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Bonhill to Ayr

110 km road cycling route203 m climbing7 h 52 minGPX

Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire, United Kingdom · Road

A flat 110 km road cycling route from Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire to Ayr through Renton, Bowling and Garscadden, with 203 m of climbing. 56% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.

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.

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At a glance

Best for
Steady riding away from traffic for fit, experienced riders
Distance
110.2 km
Point to point
Elevation gain
203 m
2 m per km
Riding time
7 h 52 min
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Mostly paved
93% paved · 4% unpaved · 3% no data
Traffic
Mostly cycle paths
4.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 8.4 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more · 61.2 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Regular
383 cafés and restaurants · 119 shops · 7 water points · 17 petrol stations · 22 public toilets · 31 bike shops
Best months
Jun to Aug
Bonhill climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start → finish
Bonhill → Ayr

Map and elevation profile

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 description

  1. Bonhill
  2. Rentonkm 2
  3. Bowlingkm 12
  4. Garscaddenkm 22
  5. Kelvinhaughkm 27
  6. Pollokkm 34
  7. Charlestonkm 40
  8. Kilbarchankm 49
  9. Gaileskm 84
  10. Ayrkm 110

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.

Why ride this route?

  • 56% on cycle paths or lanes.

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 route line, the Copernicus elevation model 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

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Much of the route is separated from traffic: 56% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.

Roads
58% cycle path · 17% minor road · 11% quiet street · 8% path · 7% other roads and tracks
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
Predominantly paved: 93% is mapped as paved, 4% as unpaved or gravel and 3% has no surface data.
Gradient
1% climbing · 2% descending · 97% flat

Food, water and services

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

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 383 cafés and restaurants, 119 shops, 7 water points, 17 petrol stations, 22 public toilets and 31 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  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)

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

Start and access

Starts at Alexandria. Mapped within a short walk of the start and finish, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start

Trains and ferries
Alexandria (370 m)
Food and coffee
Rossi's (260 m)
Shops
O'Brien's (370 m)

At the finish

Food and coffee
Pandora Coffee House (90 m), Pickens (250 m), The Sugar Cube (130 m)

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

Stage of

About this route

Route line
Traced from the waymarked route’s relation in OpenStreetMap.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Bonhill (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
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Page last updated

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