Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 754
A flat 94 km road cycling route from Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire through Old Drumchapel, Lambhill and Auchinvole, with 146 m of climbing. 86% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 94.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 146 m
- Riding time
- 6 h 45 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Clydebank
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 146 m
- 94 km
Route description
- Clydebank
- Old Drumchapel
- Lambhill
- Auchinvole
- Allandale
- Falkirk
- Rumford
- Ratho
- Craiglockhart
National Cycle Route 754 starts in Clydebank, passing through numerous suburbs and towns including Kilbowie, Drumry, Maryhill, Kirkintilloch, and Falkirk, before reaching Edinburgh. The route is mostly flat, with only 2% climbing and 1% descending, peaking at 89 m around 79.6 km. The route profile is gently undulating without sustained steep gradients.
The surface is 94% paved, with 5% gravel or unpaved and 1% unmapped sections. Most of the route (87%) is on cycle paths, including the Union Canal Towpath for 43.7 km and the Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath for 36.3 km. Other sections include paths, quiet streets, main roads, minor roads, and tracks. There are 1.9 km on main roads without cycle lanes and 1.3 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
Amenities along the route include cafés such as Cafe 81 near the start at 0.9 km, the Falkirk Wheel Café around 41.6 km, and several others near Linlithgow and Edinburgh. Shops like Sainsbury's, Tesco, Aldi, and Spar are found along the way, with the longest stretch without a café, shop, or water lasting 10.3 km between 27.4 km and 37.7 km. There are several bailout points including Clydebank Station at the start and Kingsknowe Station near the end.
Why ride this route?
- 86% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Union Canal Towpath for 43.7 km
- Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath for 36.3 km
- Falkirk Wheel Café at 41.6 km
- Peaks near the road: Castle Hill, Bar Hill, Croy Hill
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 86% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 87% cycle path · 7% path · 2% quiet street · 2% main road · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 1.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 1.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 81 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Union Canal Towpath (44 km), Forth and Clyde Canal Towpath (36 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 94% is mapped as paved, 5% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 2% climbing · 1% descending · 97% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 242 cafés and restaurants, 92 shops, 2 water points, 4 petrol stations, 9 public toilets and 19 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.9 kmCafe 81 · café · 50 m off route
- 4.6 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 6.1 kmLock 27 · pub · on the route
- 10.1 kmCafé on the canal · café · on the route
- 19.1 kmSainsbury's · supermarket · 110 m off route
- 19.3 kmChapeau Cycles · bike shop · 90 m off route
- 38.7 kmLindsay & Gilmour · pharmacy · 80 m off route
- 38.8 kmJET · petrol station · on the route
- 41.6 kmToilets · on the route
- 49.3 kmTesco · supermarket · 50 m off route
- 59.3 kmToilets · 250 m off route
- 59.4 kmLUCS Canal Tea Room · café · 50 m off route
- 59.7 kmTesco · supermarket · 140 m off route
- 72.4 kmAldi · supermarket · 100 m off route
- 79.4 kmCafé Refresh · café · 80 m off route
- 89.6 kmSainsbury's · supermarket · 140 m off route
- 89.8 kmAsda · petrol station · 90 m off route
- 92.5 kmM&D Green Pharmacy · pharmacy · 150 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Clydebank (station), 340 m off route
- 6.8 km — Kelvindale (station), 60 m off route
- 18.9 km — Seagull Trust Cruises (ferry), 60 m off route
- 43.3 km — Camelon (station), 1.3 km off route
- 50.8 km — Polmont (station), 210 m off route
- 59.6 km — Linlithgow (station), 80 m off route
- 74.5 km — Laird's Halt (station), 970 m off route
- 88.6 km — Kingsknowe (station), 40 m off route
Worth a stop
- 24.5 km — Antonine Wall (ruins)
- 29 km — Craigmarloch Stables (ruins)
- 36.8 km — Antonine Wall (ruins)
- 53.5 km — Almond Castle (castle)
Stay after this ride
- Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge · hotel · 130 m from the finish
- Castle Park · guest house · 140 m from the finish
- Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End · hotel · 160 m from the finish
- The Town House · guest house · 160 m from the finish
- Fountain Court EQ2 · hotel · 180 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Clydebank (340 m)
- Food and coffee
- McMonagles Fish & Chips (80 m), Asda Café (250 m), Cafe 81 (890 m)
- Shops
- The Food Warehouse (320 m), Asda (280 m)
At the finish
- Bikes and repair
- Laid Back Bikes (160 m), Fettle (300 m)
- Food and coffee
- KUBA (130 m), Main Street Beanery (140 m), Lochrin Rooftop Bar (140 m)
- Shops
- Viewforth Express (180 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 10.3 km from 27.4 km to 37.7 km
- 1.9 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 1.3 km on roads with 80 km/h or higher speed limits
- 5% gravel or unpaved surface
