Road · United Kingdom
Stage 3 of 3 · National Cycle Route 7 (Scotland section)← Stage 2
Paisley to Alloway
A flat 75 km road cycling route from Paisley, Renfrewshire to Alloway through Meikleriggs, Elderslie and Lochwinnoch, with 178 m of climbing. 59% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 74.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 178 m
- Riding time
- 5 h 19 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
- Paisley → Alloway
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 178 m
- 75 km
Route description
- Paisley
- Meikleriggs
- Elderslie
- Lochwinnoch
- Longbar
- Fullarton
- Barassie
- New Prestwick
- Ayr
- Alloway
Starting in Paisley at 0 km near Saucel Hill, the route heads through places including Johnstone, Kilbarchan, and Lochwinnoch. Most climbing occurs in the first half (66% of 178 m total), with the highest point at 75 m near 26.6 km. The profile is predominantly flat (93%), with minimal steep gradients. The path surface is mainly paved (96%) with about 2% gravel or unpaved, and a few percent unmapped.
The ride features a mix of road types: 60% cycle path, 21% minor roads, 11% quiet streets, 5% path, and small stretches on main roads or roads with cycle lanes. There are 2.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane, and 8.4 km on roads with limits of 80 km/h or more. Named roads include 9 km on the Dalry and North Johnstone rail trail, 3.7 km on NCN7, and 3.1 km on U32.
Facilities along the route include cafés at various points like 0 km (Spoons Coffee House), 6.6 km (Starbucks), 14.9 km (Castle Semple Visitors Centre), 41.6 km (Small Talk), 54.1 km (Blueberry's Coffee Shop & Bakery), and 61.3 km (Mancini's Cafe). Shops such as Morrisons (6.2 km), Tesco (21 km), Asda (41.1 km), and Aldi (66.3 km) are available. Water taps and toilets are also present at several locations. Bailout stations include Paisley Canal, Howwood, Glengarnock, Kilwinning, Irvine, Barassie, Prestwick International Airport, and Newton-on-Ayr. The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 11.5 km from 22.6 to 34.1 km.
Why ride this route?
- 59% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Dalry and North Johnstone rail trail for 9 km
- Highest point at 75 m near 26.6 km
- Passes historic ruins like Semple Collegiate Church
- Multiple cafés and shops along the route
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 59% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 60% cycle path · 21% minor road · 11% quiet street · 5% path · 4% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 2.4 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
- 43.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Dalry and North Johnstone rail trail (9 km), NCN7 (4 km), U32 (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 96% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 4% climbing · 3% descending · 93% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 214 cafés and restaurants, 50 shops, 5 water points, 7 petrol stations, 19 public toilets and 9 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmSpoons Coffee House · café · 90 m off route
- 0 kmDooleys · bike shop · 220 m off route
- 6.2 kmMorrisons · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 6.6 kmStarbucks · café · 100 m off route
- 21 kmTesco · supermarket · 290 m off route
- 34.9 kmHome · pub · 160 m off route
- 40.2 kmIrvine Cycles · bike shop · 310 m off route
- 41.6 kmSmall Talk · café · 100 m off route
- 51.3 kmToilets · on the route
- 52.3 kmMorrisons · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 52.6 kmRejuvenation Clinic · clinic · 120 m off route
- 54.1 kmWater tap · on the route
- 60.7 kmACS Prestwick · bike shop · 70 m off route
- 60.7 kmBoots · pharmacy · 60 m off route
- 61.3 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · on the route
- 66.1 kmStobbs Extra · bakery · on the route
- 66.3 kmCarrick Cycles · bike shop · 80 m off route
- 68.8 kmToilets · 70 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Paisley Canal (station), 90 m off route
- 11.1 km — Howwood (station), 710 m off route
- 23.4 km — Glengarnock (station), 520 m off route
- 34.9 km — Kilwinning (station), 890 m off route
- 41.1 km — Irvine (station), 60 m off route
- 50.2 km — Barassie (station), 70 m off route
- 59.5 km — Prestwick International Airport (station), on the route
- 65.5 km — Newton-on-Ayr (station), 150 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Saucel Hill (peak, 41 m)
- 12.9 km — Semple Collegiate Church (ruins)
- 16.2 km — Barr Castle (castle)
- 22.5 km — Crannog (archaeological site)
- 34.9 km — Mercat Cross (monument)
- 63.1 km — Ruin of Lazar House (ruins)
Stay after this ride
- Greenan Lodge · guest house · 730 m from the finish
- The Chestnuts · hotel · 3.0 km from the finish
- Blackburn Villa B&B · guest house · 3.4 km from the finish
- Savoy Park Hotel · hotel · 3.6 km from the finish
- Fairfield House Hotel · hotel · 3.8 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Paisley Canal (90 m)
- Food and coffee
- Spoons Coffee House (90 m), The Wellington (100 m), Canal Station (130 m)
Know before you go
- 11.5 km with no café, shop or water between km 22.6 and 34.1
- 2.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 8.4 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- 2% gravel or unpaved surface
