![Glasgow bridges [18]](https://lcopvmkgfxttunyqswpa.supabase.co/storage/v1/render/image/public/photos/gourock/gourock-to-glasgow/commons-0.jpg?width=1440&quality=75&resize=contain)
Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 2 · National Cycle Route 75Stage 2 →
Gourock to Glasgow
A flat 51 km road cycling route from Gourock, Inverclyde to Glasgow through Cardwell Bay, Ladyburn and Bardrainney, with 168 m of climbing. 71% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 50.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 168 m
- Riding time
- 3 h 38 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Gourock → Glasgow
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 168 m
- 51 km
Route description
- Gourock
- Cardwell Bay
- Ladyburn
- Bardrainney
- Linwood
- Williamsburgh
- Hawkhead
- Ibrox
- Anderston
- Glasgow
The route starts in Gourock and passes through Cardwell Bay and Fort Matilda before arriving in Greenock at 6 km. The most significant climb begins just after Greenock, lasting 2.6 km with an average gradient of 2.8%, gaining 72 m in elevation to 74 m at the top. The highest point on the route is 136 m at 13.8 km near Kilmacolm. From Kilmacolm, the ride continues to Bridge of Weir by 23 km then through Johnstone and Paisley by around 34 km, with a gentle profile mainly flat or gently rolling.
Most surfaces are paved (97%) with a small 1% of gravel or unpaved sections and about 2% unmapped. The majority of the route (nearly 73%) is on cycle paths, supplemented by quiet streets and minor roads, with only 0.5 km on main roads. The route offers a longest stretch of 6.2 km without any café, shop or water supply between km 23.2 and 29.4. Several cafés, supermarkets, pubs, and shops are available near towns like Greenock, Kilmacolm, Paisley, and Glasgow. Railway stations are available at Gourock, Cartsdyke, Paisley Canal, and Dumbreck allowing bailout options.
Why ride this route?
- 71% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Lyle Hill at 2.1 km near start
- Longest climb 2.6 km after Greenock
- Highest point 136 m at 13.8 km
- Pollok Tumulus archaeological site near 42.2 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 6.7 km | 2.6 km · 72 m · 2.8 % · max 5 % | 74 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 71% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 73% cycle path · 12% quiet street · 7% minor road · 4% path · 4% other roads and tracks
- Cycle paths
- 36.3 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 8% climbing · 8% descending · 84% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 259 cafés and restaurants, 72 shops, 4 water points, 7 petrol stations, 8 public toilets and 28 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.3 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · on the route
- 0.6 kmShore Street Public Toilets · toilets · 100 m off route
- 5 kmAldi · supermarket · 50 m off route
- 5.5 kmTesco Extra · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 5.6 kmBoots · pharmacy · 240 m off route
- 6 kmCosta · café · 110 m off route
- 17.7 kmCairn · café · 70 m off route
- 17.7 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 150 m off route
- 23 kmBoots · pharmacy · 70 m off route
- 29.9 kmJim's Food and Wine · convenience store · on the route
- 33.7 kmDooleys · bike shop · 220 m off route
- 34 kmShell Charleston · petrol station · 130 m off route
- 34 kmAbbey Chemists · pharmacy · 120 m off route
- 40.3 kmnextbike Corkerhill Station · bike rental · 330 m off route
- 40.7 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 46 kmCessnock Pharmacy · pharmacy · 130 m off route
- 46.8 kmStarbucks · café · 40 m off route
- 48.7 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 140 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0.6 km — Gourock (station), 40 m off route
- 7.8 km — Cartsdyke (station), 240 m off route
- 33.8 km — Paisley Canal (station), on the route
- 45 km — Dumbreck (station), 80 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.1 km — Granny Kempock Stone (archaeological site)
- 6.5 km — Propeller/Capstan/Anchor (attraction)
- 10.3 km — Devol Viaduct / Nine Arches Railway Bridge (ruins) (ruins)
- 30.6 km — Barskiven Hill (peak)
- 33.9 km — Saucel Hill (peak, 41 m)
- 42.2 km — Pollok Tumulus (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- Clayton Hotel · hotel · 100 m from the finish
- Aparthotel Adagio Glasgow Central · hotel · 110 m from the finish
- St Enoch Hotel · hotel · 130 m from the finish
- Premier Inn · hotel · 160 m from the finish
- Leonardo Hotel Glasgow · hotel · 210 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Gourock (380 m)
- Food and coffee
- Good Brew (80 m), Fresh (120 m), Aulds (140 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Avenu Cafe (170 m), Caffè Nero (220 m), The Imperial (190 m)
Know before you go
- 6.2 km without café, shop or water between km 23.2 and 29.4
- 0.5 km on main roads without cycle lane
