Gravel · United Kingdom
Strathkelvin Railway Path
A flat 23 km road cycling route from Strathblane, Stirling through Ballagan Farm, Lennoxtown and Milton of Campsie, with 51 m of climbing. 86% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane. Mixed surface: 77% is mapped as paved and 19% as gravel or unpaved and 4% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 23.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 51 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 40 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Strathblane
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 51 m
- 23 km
Route description
- Strathblane
- Ballagan Farm
- Lennoxtown
- Milton of Campsie
- Kirkintilloch
- Lenzie
- Claddens Holdings
- Chryston
- Moodiesburn
The ride starts in Strathblane at 93 m elevation, descends gently with minimal climbing to 36 m at 11.6 km. The route follows mostly cycle paths (20.2 km) and paths (1.3 km), with 1.1 km on minor roads and 0.8 km on quiet streets. The surface is mainly paved (77%) with some gravel or unpaved sections (19%). The steepest gradients are very gentle with only 0.1 km over 5% gradient.
The route passes settlements including Ballagan Farm at 1.6 km, Lennoxtown at 7.1 km, Milton of Campsie at 9.8 km, and Kirkintilloch just before 13 km. There is a longest stretch without café, shop, or water from 0.1 km to 6.8 km (6.7 km). Facilities include supermarkets at 0.1 km, 9.9 km, and 22.8 km, a café near Milton of Campsie at 9.8 km, a pub near Lenzie at 15.3 km, and a café near Moodiesburn at 19.7 km. Bike shop at 13 km and petrol station at 7.1 km. Lenzie station is a bailout point at 15.1 km.
The route finishes at Glenboig with shops, restaurants and a pharmacy. Peaks near the route are Dunglass at 1.3 km, Gallow Hill at 8.6 km, and several hills over 100 m in the last 3 km. The profile is flat to gently rolling with little elevation change overall.
Why ride this route?
- 86% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Peak Dunglass at 1.3 km
- Gallow Hill 56 m near 8.6 km
- Close to Hill of Chryston 85 m at 18.6 km
- Near Croft Head 104 m at 22.7 km
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
- 86% cycle path · 6% path · 5% minor road · 3% quiet street
- Fast roads
- 1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 20.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 77% is mapped as paved and 19% as gravel or unpaved and 4% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 5% climbing · 5% descending · 90% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 49 cafés and restaurants, 17 shops, 1 petrol station and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmStrathblane Pharmacy · pharmacy · 360 m off route
- 0.1 kmGreens of Strathblane · supermarket · 240 m off route
- 7.1 kmLennoxtown Service Station · petrol station · 270 m off route
- 9.8 kmThe Fells · café · 160 m off route
- 9.9 kmAntermony Road Co-op · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 12.7 kmWell Pharmacy · pharmacy · 220 m off route
- 13 kmChapeau Cycles · bike shop · 240 m off route
- 15.3 kmThe Old Gatehouse · pub · on the route
- 19.7 kmThe Coffee House · café · 290 m off route
- 22.8 kmCostcutter · supermarket · 270 m off route
- 22.8 kmGlenboig Pharmacy · pharmacy · 270 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 15.1 km — Lenzie (station), 730 m off route
Worth a stop
- 1.3 km — Dunglass (peak)
- 4.4 km — Lennox Castle (castle)
- 8.6 km — Gallow Hill (peak, 56 m)
- 19.6 km — Bedlay Castle (castle)
- 22.7 km — Croft Head (peak, 104 m)
Stay after this ride
- Haüss Coatbridge Aparthotel · hotel · 3.6 km from the finish
- Mondo · hotel · 4.0 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Shops
- Greens of Strathblane (270 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Brickworx Bar & Brasserie (180 m), Village Takeaway (190 m), New Wok (650 m)
- Shops
- Costcutter (630 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Glenboig Pharmacy (640 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café or shop 6.7 km from 0.1 km to 6.8 km
- 1 km on main roads with posted limits over 80 km/h
- 19% gravel or unpaved surface on route
