Road · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 3 · National Cycle Route 7 (Scotland section)← Stage 1Stage 3 →
Callander to Paisley
A rolling 100 km road cycling route from Callander, Stirling to Paisley through Invertrossachs, Croftamie and Kirktonhill, with 607 m of climbing. The first 21 km has no café, shop or water. Mixed surface: 80% is mapped as paved and 16% as gravel or unpaved and 4% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 100.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 607 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 09 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 21 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Callander → Paisley
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 607 m
- 100 km
Route description
- Callander
- Invertrossachs
- Croftamie
- Kirktonhill
- Mountblow
- Yoker
- Govan
- Bellahouston
- Dykebar
- Paisley
Starting in Callander, the route heads through Invertrossachs at 7.7 km and Aberfoyle at 21.6 km, then passes Gartmore, Dalmary, and Drymen where a bakery and other facilities are available. Early climbs include a 2.1 km section averaging 3.5% gradient up to 166 m and a 3.2 km climb peaking at 252 m. The first half contains about 83% of the climb. From Balloch at 51.7 km the ride continues through Alexandria, Dumbarton, and Clydebank with occasional café and shops.
Road surfaces are mainly paved (80%) with some gravel or unpaved sections (16%). The ride covers various road types: cycle paths (36%), minor roads (31%), quiet streets (11%), plus tracks and paths. Main or major roads cover 2 km with 2.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes. The route follows the Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath and the C9 road stretches. Facilities include cafés at 0, 21.6, 36.6, 51.7, 60, 66.9, 73.5, 79.8, 83.9 and 95.5 km, shops and water taps often near those points. There is a longest stretch of 20.7 km at the start without café, shop or water.
Highlights
- Climb to 252 m near 17.6 km
- Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath section
- Passes Drymen and Balloch
- Ends at Paisley with coach station
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 9.9 km | 2.1 km · 71 m · 3.5 % · max 5.9 % | 166 m |
| Unnamed climb | 14.4 km | 3.2 km · 114 m · 3.6 % · max 5.8 % | 252 m |
| Unnamed climb | 23.3 km | 2.2 km · 59 m · 2.7 % · max 5.9 % | 81 m |
| Unnamed climb | 27.4 km | 4.8 km · 176 m · 3.7 % · max 6.3 % | 209 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 2.2 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 38% cycle path · 31% minor road · 11% quiet street · 10% track · 9% other roads and tracks · 1% unmapped
- Main roads
- 2.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 36.3 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath (5 km), C9 (4 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 80% is mapped as paved and 16% as gravel or unpaved and 4% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 11% climbing · 15% descending · 75% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.7 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.2% at 31.7 km
- Longest descent
- 4 km from 18.3 km, dropping 225 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 21 km, from the start. Along the route: 263 cafés and restaurants, 96 shops, 8 water points, 12 petrol stations, 22 public toilets and 28 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmDun Whinny's · café · 30 m off route
- 0 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 140 m off route
- 12.5 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 21.6 kmThe Station · café · 60 m off route
- 21.6 kmToilets · on the route
- 21.8 kmHighland · petrol station · 120 m off route
- 36.6 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · on the route
- 36.6 kmPeloton · bike shop · 50 m off route
- 51.7 kmMavi Kitchen and Bar · café · 50 m off route
- 52 kmToilets · on the route
- 61.2 kmAsda · supermarket · 130 m off route
- 66.7 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 66.9 kmMagic Cycles · bike rental · 70 m off route
- 72.6 kmToilets · 100 m off route
- 76.6 kmSinclair Pharmacy · pharmacy · 30 m off route
- 80.3 kmCastlebank Street Service Station · petrol station · 70 m off route
- 81 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 40 m off route
- 88.7 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 100 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 52 km — Balloch (station), 110 m off route
- 60.7 km — Dumbarton Central (station), 30 m off route
- 73.2 km — Clydebank (station), 210 m off route
- 84.6 km — Dumbreck (station), 80 m off route
- 95.4 km — Paisley Canal (station), on the route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Tom Na Chisaig, Motte (archaeological site)
- 21.7 km — Scottish Wool Centre (attraction)
- 60.6 km — College Bow, arch (monument)
- 67.7 km — Antonine Wall (ruins)
- 81.7 km — The Clydeside Distillery (attraction)
- 95.4 km — Saucel Hill (peak, 41 m)
Stay after this ride
- Watermill · hotel · 380 m from the finish
- My Motel · hotel · 550 m from the finish
- Broadstone House · guest house · 360 m from the finish
- Ashtree House Hotel · hotel · 700 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Dun Whinny's (30 m), Mhor Bread (90 m), The Sandwich Bar (90 m)
- Shops
- Nature's Corner (90 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Paisley Canal (90 m)
- Food and coffee
- Spoons Coffee House (90 m), The Wellington (100 m), The_Afton (140 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water is 20.7 km from 0 km
- 2.2 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 2 km on fast roads (80 km/h+)
- 16% gravel or unpaved surface
