This route heads east into the Borders to the village of Broughton where it is claimed the magician Merlin was laid to rest.
Highlights
Biggar
Biggar offers two good opportunities for discovering more about local history, including the Biggar & Upper Clydesdale Museum and Biggar Gasworks Museum.
St. Mary’s Church
A collegiate church, St Mary’s, signposted from High Street in Biggar, dates from 1545 and was built before the Reformation and is the the last collegiate church in Scotland.
Broughton Ales
Broughton Brewery, in the village, has been brewing craft beer since 1979.
Route
Note: Public Toilets are well signposted at Corn Exchange in Biggar and on road south out of Broughton. Free parking is signposted throughout Biggar.
From the Corn Exchange on High Street, turn right and head eastwards for a few 100 metres.
After the shops end – and where the road drifts left – turn right at the junction signposted “Broughton 5 miles, B7016”.
Follow this good rolling road through picturesque farmland to Broughton.
At the T-junction with Broughton Main Street, turn right. There is a coffee shop, Laurel Bank, with outside seating.
Follow Main Street (A701) through Broughton. As you start to climb out of Broughton, turn right.
When the road veers right, stay right and follow for Hartree. The road climbs past Pyatknowe Farm and once over the crest, cycle downhill to the right and then follow the road into Biggar.
The road then climbs and rolls past numerous farms, before a more noticeable steeper uphill and downhill. After 3.5 miles, you’ll join three roads.
Stay right again and follow the road into Biggar. At the T-junction on Station Road and High Street, turn right to return to start.
This route follows these lanes through peaceful hamlets into forgotten corners of the Pentland hills, South Lanarkshire where Covenanters hid out in the 17th century.
Highlights
St. Mary’s Church
A collegiate church, St Mary’s, signposted from High Street in Biggar, dates from 1545 and was built before the Reformation and is the the last collegiate church in Scotland.
Cadger’s Brig
Situated in Biggar and towards the end of this cycle route, the stone, single-arch footbridge is said to originate in the 13th century. Its name derives from it traditionally having been crossed by William Wallace, disguised as a cadger (hawker) on his way to where the English were camped, near Biggar.
Dunsyre Kirk
Mid-way in the cycle route, look out for the iron jougs set into the wall of Dunsyre Kirk. Offenders would be sentenced to wear the iron collar around their neck. It was set at such a height as to make uncomfortable to sit or stand.
Little Sparta
This is the exotically named poetry garden, near Dolphinton, of the late artist Ian Hamilton Finlay. littlesparta.org.uk
Mercat cross
Located in Newbigging, the cross is topped with a stone sun and dated to 1693.
Route
Note: Public Toilets are well signposted at Corn Exchange in Biggar and on road south out of Broughton. Free parking is signposted throughout Biggar.
From the Corn Exchange on High Street in Biggar go left downhill and then go right for Carnwath, B7016. Look for the signposted junction on right after the pedestrian crossing.
Ride uphill out of Biggar and continue for less than a mile. Take the road on the right on a bend to leave the B7016.
Follow the quiet road to a crossroads with A721 and go straight over.
Follow road for just over a mile and you will come to a junction. Turn right, continue straight for 2.5 miles passing straight through Walston.
Coming into some woodland you will see a give way sign and a junction. Turn left here for Dunsyre.
Pass through an old railway bridge and go uphill and round to the left in Dunsyre.
Follow the road for 3 ½ miles to Newbigging.
At a T-junction with A721, near the Mercat Cross, turn left and head out of the village and go downhill.
After a mile and at the foot of the hill, on a bend, turn right on to a quieter road again.
Follow a quiet road steeply uphill. From the top of the hill, a fast downhill takes you to a T-junction with the B7016.
Turn left and then after a short distance (through an “S” bend) turn right for Thankerton and Quothquan. You’ll join the Shieldhill road.
Follow the road into and through Quothquan and after 5 miles from last junction take the fork that is left and slightly rising.
Continue along this road for 1.25 miles until you get to a Y-junction.
Turn left and continue through Cormiston. At the foot of a steep downhill (look for road on left) turn left on to Lindsaylands Road and follow into Biggar. There are blue cycling signs to Biggar here.
At a T-junction at the Cadger’s Brig, turn left to return to start.
The Lowther hills have been mined for gold and lead since Roman times and while the mines are now closed, there are many reminders of this past industry. While you’ll spot piles of spoil, old railway tracks and miners’ cottages, this doesn’t detract from the beauty of the hills but rather this adds interest for passing cyclists. This ride is straightforward with some steep climbs. The route follows a mix of country roads and the A702.
