Route advice - Central Scotland

[arranandy]

Not sure if this is the right forum but here goes.

I'm looking for some route advice. In a couple of Saturdays time I'm planning to cycle from my home in Motherwell to Dollarbeg Park near Dollar. I'm thinking initially about heading up to Cumbernauld, then towards Larbert to go over the new Kincardine Bridge. Not sure after there. If we go by car we go via the A977 but it seems a very fast road.

Any advice/route ideas would be appreciated.

 

[HLaB]

I've done that route a few times on route to the Tak Mad Doon Road and Crow Roads I'll see what I can dig out.

Edit looking at it I've went up the Tak Ma Doon Road to Stirling and straight through to just after Coalsnauton (Dollarbeg is straight past it); you'll probably want something more direct.
What I've done a few times from Grangemouth/ Skinflats (but not from 'What's it Called) is to head up the A905 Airth Road ad across the new Kincardine Bridge (the actual NCN is usually more direct on country lanes but the farm access road bridge it uses over the M876 as of today is still shut ). Then cut off along a short section of path to the Carse Road and then head through Clackmannan to Forrestmill (there's a good cafe here if you want it, the Loganlea). Cut over a steepish but short hill which then goes down sharp and up again sharp to Easter Sheardale. Then turn right for a downhill to Dollarbeg. The Dunfermline Cycling Club (DCC) do this often so the road surface is good for a road bike Its a while since Ive done Cumbernauld to Falkirk and only done it in parts but the route from there to Grangemouth/ Skinflats and onto Dollar is like this.

 

[rualexander]

You could also consider taking the B road that parallels the M8 to Harthill, then turn north to Blackridge, Avonbridge, California (!), through Falkirk to the Kincardine Bridge, then come off the A977 left onto the minor road to Clackmannan, then B910, briefly back onto A977, then minor roads north to Dollar.

 

[HLaB]

You could also consider taking the B road that parallels the M8 to Harthill, then turn north to Blackridge, Avonbridge, California (!), through Falkirk to the Kincardine Bridge, then come off the A977 left onto the minor road to Clackmannan, then B910, briefly back onto A977, then minor roads north to Dollar.

Ive done something similar before, the easiest way for me was to come along Hulks Road to just north of the Old Prison at Upperton to Slamannan and Avonbridge and California (!) but that doesn't seem direct to me perhaps a local will know a more direct way

 

[Grizzly]

I hope this link works, http://www.cyclestreets.net/journey/974032/. I'm planning on an East Kilbride to Menstrie tomorrow, I'll wait and see how I feel in the morning before deciding if I go via Falkirk or Tak-ma-doon.

 

[arranandy]

Thanks guys. I think I have a good idea of a route now. I think it's about 50ish miles so will give me a good appetite for lunch at the end