South Glasgow to greenock

[jim55]

Anybody done it on the cycle route ? What's it like surface wise , I take it there's a couple on rd sections , I'd rather avoid the fast bit of rd ( m-a8 I think ) how long does it take , il b going from pollock park
Is it suitable for a rd bike on 23 s or would I b better on my flat bar with 38s

So many questions lol

Thanks

 

[Bobby Mhor]

@jim55

Its a cracking track surface

BUT there is one section to avoid in Port Glasgow, as it can be seriously littered in broken glass. The council lads do their best though.
I've never been further east past Hunterhill but from there you join the track and meet the main track just before Canal Street Station, Paisley.
Its signposted no problem but there is a short road section at Elderslie but the track starts just after the traffic lights past the Nisa shop which is on your left coming from the east,you will see a car wash ahead on your right and the track starts just before it...
A right hand turn at the junction with the pencils statue thing (signposted) and it is track until Kilmacolm where a short quiet road section heads west, stop at the Pullman Bar and look for the sign at the edge of the car park which takes through a very short pavement, turn right at the junction and the track starts again at the end to your right.

Carry on to Port Glasgow, you go under a low stone bridge and come to a path junction, head left where you climb a short rise.
The track turns to road, you head left and quickly downhill. The foot of this hill you will see the cycle track signs for crossing the road..
If you want to avoid the normally broken glass sections..
Turn left and head west, you will see factories to your right and at the very last factory(Sangamo), take a right turn and take your time going downhill and about 200 m from the top of the hill you will see the cycle track kinda sharply on your left..

Carry on, you drop down over a metal bridge and head up a sharp rise, carry on until you reach a park area..
This is where it turns to local roads and just follow the signs, at lower level in Greenock , a few shared footpaths.

If you decide to travel the glassy section, make sure you have Marathon Plus tyres.

I'd be careful at night travelling this route..just a heads up.

I stay in Port Glasgow so any other assistance on scenic diverts through any of cracking back roads we have..
Let me know either through this thread of by message.

 

[zizou]

Like @Bobby Mhor says the track is in great condition - good tarmac and smooth, virtually all off road.

I'd probably take the road option once the track reaches Port Glasgow - like said can be alot of glass but there is also a steep bit that is covered in leaves and moss at this time of year so not ideal. You could either leave the track just after Kilmacolm and go up Auchentiber road which brings you out to the B788/Kilmacolm road, once at the top of that hill its a descent down into Greenock or leave the track just above Port Glasgow and take a left and head towards Dougliehill Road which again brings out to the B788 again.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Like @Bobby Mhor says the track is in great condition - good tarmac and smooth, virtually all off road.

I'd probably take the road option once the track reaches Port Glasgow - like said can be alot of glass but there is also a steep bit that is covered in leaves and moss at this time of year so not ideal. You could either leave the track just after Kilmacolm and go up Auchentiber road which brings you out to the B788/Kilmacolm road, once at the top of that hill its a descent down into Greenock or leave the track just above Port Glasgow and take a left and head towards Dougliehill Road which again brings out to the B788 again.

Headed down the bit you mentioned this morning,
some leaves on track but not too bad on way down to Devol Glen

 

[Brandane]

Like @Bobby Mhor says the track is in great condition - good tarmac and smooth, virtually all off road.

I'd probably take the road option once the track reaches Port Glasgow - like said can be alot of glass but there is also a steep bit that is covered in leaves and moss at this time of year so not ideal. You could either leave the track just after Kilmacolm and go up Auchentiber road which brings you out to the B788/Kilmacolm road, once at the top of that hill its a descent down into Greenock or leave the track just above Port Glasgow and take a left and head towards Dougliehill Road which again brings out to the B788 again.

Or alternatively, at the end of Auchentiber Road, turn LEFT (away from Greenock) then after about 100 yards turn right onto a minor road, which may be signed as a dead end. That's because it becomes a Land Rover track (passable even on road bikes, but best to use a hybrid or MTB) for a mile or so before taking you out at Loch Thom. Turn left there and go over Brisbane Glen to Largs, thus avoiding Greenock completely .

