilets · on the route
  18. 104.7 kmAldi · supermarket · 40 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 5.8 km — Dumbarton Central (station), 40 m off route
  • 18.5 km — Clydebank (station), 210 m off route
  • 29.7 km — Dumbreck (station), 80 m off route
  • 40.4 km — Paisley Canal (station), 40 m off route
  • 63.5 km — Glengarnock (station), 580 m off route
  • 81.1 km — Irvine (station), 60 m off route
  • 89.6 km — Barassie (station), 70 m off route
  • 98.8 km — Prestwick International Airport (station), 80 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 5.8 km — College Bow, arch (monument)
  • 12.9 km — Antonine Wall (ruins)
  • 27.1 km — The Clydeside Distillery (attraction)
  • 40.4 km — Saucel Hill (peak, 41 m)
  • 56.8 km — Barr Castle (castle)
  • 63 km — Crannog (archaeological site)

At the start

  • Alexandria · station · 370 m
  • Rossi's · fast food · 260 m
  • O'Brien's · convenience store · 370 m

At the finish

  • Pandora Coffee House · café · 90 m
  • Pickens · bakery · 250 m
  • The Sugar Cube · café · 130 m
  • Smugglers · pub · 40 m
  • The Rusty Nail · pub · 50 m

Stay after this ride

  • Eglinton Guest B&B · guest house · 370 m from the finish
  • The Arrandale Hotel · hotel · 450 m from the finish
  • Mercure Ayr · hotel · 470 m from the finish
  • The Berkeley · hotel · 510 m from the finish
  • St. Andrews Hotel · hotel · 1.1 km from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
7 h 52 min
Best months
Jun to Aug — daily highs of 17–18 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • 11 km without café, shop or water from km 63.2 to 74.2
  • 4.8 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 8.4 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
  • 4% of route on gravel or unpaved surfaces

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

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Iroberts696 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Steven Brown · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Leslie Barrie · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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