Highlights
Leadhills
Scotland’s second highest village.
Leadhills Library
The library was founded in 1741 by the mathematician James Stirling and the poet Allan Ramsay. It is the oldest subscription library in Scotland. The oldest man? A gravestone of John Taylor in Leadhills Graveyard suggests he was 137 years old when he died. If this is the case, he is one of the oldest people in recorded history.
Curfew bell
Hanging from a pyramid of posts in the centre of Leadhills is a bell that is dated 1770. The bell was rung to sound the end of shifts and emergencies in the lead mines
Route
Turn left (north) from car park on Carlisle Road. Leave Crawford and continue to a roundabout.
Turn right at the roundabout for Abington to follow A702 (NCN 74) and join cycle lane on left.
Continue through Abington and then cycle to a roundabout at motorway services. ` Turn left for Douglas B7078, Crawfordjohn B740.
Rejoin cycle lane and continue to next roundabout. Turn right signed Douglas (NCN 74). ` After 0.75 mile, go left, signposted for Crawfordjohn.
Follow road to Crawfordjohn.
At Crawfordjohn, take left at fork and continue past Colebrooke Arms on Main Street.
At the junction at the end of Main Street, turn left and descend past a churchyard.
Climb steeply over a pass known locally as Apache and then descend to T-Junction with B797. Turn right for Leadhills. Follow road for 3 miles.
In Leadhills, turn left for Elvanfoot (Elvanfoot Road). Follow the road for 5 miles to T-junction with Dumfries Road (A702). Turn left and continue through Elvanfoot.
At a roundabout, follow signs for Carlisle, Beattock and Crawford off to the left and go under the motorway. At a T-junction turn left and join cycle lane (NCN 74) and then the cycle path.
After 1½ miles, turn right for Crawford and return to start
Cyclists will enjoy a pleasant route that follows country lanes through a rolling rural landscape. There are plenty of interesting stopping points, such as Wilsontown and its iron foundry, the sleepy hamlet of Auchengray and quiet woodlands that are perfect for a picnic.
Highlights
Iron Foundry
Founded in 1812, the Wilsontown Iron Foundry is on the site of the first iron works in Lanarkshire, and only the second in Scotland. There are a series of walks that explore what remains of the foundry.
Auchengray
The distinctive village church is modelled on a Coptic church in Alexandria, Egypt. (next to the primary school in Auchengray)
West Forth Woodland
A forest located in gently rolling countryside around West Forth, near to Forth with a good network of paths and tracks for walking, cycling or horse riding. woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/west-forth-woodland
Route
From the St Paul’s Parish Church in Wilsontown go to the left – downhill – and take the first left into Manse Road. This is 150m or so and after a road sign highlighting a main road turning right.
Follow Manse Road out of Forth to a T-junction at a former church. Turn left, and then after 200m turn right (signed for Auchengray).
Follow road through Wilsontown and round to the left, heading into rolling farmland.
Follow road through Haywood and at a left bend in road follow a sign for Auchengray.
After crossing a railway bridge, there is a steep climb into Auchengray. Turn right at a T-junction and cycle through the hamlet.
Leave Auchengray, heading downhill and follow the road round to the right and over a level crossing.
Follow long straight road to a T-junction at Eastshield Farm.
Turn right, signed for Forth.
Climb into Braehead. Continue through Braehead and descend, ignoring the first left – Bog Road – and continue on the road following sign for Wilsontown.
At bungalows (look for road on left with a sign warning of ford) and take that left for the ford.
Descend to cross the ford or use a bridge in flood and continue on road to climb into Forth.
At a T-junction, turn left into Manse Road and continue to the end of road and turn right on to main road to return to start.
A cycle route with plenty of hills and great countryside views starts from Kilsyth. You’ll tackle some iconic local cycling climbs, such as the Tak-Ma-Doon and the Crow Road. These roads both straddle the Campsie Fells.
There’s an array of towns, villages, and attractions that make a good stop-off for refreshments or for historical interest, such as the Antonine Wall and Forth & Clyde Canal.
Highlights
Forth & Clyde Canal
The historic waterway follows roughly the same route as the Antonine Wall. The reason is, it is the shortest distance between the east and west coasts of Scotland.
Before the Forth & Clyde Canal was built, ships wishing to get from the west coast to the east would have had to sail round the top of Scotland.
Work started on the canal in 1768 and it took 22 years to complete, finishing at Bowling on the River Clyde in 1790.
Twechar
A small former mining village, Twechar has the UNESCO world heritage site - the Antonine Wall, running right through the settlement. Excavations of a Roman Fort sit on top of Bar Hill, which overlooks Twechar.
