Glasgow NCN Route 7

peat

Hi all.

I'm cycling up that way in a few weeks en route to Balloch.

I will be approaching Glasgow from Larkhall/Hamilton and was planning on jumping on the NCN Route 7 through the centre, Clydebank and onto Balloch.

Is this route suitable for road-bikes? (Tarmac or muddy/gravel?)

Any better ways of getting through the City on a weekday afternoon/evening?

Any locals help appreciated.

Cheers

Peat

IanLD

If you are picking it up from the centre of Glasgow, then no problem apart from the usual broken glass. If you are taking it from Hamilton along the Clyde, that is a bit bumpy at points with tree roots and due to construction works for the commonwealth games, there are a couple of muddy points. There is one point under the A82 where you can get mud and may need to walk, but it depends on the farmer and weather conditions. Don't do what I did to avoid a gate and ride in to a field.

I've done the whole route on slicks (32mm on the hybrid) and been fine. See quite a few guys on road bikes, so apart from the glass you should be OK.

Nice run beside the Clyde and the canal. Lots of dog walkers and I'm always wary of the guys fishing in case they cast as I am passing. Perhaps that's as a result of hooking myself very near my eye the last time I went fishing...

doogee

If you pick it up at the 'squinty' bridge it takes you along the Clyde side then spits yoiu out on to a shared path running parallel to this road, I used to commute here and preferred the road on the other side of the SECC (runs parallel to expressway) as it's relatively quiet and you don't have to dodge peds.
My preference was to stick with South St and dodge the potholes, then Dumbarton Rd (all the way out to Bowling) but if you wish you can pick up the cycle path as follows, if you use the road (or for that matter the shared path on the pavement) by the SECC stay on South St until you pass Machargs then at the ped crossing, cross right and on to the cycle path (small ramp as you go onto the old railway embankment). It's a proper surface here and can be used all the way to Kelso St in Scotstoun/Yoker where you will have to cross Dumbarton Rd if you wish to stay on the path. The surface is generally good (with the odd patch of broken glass) until you hit Clydebank/Clyde Shopping Centre (you again need to cross Dumbarton Rd and head for the shopping centre) where it changes to a loose gravel surface on the canal towpath, this continues to Bowling where you pick up a nice tarmac surface again once you leave the canal.
It comes and goes as you pass through Dumbarton so best to keep an eye out for the signs as you can (will probably) become a bit lost but the surface stays good all the way to Balloch from Bowling.

Hope the above helps a little...

peat

Excellent, just the sort of info i was after.

Thanks, both of you.

IanLD

The section beside the canal after Clydebank is still suitable for road bike despite not being tarmac. Gets a bit dusty if it is dry but fine otherwise.

On a road bike I'd probably avoid the option of the cobbled path from the air ambulance at the SECC to the Riverside Museum and as doogee says take the road. Easy to follow and avoids a bumpy section near the old fire station. Pick it up from the ramp on to the old railway just after Machargs garage (which helpfully has flags that always seem to show a headwind :? ).

doogee

While the canal section is rideable on a road bike if it's been even remotely wet it'll be soft and very mucky, especially the bit through Mountblow. It also takes an age to dry in places so I only use it on the MTB, prefer Dumbarton Rd as it's not to busy at weekends and despite the lights I make better time.

Not sure if you've been on the path before but I'll add a bit for Dumbarton.

You'll be spat out behind the whisky bonds onto a residential st in Dumbarton, signs will point left for NCN 7 follow this for about 50 metres where the road will go right, ahead is a lane. You take this lane and run behind the houses. It will again spit you out on a residential st by a school (building site right now) go left and follow the road to the end* where you do a left then first right and parallel the railway by the Meadow Centre, cross the road and then about 50m further on the path dives through an arch under the railway (Dumbarton Central Station). You'll cross a road and take an underpass and then pop out into a car park, head to the exit and then go right and then immediately left (just past a ped crossing) on the road which will take you over the River Leven. The path starts again just before the building you can see on the right hand side once over the river, it drops down and runs along the side of the Leven to Balloch.

Sounds complicated and I guess it can be if you're not familiar with the area but just keep an eye out for the signs, they are a bit obscure in places...

*Alternative route is to stay on this road, go under the railway and then at the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto a short section of dual carriageway (and I do mean short). Then at the lights go left and then 1st right just before the ped crossing and over the bridge crossing the Leven. Pick up the path as per above once across the river.

IanLD

I've ridden the entire route on 32mm slicks in all conditions and not had a problem. Have got mudguards on the hybrid though and haven't done it on a road bike. Agree that Dumbarton Road at that point is fine when quiet, and have used it for a change at times. Haven't been along this year, so you may know more up to date info about the surface after this winter.

Dumbarton part is a bit frustrating, but much better than it was when the route was first opened. No longer feel unsafe when up by Renton and Alexandria apart from the guys fishing I mentioned above.

When are you planning on doing the run Peat? If a few weeks means May and it has been a dry spell, then no problem at all on road bike.

muzzan

Have to say I found the dumbarton section pretty hard to follow 1st couple of times I did it (signage isnt great), but its not a big town & if you just aim for the centre you should be able to find the bridge ok to join up with the path again.

My commute was along the canal for a couple of years (between drumchapel & the erskine bridge) & I was on a cross bike with 28mm slicks. No real problems, though between Drumchapel & clydebank the surface isnt the best, esp if its wet (frequently). I tended to prefer the road due to this & the amount of people on there when weather was any good(rarely). Enjoy.

