Stirling, Falkirk, Linlithgow - ROUTE ADVICE

[User]

 

[User6179]

Stirling ,Alloa ,Clackmanan bridge on round the forth cycle route , keep following till Grangemouth and join canal at the Helix , follow canal to Falkirk wheel which is not actually in Falkirk but in Camelon then you can follow the other canal to Linlithgow , next to zero traffic apart from the logie kirk to the start of the cycle route if you are comming that way from Sheriffmuir , there are shorter routes but this is the quietist traffic wise .

 

[Turdus philomelos]

 

[Louch]

Thats the quietest most off road way to go posted above, but when you come off cycle path and cross the river carron at grange mouth, cross the road and go alo path to kelpies, and follow canal from there to the wheel.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Thats the quietest most off road way to go posted above, but when you come off cycle path and cross the river carron at grange mouth, cross the road and go alo path to kelpies, and follow canal from there to the wheel.

When at the Kelpies, head towards Lock 3. Cross there, and you're on the towpath all the way to the Falkirk Wheel.

Note: when you get to the back of the high school (after the Italian Restaurant), do NOT follow the towpath.
Go up and over the main road and catch the towpath on the other side...otherwise you'll end up carting your bike up and down two sets of steps, as theres a railway bridge blocking the towpath!

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Once I got dragged from Stirling to Glasgow, on road then joining the canal after the wheel, I only remember we had to look for a scrapyard at some village to find the entrance to the canal. It was about 10 miles from Stirling to the canal entrance, all uphill, on a very busy road though it was a weekend day.
Didn't have my Garmin then, so haven't a clue where I've been

 

[HLaB]

I don't know if they still do it but Sustrans used to do a good round the Forth map for free. It covers or did cover roads, lanes , tracks , canal etc.

 

[Rasmus]

[QUOTE 3953706, member: 9609"]the following is what I had in mind.

Route Map Link

I am want to go by Glen Eagles then over the moors into Stirling. and I quite fancy going along the canal into Linlithgow, but is the tow path good enough for 12 mile?
I am wanting to go through some of the built up areas, Stirling / Stnhouse / Falkirk it would add a nice bit of variation to the day, but would there be a more interesting route through the towns (I very rarly get to cycle through busy town centres so I don't want to miss an opportunity)[/QUOTE]
Interesting and Falkirk town centre? I don't think so...

Stirling is nicer - you can stop at the popular "cyclist hangout" Corrieri's cafe by the roundabout at Causewayhead, and have a go at some of the ascents to Stirling Castle.

The towpath from Falkirk to Linlithgow is fine to ride if your tires are not too narrow. Danger spots are the two tunnels just past the wheel (bring lights!), and the crossing of the Avon Aqueduct. In these places the path is narrow with uneven cobbles.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Oh yes, I forgot about the Avon Acqueduct, awesome imo but @ScotiaLass does not like it one bit
There is a way round the dark tunnel, @Telemark knows it. I think you go up the side and over it.
The Stirling cycle hub, at the train station, are very helpful, they give you free maps and bananas.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Oh yes, I forgot about the Avon Acqueduct, awesome imo but @ScotiaLass does not like it one bit
There is a way round the dark tunnel, @Telemark knows it. I think you go up the side and over it.
The Stirling cycle hub, at the train station, are very helpful, they give you free maps and bananas.

I HATE that aqueduct!
If you don't want to go through the tunnel (it's now well lit though I'd recommend pushing your bike the 630 metres through it, as it's wet in places)
you can go around it a couple of ways, depending where exactly you want to end up!

When are you doing this? If I'm free I could meet you along the way somewhere, and guide you part way.
I don't go faster than 14 mph though and if that's up an incline I slow to about @Pat "5mph" 's speed

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I'm very busy at work just now, but if @User9609 picks a day I can take off I'll come too, @ScotiaLass. That'll slow him right down

 

[ScotiaLass]

I'm very busy at work just now, but if @User9609 picks a day I can take off I'll come too, @ScotiaLass. That'll slow him right down

It will if we stop to take pictures every 5 minutes
Oh and if it's a Friday I sometimes have some Belles with me too!

 

[Louch]

Rather than sherrrifmuir, I'd go over glendevon or dunning as avoid crossing a9 to get o sheriffmuir. Then you could take the fun decent into dollar, then take the left to dollerbeg and along quietish road towards fishcross then through sauchie and Ono clackmannan to join cycle path to clack bridge.

When you come over clacks bridge, could stay on cycle path rather than cross the road, and go through letham and up into Larbert that way. Then follow the main road along and down to camelon, then take the left and follow signs for Falkirk wheel. Then go back into Falkirk town and to callander park, and then up to redding and onto maddiston where you can take the back road to linlithgow at the petrol station and then rejoin main street into linlithgow. Sorry cant get into map my ride to make the route up.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Rather than sherrrifmuir, I'd go over glendevon or dunning as avoid crossing a9 to get o sheriffmuir. Then you could take the fun decent into dollar, then take the left to dollerbeg and along quietish road towards fishcross then through sauchie and Ono clackmannan to join cycle path to clack bridge.

When you come over clacks bridge, could stay on cycle path rather than cross the road, and go through letham and up into Larbert that way. Then follow the main road along and down to camelon, then take the left and follow signs for Falkirk wheel. Then go back into Falkirk town and to callander park, and then up to redding and onto maddiston where you can take the back road to linlithgow at the petrol station and then rejoin main street into linlithgow. Sorry cant get into map my ride to make the route up.

From Clacks bridge you can take the NCR 76 which is a nice ride and brings you out at the road opposite the Kelpies....then the towpath to the Wheel...if you want a little 'off' road

 

[fimm]

Someone from the Edinburgh Cycling forum went along the towpath the other day:
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1587&page=26#post-201945
(I hope that links to the right post as it is a rather long thread...)