Auchinstarry Quarry
A disused quarry near Kilsyth has been turned into a leisure area by Kilsyth and Cumbernauld District Council. The floor of the quarry is under water, forming a small loch surrounded by landscaped areas in the foreground with the backdrop of the 30.5m high whinstone face exposed behind. It is a popular destination for climbers.
Antonine Wall
The UNESCO world heritage site - the Antonine Wall – takes the form of remains of the original wall built to keep the Picts out of Roman territory.
Kilsyth
The historic burgh of Kilsyth is home to Burngreen Park, with childrens play area and attractive bandstand. Dumbreck Marsh is also close by, and features a variety of wildlife.
Carron Valley
The forest has purpose-built mountain bike trails.
Route
Leave Market Square in Kilsyth to the left and turn left into Burngreen. Continue past Burngreen Park.
Go round to the left at the end of Duntreath Terrace and on to Station Road. Continue to a junction with Stirling Road.
Go right and follow Stirling Road for a short distance to left turn for Carron Bridge and Tak-Ma-Doon Road.
Follow Tak-Ma-Doon uphill. This is a sustained climb. On a fine day stop at the viewpoint for expansive views over the region and further afield.
Descend on the far side, heading over a ford (take care here) to the Carronbridge Guest House.
Turn left at a junction for Fintry B818. Follow the B818 through the Carron Valley (Carron Valley Trails 1.5 miles on left) for approximately 8 miles to a junction with B822.
Turn left towards Lennoxtown (via Crow Road) and follow for 7 miles.
There is now a long and sustained climb of Crow Road.
Descend into Lennoxtown on Crow Road, then Crosshill Street to a junction with Main Street.
Turn left on to A891 for Milton of Campsie and Torrance.
Continue through Lennoxtown and follow A891 to Milton of Campsie. Enter Milton of Campsie on the downhill.
Just after a playpark, turn right for Kincaid House Hotel and Kirkintilloch, B757 – Birdston Rd.
Continue through Birdston to Kirkintilloch.
At traffic lights at McDonald’s, turn left for Kilsyth A803. Continue to Eastside roundabout and go straight through for Kilsyth A803.
On leaving Kirkintilloch, take the right for Antonine Wall and Twechar B8023.
The road eventually runs parallel with the Forth & Clyde Canal. Continue straight on at Twechar and continue to T-junction opposite Auchinstarry.
Turn left on to B802 for Kilsyth 0.75 mile. Stay on the undulating road into Kilsyth and go straight through roundabouts.
Continue past Lidl and at roundabout with A803, head right for Stirling.
Continue past Coachman Hotel, then turn right for Burngreen park on Station Road to return to start.
An alternative route from Kirkintilloch is to reach the traffic lights at McDonald’s and go straight ahead for 100 yards to a T-junction, then turn right to Hillhead roundabout and take second exit up the hill on Hillhead Road.
At the Forth & Clyde Canal, turn left on to a towpath and follow through Twechar to Auchinstarry.
Rejoin the B8023 before Auchinstarry bridge and at a T-junction turn left on to B802 for Kilsyth.
Follow above directions through Kilsyth and back to start.
This is a longer and more challenging ride that starts and finishes in the bustling market town of Lanark. Cyclists are treated to beautiful countryside as well as passing by two unusual roadside memorials that offer historical interest.
Highlights
Clydesholm Bridge
The very narrow bridge at Kirkfieldbank was built in the 17th century.
Tinto hill
The summit of Tinto is the highest point in the central lowlands. It is a straightforward walk to the top (90 mins) with wonderful views.
Cargill memorial
At Thankerton, a monument stands in memory of the Rev. Donald Cargill, a 17th century Scottish Presbyterian and Covenanter, who opposed the British monarch’s attempts to impose bishops on churches. He was hanged in Edinburgh in 1681. He spent a night at Covington Farm, near the monument, before being arrested.
Covington
See a hamlet of thatched cottages at Covington and further on, at the farm, there is a medieval keep and dovecot, where Robert Burns spent the night. There is a cairn to commemorate the Scottish bard’s visit.
New Lanark
Close to Lanark is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of New Lanark. The working village and cotton mill buildings were founded by the philanthropist Robert Owen in the early 19th century. There is also a beautiful walking trail to the Falls of Clyde.
Route
From Lanark railway station, head to your right towards the town centre.
Turn left through traffic lights and descend on High Street.
Follow the road through a narrow point at a church and continue downhill.
Turn left for Hamilton A72. This is a very steep downhill.