Hawmaw

I would avoid the cycle track between Partick and Yoker and stick to South St and Dumbarton Road. The track here is plagued by gangs of neds and covered in glass from broken Buckfast bottles . Re-Join the path just after the Yoker Ferry.
If I remember correctly there's a wee bit between Dumbarton and Balloch that cuts through a field of sorts and it's a bit rough and muddy. A road bike should be fine with the correct tyre choice ie: as wide as you can go with some tread and puncture resistance.

And Muzzan is right , you will get lost in Dumbarton and ride in circles trying to find the next bit of path !

ptlk66

A simple direct route from Hamilton to Balloch would be to take the B755 in Hamilton - East Kilbride, then take A726 from East Kilbride to Paisley, continue on the A726 to the Erskine Bridge (take cycle path over bridge). You then have avoided the city and its traffic lights. From Erskine to Balloch I would bow to the knowledge of the other contributors, I have done it a couple of times using a blend of the cycle paths and the A82.

Hamilton to Paisley is my daily commute and its downhill all the way from East Kilbride.

Hawmaw

ptlk66 wrote:

A simple direct route from Hamilton to Balloch would be to take the B755 in Hamilton - East Kilbride, then take A726 from East Kilbride to Paisley, continue on the A726 to the Erskine Bridge (take cycle path over bridge). You then have avoided the city and its traffic lights. From Erskine to Balloch I would bow to the knowledge of the other contributors, I have done it a couple of times using a blend of the cycle paths and the A82.

Hamilton to Paisley is my daily commute and its downhill all the way from East Kilbride.

I think you mean the A727 from E/K to Erskine. The A726 is the GSO which is really just a motorway without the status and I really wouldn't want to cycle on it ! :shock:

Omar Little

If i was doing it i'd cross at the Erskine Bridge too. Maybe something like Larkhall - East Kilbride - Eaglesham - Newton Mearns - Barrhead - Paisley - Erskine Bridge. If you dont mind adding on a couple of miles extra you could do it avoiding A roads and take quieter country road options too.

Hawmaw wrote:

ptlk66 wrote:

A simple direct route from Hamilton to Balloch would be to take the B755 in Hamilton - East Kilbride, then take A726 from East Kilbride to Paisley, continue on the A726 to the Erskine Bridge (take cycle path over bridge). You then have avoided the city and its traffic lights. From Erskine to Balloch I would bow to the knowledge of the other contributors, I have done it a couple of times using a blend of the cycle paths and the A82.

Hamilton to Paisley is my daily commute and its downhill all the way from East Kilbride.

I think you mean the A727 from E/K to Erskine. The A726 is the GSO which is really just a motorway without the status and I really wouldn't want to cycle on it ! :shock:

Think the A727 and A726 are basically the same road.

IanLD

A726 was renumbered when GSO was built. You can't ride a bike on the GSO other than from the roundabout at Centre 1 up to the Jackton/Hairmyres junction.

I used to work in EK and am now in Hamilton. Have tried Newhousemill Road and Stoneymeadow Road, but much prefer the 8 mile longer run along the Clyde. Cross over at the squinty bridge and up through Pollok Park.

peat

I didn't realise the Erksine bridge was an option. I suppose there are loads of options to skirt around the underside of Glasgee and join that, i will have a look.

The problem with ptlk66's suggestion is that it will knock my mileage over the 100 mile mark for the day as i am cycling from Lockerbie. And considering that this will be day 6 of 80-90 mile rides, i am keen not to add too many more miles.

Thanks for all your help though chaps. Really appreciate it. Local knowledge is king!

ptlk66

Coming up from Lockerbie, you could also consider going from Lesmahagow - Strathaven - East Kilbride; this may shave off some miles - don't forget the 10 mile downhill section from EK to Paisley!!

Enjoy your event, hopefully you will get good weather.

Omar Little

+1 for Lesmahagow then Strathaven.

If i remember right NCN 74 ends around about Lesmahagow so whichever way you go you'll need to have it mapped out before hand whereas the first 50 miles or so from Lockerbie is going to be pretty simple.

IanLD

Agree with Lesmahagow, Bogside, Strathaven, back road to Eaglesham, Humbie Road to Newton Mearns, then Paisley and over Erskine Bridge.

Nice and quiet from Lesmahagow to Newton Mearns, then busier roads, but much more direct. You could still pick up the cycle route at Pollok Park if you wanted after heading down from Newton Mearns. That would still allow you to do the stretch along from the SECC to Balloch.

Erskine Bridge has cycle lanes over it if you do take it, but I managed to get totally confused with the approach to them the first time I went over.

There is a Tesco at Lesmahagow if you need to top up any supplies which you would pass if you have come up the old A74. Sainsburys in Strathaven is not on your direct route unless you come up through Douglas and Muirkirk.

Given your need to keep mileage to a certain level, don't take the Clyde walkway from Newton to Glasgow Green as this follows all the meanders of the river and adds 8 miles to the more straightforward route.

ptlk66

Strathaven also has a great baker and a couple of decent coffee shops as well.

peat

I can skirt around the bottom via East Kilbride and Paisley, but i will have to skip Strathaven as one of our scheduled stops is Larkhall Kart Club. We're all kart racers so visiting kart clubs on the way up is one of the twists.

woodywmb

Peat wrote:

I can skirt around the bottom via East Kilbride and Paisley, but i will have to skip Strathaven as one of our scheduled stops is Larkhall Kart Club. We're all kart racers so visiting kart clubs on the way up is one of the twists.

Not better karting up and visiting the bike clubs en route?