National Cycle Route 75
This signed Sustrans cycle route takes you from the capital city of Edinburgh in the east to Portavadie on the shores of Loch Fyne on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute.
You'll travel from one side of the country to the other passing Bathgate, Airdrie, Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock before coming to Gourock where you will catch the ferry to Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula. The final section runs to the finish point at the village of Portavadie.
Highlights on the route include lovely waterside sections along the Union Canal near Edinburgh and along the Clyde Walkway through Glasgow.
A notable traffic free section is the Airdrie to Bathgate Cycle Path along a disused railway line.
You'll also pass through two lovely country parks in the shape of Almondell and Calderwood Country Park and Pollok Country Park.
Please see the list below for manageable day rides along the route:
Cycle Routes along National Cycle Route 75
- Edinburgh to Airdrie - Travel along the trail and enjoy lovely waterside runs along the Union Canal and the River Almond.
- Glasgow to Airdrie - Follow the trail from Glasgow to Airdrie and enjoy views of the River Clyde.
- Glasgow to Greenock - This ride takes you along the trail from Glasgow to Greenock on the Firth of Clyde.
The route starts with a pleasant run along the River Clyde before heading through Pollok Country Park with its National Trust owned 18th century house and attractive gardens (see video below) - Greenock to Portavadie and Taynuilt - This fantastic ride follows the trail from Greenock to Tarbert and includes two ferry crossings.
National Cycle Route 75 Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
National Cycle Route 75 Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
National Cycle Route 75 OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
National Cycle Route 75 Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
In Edinburgh the route links with National Cycle Route 76 and National Cycle Route 1.
In Glasgow the route links with National Cycle Route 74 which will take you to Gretna through the lovely countryside of South Lanarkshire.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Port of Leith Western Harbour, Edinburgh. Route start.
Former Railway Line at Bathville Armadale. Now part of cycle route 75 between Glasgow and Edinburgh former railway embankment can still be seen opening of the line from Airdrie to Bathgate and Edinburgh gains momentum.
The Clyde Walkway in Glasgow.
Almondell & Calderwood Country Park, Scotland, viaduct. Located on the route near Broxburn.
Footpath-Cycle Route 75 towards Gourock
Old rails, Victoria Harbour, Greenock. Relics from when this was a busy dock. Now this strip beside the harbour is used by National Cycle Route 75.
Ferry at McInroy’s Point (Gourock). Western Ferries have operated on between Gourock and Dunoon since June 1973. The current fleet comprises four drive through ferries. Two, the Sound of Scalpay and the Sound of Sanda were purchased second hand from Amsterdam City Council in the mid-1990s. The Sound of Scarba entered service in May 2001, having been built for Western Ferries at Ferguson Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow. Her sister ship, the Sound of Shuna, also built at Fergusons, entered service in October 2003. The Western Ferries service operates 365 days per year and there are up to 4 ferries per hour at peak times. The crossing takes 20 minutes. The Sound of Sanda was built in Germany in 1963 and holds 37 cars.
Portavadie Marina