The road crosses the River Clyde, and you turn first left on to Riverside Road to follow a road to the right into Kirkfield Road and then climb through Kirkfieldbank.
On the edge of the houses on Kirkfield Road, take the left fork on to Byretown Road and continue to follow the road as it climbs more gradually.
Follow the road round to the right and continue to climb to a junction.
Turn left and follow this road for about 1.5 miles. (A road will join from the right but ignore this.)
After a sharp right turn left at a junction signposted Sandilands and descend to a bridge over a river. This is a tight corner.
Continue to a T-junction and turn right to follow the road round to left and climb to a junction with the A70.
Join a cycle lane on your left and follow (100m or so) to a right turn for Carmichael.
Follow the road to the right at a farm and continue to crossroads in Carmichael. There is an old signpost pointing to Lanark.
Turn right and continue through Carmichael. Turn right at foot of hill.
Ride through rolling farmland and continue to follow the road round to the left (there is a dead-end ahead) and continue to Lochlyoch Farm.
Continue through the farmyard and stay left to follow road for 2 miles to A73 at Tinto Hill Tearoom. (This makes a good stopping point for refreshments.)
Go straight over A73 for Thankerton. Continue into Thankerton and take left signed for Carstairs and Carnwath – Boat Road.
Turn left over a railway and descend out of Thankerton, staying on the veering right road.
A left-hand turn in road takes you into the next cluster of buildings then you continue straight on at Boat Farm and climb to Newtown of Covington and then to Covington Mains Farm.
Beyond the farm, the road swings to the left. At a junction, turn right for Pettinain (it is signposted). Follow road to another T-junction.
Turn left and descend towards new homes in Pettinain. Just before new houses, turn right (signed Carstairs Junction) and climb steeply into Pettinain.
At the next T-junction, turn left (road is closed to cars but open for cyclists and pedestrians) and descend to the River Clyde and then continue slightly uphill into Carstairs Junction.
At a T-junction, turn left and continue gradually uphill past Carstairs Junction station. (There are infrequent trains for Glasgow and Edinburgh.) Follow the road to head over the railway and follow it to left to Carstairs village.
Keep the green on your right and continue to a T-junction with Lanark Road. Turn left and leave the village.
Follow the A70 for 0.75 mile. Continue straight on when the A70 goes left and then take the first right uphill into Cleghorn.
Follow the road round to the left and then at a Y-junction follow the A706 into Lanark. (Keep on road, stay right.)
At a T-junction opposite the Bank of Scotland, turn left and follow the High Street back past shops etc and then at top of high street at the lights turn right to return to station.
Once something of a regular feature on the route of the Tour of Britain cycle race, Strathaven offers excellent cycling on gently undulating roads that lead to and from the busy market town.
Not far from Strathaven is Whitelee Wind Farm, where there are off-road tracks for cross country and mountain bikers. This is a great location for families to enjoy cycling and walking.
Highlights
Strathaven Castle
One of the many lords of Strathaven Castle punished his wife by having her bricked up alive inside a purpose-built niche. It’s said that human remains were found when part of the castle walls collapsed in more recent times. The castle is now in ruins.
Loudoun Hill
A volcanic plug located just inside the Ayrshire border, Loudoun Hill is the site of a famous victory by Robert the Bruce over the English in 1307. A walk to the top offers an excellent viewpoint.
The Battle of Drumclog
In 1679 “Bloody ClaverHouse/Bonnie Dundee” was patrolling with his dragoons when he encountered a group of covenanters. It was a victory for the covenanters and Bloody ClaverHouse only just managed to escape with his life having been knocked from his horse.
Route
Leave the Common Green by Bridge Street in Strathaven.
Follow Bridge Street to a roundabout at Strathaven Castle.
Turn right and then turn left into Todshill Street.
Turn left at the next junction and then take the first right into Newtown Road. At a fork in road go right and follow road out to a T-junction with B743.
Turn left and cross a bridge over the River Avon. Beyond the bridge, take the first right.
Following the road, keep right. At Westlinbank Farm ignore the right for Gilmourton and continue straight. Head downhill to the junction and go in the direction of Kilmarnock, B745.
After a short distance, at crossroads, turn right and follow the road into Drumclog. At the A71 at Drumclog Memorial Kirk, cross straight over on to Meadowfoot Road.
At Moss Side go to the right. After 500 yards turn left. (It’s straight on and downhill past Stobieside for the Battle of Drumclog site).
At the next T-junction, turn right and follow a long, straight road downhill.
Once over stone bridge, go to the right and continue parallel with the Calder Water
This route follows much of the Lanarkshire leg of the Glasgow to Edinburgh national cycling network (NCN 75). Avoiding busy roads it carves a pleasant route through central Scotland.
