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Milngavie mountain bike circuit: Rivers & parks

Written by Fiona

May 12 2020

The Milngavie loop starts and finishes in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire. It is easily accessible from Glasgow and I plan to add this as a video soon.

Lovely country paths.

Milngavie Loop overview

This is a mainly off-road circuit that leaves Milngavie precinct and heads on to the Allander Way, passing through Lennox Park. It joins the Kelvin Way and continues through woodlands and parks, including Balmuildy Wood, Maryhill Park, Dawsholm Park and through the grounds of the West of Scotland Science Park.

It picks up the Bears Way in Bearsden, through Cluny Park, and then on to a short section of road to return to Lennox Park and the Milngavie precinct.

It is a mostly non-technical route with only a few rocky or rooty sections. A broken bridge requires you to get off your bike and push up an embankment for a metre or so.

It is a route that is best for mountain bikes or gravel bikes. It is also ideal for runners and walkers, who could choose to follow an out-and back route rather than the full loop.

There is historical interest, such as a viewing point of the site of a former Roman Fort, on the Antonine Way, and a trig pillar in Maryhill Park.

Follow signs along rivers and through parks.
Town and country are very close by.

Milngavie loop: Rivers and parks

The details in brief:

Start/finish: Milngavie precinct at West Highland Way obelisk

Distance: 17.5km / 11 miles

Elevation gain: 131m / 430ft

Terrain: Mainly off-road on good paths and trails. Sections on road.

Grade: Easy to moderate

Best for: Mountain biking, but also a great walking or running route.

Beware: Three busy road crossings; route may become overgrown in midsummer in places.

See Strava route. You can access a gpx download for other apps, such as OS Maps. 

Video of Milngavie route:

For more details of what to expect:

Also see the vlog: Mountain bike and run to Burncrooks Reservoir in the Kilpratrick Hills.

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