National Cycle Route 7
This is the complete Sustrans National Cycle Route 7 running from Sunderland to Inverness. It runs for over 500 miles with some wondering scenery along the way.
Scroll down for some great videos of parts of the route and scroll to the bottom of the page for the complete route gpx file.
Highlights include the Coast to Coast Whitehaven to Tynemouth Cycle Route which uses part of route 7. Here you'll find about 35 miles of traffic-free cycling between Sunderland, Stanley, Consett and Parkhead including the popular Consett and Sunderland Railway Path.
In Scotland you'll pass through the stunning scenery of the Highlands and two National Parks in the shape of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms. You'll also pass Glasgow, Ayrshire, Strathyre and Aviemore on the incredible journey.
Cycle rides using part of National Route 7:
- Ayr to Maybole - Follow the trail along the coast from Ayr to the town of Maybole on this short easy route
- Penrith to Carlisle - Travel along the trail on this attractive ride through Cumbria
- Carrbridge to Aviemore - Travel along the trail and through the stunning Dumfries to Annan - Travel along the trail from Dumfries to Annan and enjoy splendid views of the Solway Firth
- Dumfries to Castle Douglas - This ride follows the trail from Dumfries to Castle Douglas
- Pitlochry to Aberfeldy - Follow the Rivers Tummel and Tay along the trail on this lovely short route through the Highlands
- Carlisle to Cockermouth - This challenging route follows the trail from Carlisle to Cockermouth
- Carlisle to Gretna - Follow the trail from England into the Scottish borders and enjoy views of the Rivers Eden and Esk
- Callander to Balquhidder - Travel from Callander to Balquhidder on this lovely route on National Cycle Network Route 7
- Newton Stewart to Gatehouse of Fleet - Follow the trail on this pleasant ride through Dumfries and Galloway
- Dumfries to Gretna - Travel along the trail from Dumfries to Gretna and enjoy splendid views of the Solway Firth
- Pitlochry to Killin - Follow the Rivers Tummel and Tay along the trail on this stunning cycle ride through the Highlands
- Kingussie to Pitlochry - Follow the trail on this incredible cycle ride through the breathtaking Killin to Callander - Travel through the beautiful Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park along the trail on this stunning cycle ride.
The ride starts at Killin following the River Dochart past the beautiful falls of Dochart - Dumbarton to Callander - Follow the trail on this incredible cycle ride through Dumfries to Gatehouse of Fleet - This ride follows the trail from Dumfries to Gatehouse of Fleet via Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright Bay
- Glasgow to Balloch - This ride takes you from the city of Glasgow to the village of Balloch in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
- Glasgow to Dumbarton - Follow the River Clyde and the trail on this easy traffic free ride.
The route heads first to Clydebank passing the eyecatching Clyde Arc bridge and the 1896 built Glenlee tall ship on the way - Ayr to Newton Stewart - Travel along the trail and through the incredible Aberfoyle to Callander - This popular ride takes you from Aberfoyle to Callander in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
- Carrbridge to Kingussie - This ride follows the trail through the stunning Cairngorms National Park
- Lochwinnoch Cycle Loop - This route follows National Cycle Route 7 and 75 from Kilbirnie to Paisley. There's great views of Barr Loch and Castle Semple Loch as you make your way along the old railway path.
Please click here for more information
National Cycle Route 7 Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
National Cycle Route 7 Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
National Cycle Route 7 OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
National Cycle Route 7 Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The route links with the Reivers Route. The popular coast to coast ride crosses the country from Whitehaven to Tynemouth. The signed trail runs mostly along National Cycle Route 10.
In Pitlochry you can link up with National Cycle Route 77 which runs to Dundee along a route known as the 'Salmon Run'.
In Newton Stewart and Dumfries you can link up with the new Kirkpatrick C2C. The epic Coast to Coast route runs across the south of Scotland from Stranraer to Eyemouth.
In the Gretna area you can pick up National Cycle Route 74 which runs north through the South Lanarkshire countryside to Glasgow.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
National Cycle Route 7. Shared use path alongside the Clyde Expressway.
The route at Gatehouse of Fleet. Here the route runs from the Cally Palace Hotel, through Bar Hill Woods, on to Girthon and beyond. This part is near a small burn.
Passing Kilbirnie. The path has left the trackbed of the Dalry and North Johnstone Railway and now crosses land that once held sidings for the Glengarnock Steel Works. This went the way of most heavy industry in the 1980s and closed in 1985 with disastrous consequences for local communities.
Castle Semple Cycle path built on the relief railway which once provided extra capacity for goods moving between Paisley and Ayrshire. Closed to passengers in 1966.
Barr Castle. Looking towards Lochwinnoch on the Loop Line, a disused railway built in an era when the current line between Paisley and Ayrshire could not cope with the volume of freight needing shifting. This relief line on the west side of the lochs was closed to passengers in 1966 and freight shortly afterwards. I have a 1:50 000 map with a small length still marked - northwards to Kilbirnie. Now it is a very popular cycle path - part of National Cycle Route 7 which takes a circuitous route between Carlisle and Glasgow via Galloway. Railway is also known as the Lochwinnoch Loop or Dalry and North Johnstone Line.
A Special Milepost. This is one of 1,000 mileposts funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland to mark the creation of the National Cycle Network. This one lies on Route 7, at Kirriereoch. The hill behind it, in the distance, is The Merrick.
Annan Millennium Bridge. A new bridge at Annan carries the National Cycle Network route 7 over the River Annan just upstream from the railway bridge. The bridge was opened by the Princess Royal on 21 March 2002, at the same time as the 200th anniversary celebrations of Annan Academy.
Bridge over the Kilbarchan Loop. This railway was built by the Glasgow and South Western Railway to relieve a bottleneck between Paisley and Ayrshire in the early 20th century and is now a cycle path. Closed to passengers in 1966, part of the line remained open as a freight line into the 1970s.