Road · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 2 · National Cycle Route 76← Stage 1
Stirling to Wallyford
A flat 92 km road cycling route from Stirling to Wallyford through Springkerse, Skinflats and Bo'ness, with 288 m of climbing. Mixed surface: 84% is mapped as paved and 15% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Flat, steady riding
- Distance
- 92.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 288 m
- Riding time
- 6 h 36 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Stirling → Wallyford
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 288 m
- 92 km
Route description
- Stirling
- Springkerse
- Skinflats
- Bo'ness
- South Queensferry
- Davidson's Mains
- Fountainbridge
- Tollcross
- Niddrie
- Wallyford
The ride begins in Stirling, passing through Riverside, Old Town, Cambuskenneth, Springkerse and Fallin before reaching Cowie and Kinnaird Village. Early kilometers cover a mixture of mainly paved surfaces on quiet streets, minor roads, paths and tracks. At 28.7 km the route passes Grangemouth then continues along minor roads and cycle paths through Bo'ness, Blackness and South Queensferry towards Edinburgh, closely following low-lying terrain with some gentle undulations.
From km 32.6 there is a 1.7 km climb gaining 47 m at an average gradient of 2.7%, with the steepest section at 4.1%. The route reaches a maximum elevation of 91 m at 73 km near Edinburgh before descending towards the finish at Wallyford. Approximately 84% of the route is paved, with 15% gravel or unpaved. Main roads cover only 3% of the distance, with 2.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane and 14.3 km on roads posted at 80 km/h or more.
There are cafés, shops and water stops regularly, with highlights including cafés at Stirling (Toast) and near Grangemouth (Asda Café), Manna House Bakery at 54 km, and several cafés in Edinburgh. The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 8 km between 54.9 and 62.9 km. Bailout options include train stations at Stirling, Bo'ness, Haymarket and Newcraighall, and the ferry at Hawes Pier.
Highlights
- The 1.7 km climb starting at 32.6 km
- Passing through Grangemouth at 28.7 km
- Edinburgh city centre near 72 km
- Longest café-free stretch 8 km (54.9 to 62.9 km)
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 32.6 km | 1.7 km · 47 m · 2.7 % · max 4.1 % | 52 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 2.6 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 26% quiet street · 26% cycle path · 24% minor road · 9% path · 15% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 2.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 14.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 24.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 84% is mapped as paved and 15% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 7% climbing · 6% descending · 87% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 1061 cafés and restaurants, 149 shops, 9 water points, 8 petrol stations, 43 public toilets and 27 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmActive Travel Hub · bike shop · 240 m off route
- 0.1 kmStirling Bus Station · toilets · 220 m off route
- 28.7 kmAsda · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 28.8 kmAsda Café · café · 90 m off route
- 29.8 kmRepair stand · 140 m off route
- 38.9 kmThe Junction · café · 110 m off route
- 45.2 kmThe Lobster Pot · pub · on the route
- 53.9 kmScotmid · supermarket · 160 m off route
- 54.2 kmManna House Bakery · café · 50 m off route
- 54.5 kmToilets · on the route
- 65.7 kmTesco · supermarket · 110 m off route
- 68 kmSainsbury's · petrol station · 60 m off route
- 72.7 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 180 m off route
- 73.2 kmMackenzie & Co. Chemists · pharmacy · on the route
- 74 kmToilets · on the route
- 79.4 kmAsda · petrol station · 220 m off route
- 84.1 kmCompany Bakery · bakery · 130 m off route
- 84.5 kmAce Bike Co · bike shop · 260 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Stirling (station), 150 m off route
- 39.7 km — Bo'ness (station), 180 m off route
- 54.7 km — Hawes Pier (ferry), 170 m off route
- 70.4 km — Haymarket (station), 120 m off route
- 81 km — Newcraighall (station), 40 m off route
- 87.9 km — Wallyford (station), 930 m off route
Worth a stop
- 12.3 km — Plean Castle (castle)
- 36.6 km — Kinneil House (castle)
- 48.5 km — Ruined wall (ruins)
- 54.5 km — Forth Railway Bridge Viewpoint (viewpoint)
- 58.8 km — Barnbougle Castle (castle)
- 62.9 km — James V attacked at Cramond Brig A.D.1532 (monument)
Stay after this ride
- Drummohr Camping Ground · campsite · 470 m from the finish
- Arden House · guest house · 1.5 km from the finish
- Craigesk · guest house · 1.2 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Stirling (150 m)
- Bikes and repair
- Active Travel Hub (240 m)
- Food and coffee
- Toast (130 m), Nando's (180 m), Premier Inn (200 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Wallyford (950 m)
Know before you go
- 8 km without café, shop or water between 54.9 km and 62.9 km
- 2.6 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 14.3 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- 15% of the route is gravel or unpaved
