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Glasgow to Prestwick

107 km road cycling loop624 m climbing4½–6½ hoursGPX

Glasgow, Glasgow City, United Kingdom · Road

A rolling 107 km road cycling loop from Woodfarm through Whitecraigs, Greenfarm and Loganswell, with 624 m of climbing.

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Sunday 18th May 2025

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At a glance

Best for
Rolling day rides for fit, experienced riders
Distance
106.5 km
Loop
Elevation gain
624 m
6 m per km
Riding time
4½–6½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Hard
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Paved
97% paved · 2% unpaved · 2% no data
Traffic
Some main roads
45.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 20.5 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more · 35.8 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Longest gap 16 km
72 cafés and restaurants · 31 shops · 7 petrol stations · 3 public toilets · 1 bike shop
Best months
Jun to Aug
Glasgow climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Woodfarm

Map and elevation profile

On the road: Glasgow to Prestwick, Glasgow

Elevation profile

Total ascent
624 m
Distance
107 km
0100200300400m0 km255075106 km292 m · highest, at 93.4 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Woodfarm
  2. Whitecraigskm 2
  3. Greenfarmkm 4
  4. Loganswellkm 7
  5. Knockentiberkm 28
  6. Muirheadkm 42
  7. Heathfieldkm 52
  8. Moscowkm 80
  9. Stamperlandkm 103
  10. Woodfarmkm 107

This loop route starts in Glasgow at Woodfarm and follows a varied road mix including 45 km of main roads, 30.4 km of cycle paths, and 12.6 km of minor roads. Early climbing begins around km 1.9 with a 1.9 km ascent gaining 41 m. The route passes through many places including Newton Mearns, Kilmarnock, and Prestwick before returning to Glasgow. The highest point on the route is at 294 m around km 93 and the lowest point is at 6 m near km 47.5.

Climbing is generally gentle with five notable climbs between km 1.9 and 86.6, the steepest section lasting 0.7 km with a 5.6% gradient near km 78.2. 66% of the route is flat with 18% climbing and 16% descending. The longest descent stretches for 6.2 km from km 96 dropping 173 m. Surfaces are mostly paved (97%), with 2% gravel or unpaved and some unmapped sections.

Riders can find cafés, shops, and petrol stations at multiple points, for example, cafés at km 3.5, 23.8 and 97.8. There are also opportunities to bail out to train stations at Whitecraigs (km 1), Kilmarnock (km 25.8), Barassie (km 41.2), Prestwick International Airport (km 47.5), and Clarkston (km 103).

Why ride this route?

  • The longest of the 4 rides from Glasgow.
  • A 6.2 km descent dropping 173 m.

Highlights

  • Prestwick at 49.5 km on the route
  • Highest point at 294 m around 93 km
  • Longest descent 6.2 km starting at 96 km
  • Barr Castle near 75.7 km

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Kirkhill 2.2 km
  2. Crookfur 2.8 km
  3. Shaw 3 km
  4. Mearns 3.3 km
  5. Newton Mearns 3.5 km
  6. Greenfarm 3.7 km
  7. Paidmyre 3.7 km
  8. Hazelden 4.2 km
  9. Mearnskirk 4.2 km
  10. Netherplace Estate 4.2 km
  11. Westacres 4.6 km
  12. Malletsheugh 4.8 km
  13. Maidenhill 4.8 km
  14. Netherplace 5.1 km
  15. Loganswell 7.4 km
  16. Floak 11.3 km
  17. Fenwick 19.2 km
  18. Onthank 24.5 km
  19. New Farm Loch 24.7 km
  20. Altonhill 25.6 km
  21. Kilmarnock 25.8 km
  22. Grange 26.2 km
  23. Bonnyton 26.4 km
  24. Knockentiber 28.4 km
  25. Crosshouse 28.8 km
  26. Springside 31.6 km
  27. Dreghorn 33.7 km
  28. Bourtreehill 34.4 km
  29. Broomlands 34.4 km
  30. Shewalton 36.6 km
  31. Gailes 37.5 km
  32. Barassie 41.1 km
  33. Muirhead 42 km
  34. Loans 42.4 km
  35. Troon 42.9 km
  36. Monkton 46.8 km
  37. Prestwick 49.5 km
  38. New Prestwick 50.9 km
  39. Newton-on-Ayr 51.7 km
  40. Lochside 51.7 km
  41. Braehead 51.9 km
  42. Heathfield 52.4 km
  43. Whitletts 52.5 km
  44. Dalmilling 53 km
  45. St Quivox 54.1 km
  46. Mossblown 57 km
  47. Tarbolton 61.5 km
  48. Crosshands 68.2 km
  49. Friendlesshead 68.9 km
  50. Galston 75.8 km
  51. Moscow 79.8 km
  52. Waterside 83.5 km
  53. Eaglesham 97.3 km
  54. Millhall 97.3 km
  55. Waterfoot 99.9 km
  56. Millerston 100.9 km
  57. Busby 102.1 km
  58. Carolside 102.1 km
  59. Clarkston 102.9 km
  60. Stamperland 102.9 km
  61. Netherlee 103.4 km
  62. South Williamwood 103.6 km
  63. Braidbar 104 km
  64. Orchardhill 104 km
  65. Giffnock 104.2 km
  66. Orchard Park 104.2 km
  67. Eastwoodmains 104.2 km
  68. Robslee 104.2 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideTop on this ride
Unnamed climb1.9 km1.9 km · 41 m · 2.2 % · max 2.7 %136 m
Unnamed climb55.8 km3.4 km · 73 m · 2.2 % · max 3.5 %106 m
Unnamed climb62 km2.3 km · 58 m · 2.6 % · max 3.6 %135 m
Unnamed climb75.5 km2.2 km · 77 m · 3.5 % · max 5.8 %128 m
Unnamed climb86.6 km2.9 km · 64 m · 2.2 % · max 3.3 %250 m

