Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 74
A rolling 44 km road cycling route from Uddington, South Lanarkshire through Cairnhouses, Aldton and Lesmahagow, with 251 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 43.6 km
- Elevation gain
- 251 m
- Riding time
- 3 h 07 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Uddington
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 251 m
- 44 km
Route description
- Uddington
- Cairnhouses
- Aldton
- Lesmahagow
- Lairs
- Morgan Glen
- Allanton
- Whitehill
- Blantyre
National Cycle Route 74 starts near Uddington at 0.7 km and travels 43.6 km mainly eastwards through South Lanarkshire. It passes through Cairnhouses (3.9 km), Lesmahagow (9.5 km), Blackwood (14.4 km), Stonehouse (20 km), Larkhall (25.5 km), Hamilton (33.9 km), and finishes near Uddingston (42.9 km). The route reaches its highest point at 220 m around 6.8 km, before descending to the lowest at 23 m near 31.4 km. The first half contains 63% of the total 251 m ascent. The profile is mostly flat to gently undulating with only 0.7 km over 5% gradient and very little steeper climbing. Surface is 98% paved with very little gravel and a small amount unmapped. Road types include 21 km of cycle paths or lanes, 12.8 km minor roads, 3.9 km quiet streets, 3.6 km main roads, and 1.3 km paths. About 3.8 km on main roads lack cycle lanes and 5.1 km are on roads with speed limits over 80 km/h. The longest named roads are Carlisle Road (4.9 km), Millheugh Road (4 km), and Spital Road (3.4 km). Food and drink options are near Cairnhouses (restaurant) and Lesmahagow (café), with pubs and cafés in various towns including Applebank at 24.5 km and The Rowan Tree pub near the finish. Shops including convenience stores and supermarkets are found from 1.4 km onward, with a seven kilometre stretch without café, shop, or water between 1.8 km and 9.2 km. There are toilets at 1.4 km, 25.5 km, 29.8 km, and 39.9 km. Bailout points are near Chatelherault station at 29.2 km and Blantyre station at 39.4 km. A bike shop is located at 25.8 km.
Highlights
- Highest point at 220 m near 6.8 km
- Cycle path for 21 km of route
- Ruins of Lesmahagow Priory at 9.4 km
- Battle Of Bothwell Bridge Obelisk near 36.4 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 3.8 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 49% cycle path · 30% minor road · 9% quiet street · 8% main road · 4% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 3.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 5.1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 21 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Carlisle Road (5 km), Millheugh Road (4 km), Spital Road (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 14% climbing · 21% descending · 65% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.7 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 11.8% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 2.2 km from 27.1 km, dropping 30 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 52 cafés and restaurants, 20 shops, 5 petrol stations, 5 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 1.4 kmCairn Lodge Kitchen · restaurant · 60 m off route
- 1.4 kmFarmshop · convenience store · 50 m off route
- 1.4 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 1.8 kmShell · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 13.7 kmJET · petrol station · on the route
- 14.7 kmBlackwood Coop · supermarket · on the route
- 20 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 150 m off route
- 20 kmBoots · pharmacy · 130 m off route
- 25.5 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 340 m off route
- 25.5 kmToilets · 240 m off route
- 25.8 kmPro-Am Cycles · bike shop · 290 m off route
- 29.8 kmToilets · 150 m off route
- 32.3 kmGreenacres Mini-Market · convenience store · 390 m off route
- 34.6 kmThe Bay Horse · pub · 60 m off route
- 34.6 kmJet · petrol station · on the route
- 38.8 kmAsda Café · café · 160 m off route
- 39.9 kmToilets · 110 m off route
- 40.7 kmBoots · pharmacy · 190 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 29.2 km — Chatelherault (station), 80 m off route
- 39.4 km — Blantyre (station), 60 m off route
Worth a stop
- 9.4 km — Ruins of Lesmahagow Priory (archaeological site)
- 29.8 km — Chatelherault House (attraction)
- 33.4 km — Netherton Motte (archaeological site)
- 36.4 km — Battle Of Bothwell Bridge Obelisk (monument)
Stay after this ride
- Bothwell Bridge Hotel · hotel · 2.0 km from the finish
- Holiday Inn Express · hotel · 2.8 km from the finish
- Hampton by Hilton Hamilton Park · hotel · 3.9 km from the finish
- El Capo · hotel · 1.8 km from the finish
- Alona Hotel · hotel · 3.2 km from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Charlie's (410 m), The Rowan Tree (360 m)
- Shops
- Scotmid (350 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Lincluden Medical Centre (540 m), Boots (490 m), Central Pharmacy (510 m)
Know before you go
- 7.4 km without café, shop or water from 1.8 km to 9.2 km
- 3.8 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 5.1 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- Steepest 500 m at 0 km with 11.8% gradient