Not far beyond Bargeddie station, the route leaves the roads behind to follow the towpath by the Monkland Canal and to explore the tracks through Drumpellier Country Park and around Lochend Loch. That peace is shattered, however, when you reach your final destination – Summerlee... known as ‘Scotland’s noisiest museum.’
Highlights
Monkland Canal
Designed by James Watt in 1770, the 13-mile-long canal was built to take coal from Coatbridge and Airdrie to Glasgow. Look out for the quays and ‘windings’, where boats were loaded with coal.
Drumpellier Country Park
54 hectares of ancient, semi-natural woodland. Stop off at the visitor centre for a snack. Tel: 01236 422257.
Bank Street Basin
Bold art installations bring alive memories of the area’s iron, coal and steel industries. Look out for the stick of gelignite and Bleezin, an excerpt from a poem, recalling the sight of tens of blazing factory chimneys, by Janet Hamilton.
Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Heritage
Based around the site of the Summerlee ironworks, this vividly recreates Lanarkshire’s industrial past. There are tram rides, tours of the recreated mine and working machinery. Hundreds of exhibits tell the story of the area. (free entry; open daily) Tel: 01236 638460. Read more about it here
Route
Leave Uddingston railway station and continue to Main Street. Cross at the pedestrian crossing to the right and straight over to join the cycle path on the opposite side running parallel to the railway track – signed as NCN 75, Bargeddie 3, Coatbridge 6.
At the end of the cycle path, you’ll enter a residential cul-de-sac. Continue straight on to the mini-roundabout and turn left. Follow NCN 75 (not NCN 74).
Follow the cycle route through an underpass and continue to the traffic lights at New Edinburgh Road. Go straight over and climb a moderate slope up Spindlehowe Road to the junction with Old Edinburgh Road and turn left.
At Tannochside Old Club, turn right on to Armstrong Crescent. Opposite No. 35 Armstrong Way take the short cycle path off to the right. At the end of the path turn left and follow NCN 75 along Vallantine Crescent. Continue to the junction with Guthrie Drive – second on your left – and follow to a roundabout.
Join the footpath/cycleway at the roundabout on the right as directed. Continue over Tannochside Drive and past Tannochside Business Park to take the next exit, Aitkenhead Road. Follow the cycle path down then uphill towards Showcase Leisure Park. Follow the cycle path to the right and then over a road. Return to Aitkenhead Road and continue under the M8 - signposted Drumpellier Country Park 2.
Remain on the footpath, and use it to negotiate a roundabout at the entrance to the leisure park and travel in the direction of the A752, Gartcosh and Muirhead. After a short distance, enter Bargeddie and follow the road to Bargeddie railway station (an alternative starting point).
Continue past the Langmuir Inn – using the footpath/cycle path.
At the roundabout at Bargeddie Community Centre, turn right and continue to a pedestrian crossing and across the dual carraigeway.
Travel a short distance to the left and then turn right down a lane. At the end of the lane, turn right along Maple Grove, with good views of Tinto Hill.
At the next junction, turn right into Cherryridge Drive, and follow to a roundabout. Turn right and then immediately go off to the left and join a red gravel path signed for Drumpellier 1, Coatbridge 2, Airdrie 5.
Cross a steel bridge and continue through woods to emerge at the Monklands Canal. Turn right and follow a towpath. Go under the Drumpellier Bridge and then uphill to the right and cross over the bridge. At the T-junction of paths, turn left to follow a gravel path running parallel to the railway line. After a short distance, turn right over a railway bridge and continue to the entrance of Drumpellier Country Park. Lift your bike over a specially lowered fence and turn left to follow a gravel path downhill through woodland, then to the right. Stay on the red ash path, keeping left, until it joins an access road. Turn left and continue through a gate at nursery woodland. Continue to Lochend Loch and go around the loch in a clockwise direction to return to nursery woodland (there is a visitor centre halfway round).
Leave the loch by the Country Park access road and follow uphill, then downhill past a school and playing fields. Go under the railway line and continue to the junction with Blair Road. Turn right and descend over Blair Bridge. Go through a gateway on the right signed for Monkland Canal NCN 75.
Turn right and go under the Blair Bridge and up a tarred path that follows the route of the filled-in canal across West End park and then under Merryton Bridge. Follow a broad tarred path, past the artworks in Bank Street Basin. At the giant Lees’ snowballs under the railway bridge, turn left and go between barrier and bridge support to join West Canal Street
Take the first left, Heritage Way, and follow to the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Heritage.