High point 294 m at 93 km; low point 6 m. Passes beneath Barrance Hill, Fauldside Hill, Greenhags Hill.

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (45.8 km in all) between quieter sections.

Roads
43% main road · 29% cycle path · 12% minor road · 5% quiet street · 11% other roads and tracks
Main roads
45.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
20.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
35.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
B744 (14 km), A719 (10 km), Moor Road (8 km), A77 (8 km)
Surface
Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
Gradient
18% climbing · 16% descending · 66% flat
Steep sections
0.7 km over 5%
Longest descent
6.2 km from 96 km, dropping 173 m

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.

The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 16 km, from km 76 to 92. Along the route: 72 cafés and restaurants, 31 shops, 7 petrol stations, 3 public toilets and 1 bike shop.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 2.2 kmMearns Pharmacy · pharmacy · 60 m off route
  2. 2.4 kmBP · petrol station · 50 m off route
  3. 3.8 kmAsda · supermarket · 120 m off route
  4. 23.8 kmBello Luca · café · 90 m off route
  5. 23.8 kmBP · petrol station · 80 m off route
  6. 23.8 kmLloyds Pharmacy · pharmacy · 90 m off route
  7. 35 kmBP · petrol station · 120 m off route
  8. 47.5 kmToilets · 120 m off route
  9. 52.4 kmToilets · 200 m off route
  10. 52.6 kmM&S Foodhall · supermarket · 90 m off route
  11. 53 kmGro Coffee · café · 70 m off route
  12. 61.4 kmPrincess Cafe · café · on the route
  13. 61.4 kmSpar · convenience store · on the route
  14. 75.8 kmSister Snax · restaurant · 40 m off route
  15. 76 kmTesco · supermarket · 80 m off route
  16. 97.8 kmThe Movie Cafe · café · 40 m off route
  17. 102.4 kmThe Co-operative Food · convenience store · on the route
  18. 103 kmBoots · pharmacy · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 1 km — Whitecraigs (station), 120 m off route
  • 25.8 km — Kilmarnock (station), 730 m off route
  • 41.2 km — Barassie (station), 200 m off route
  • 47.5 km — Prestwick International Airport (station), 100 m off route
  • 103 km — Clarkston (station), 70 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 7.9 km — Robert Pollock Monument (monument)
  • 47.7 km — St Nicholas Church (ruins)
  • 52.8 km — War Memorial (monument)
  • 61.8 km — Tarbolton Motte (archaeological site)
  • 75.7 km — Barr Castle (castle)
  • 87.4 km — Harelaw Farm Wedding Venue (attraction)

Start and access

Starts and finishes at Woodfarm. Mapped within a short walk of the start, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start and finish

Trains and ferries
Williamwood (480 m), Whitecraigs (880 m)
Food and coffee
Bank Pub (330 m), MJs Brasserie (550 m), Boathouse (960 m)
Shops
Usave (530 m)

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water 15.7 km from 76.2 to 91.9 km
  • 45.8 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 20.5 km on roads with posted limits of 80 km/h or more
  • Gravel or unpaved surfaces on 2% of route

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

8 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Marcus
Date ridden
Route line
Built from a GPS recording of the ride.
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 Glasgow (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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