Here is a recent Strava link of mine showing the route from Glasgow, through Pollock Park and Paisley to Kilmacolm, Loch Thom, and Largs. Link to Strava.

 

[Brandane]

I'd be careful at night travelling this route..just a heads up.

I'd be careful during the day!
But especially at night.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

I'd be careful during the day!
But especially at night.

Not the first this year...
two on the track near Port Glasgow approx 11pm to midnight and that one at track behind local shops..
at an extreme, a murder and attempted murder under the bridge at Locher Water this year

 

[Brandane]

Not the first this year...
two on the track near Port Glasgow approx 11pm to midnight and that one at track behind local shops..
at an extreme, a murder and attempted murder under the bridge at Locher Water this year

Not sure if any of the victims have been cyclists, but these paths are a magnet for some of the errrm, less desirable elements of our society. Touching wood, the worst I've had was a bit of verbal on the canal path near the Erskine Bridge once; but I wouldn't go anywhere near these paths after dark.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Not sure if any of the victims have been cyclists, but these paths are a magnet for some of the errrm, less desirable elements of our society. Touching wood, the worst I've had was a bit of verbal on the canal path near the Erskine Bridge once; but I wouldn't go anywhere near these paths after dark.

Nah..
local yokels..
the usual drinking places...
the bridge at Cunston, the factories, Devol Glen and occasionally the Lady Octavia..
other hotspots, bridge at Linwood, and bridges at Locher Water and Bridge of Weir...
I spend some Sat and Sun morns sweeping occasional glass off the track but rarely to be honest until the section at the Industrial Estate at Port Glasgow....

the murder and serious assault at Lochar Water was camping fishermen....

 

[HLaB]

And I thought the cylepaths at Niddrie, Muirhouse and Niddrie were bad

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I did that route on a nice summer's day.
Lovely surface all the way apart from that sudden steep bit before Port Glasgow.
We lost the cycle route after Greenock or Gourock, can't remember which one comes first, soon found it again.
Nice ride in daylight, as others have said, wouldn't do it after dark.
I think road tyres are fine, we used hybrids.

 

[jim55]

If looked at routes and stuff ,I've ridden down the castle semple route you mention ( obv turn off for Greenock ) but I'm more inclined to take old Greenock rd through bishopton and stuff so I can use my rd bike the road looks pretty good and straightforward up till aboutwhere it becomes spring hill rd/ bouverie st near lidl in port Glasgow another thing is it looks quite hilly around Greenock .
Has anybody done this route on rd I'd imagine the road to b not bad traffic wise as most traffic is on mway??

 

[boydj]

If you stay on the road through Bishopton, I'd advise staying off the A8 when you get to Langbank and using the parallel back road which brings you out half-way up Clune Brae in Port Glasgow. It is a bit 'lumpy', but a pretty quiet road. You can then go down Clune Brae to rejoin the A8 through Port Glasgow and Greenock.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

If looked at routes and stuff ,I've ridden down the castle semple route you mention ( obv turn off for Greenock ) but I'm more inclined to take old Greenock rd through bishopton and stuff so I can use my rd bike the road looks pretty good and straightforward up till aboutwhere it becomes spring hill rd/ bouverie st near lidl in port Glasgow another thing is it looks quite hilly around Greenock .
Has anybody done this route on rd I'd imagine the road to b not bad traffic wise as most traffic is on mway??

Through Bishopton, drop down the Hatton Brae, turn left and travel down the A8 dual carriageway....OR there is a path which runs parallel to the west bound carriageway until Parklea roundabout at the Port, I then use the dual carriageway at this point or take the road into the Port at the roundabout until the next roundabout at Lidl then choose your route...
A lot of locals use the opposite side pavement at peak traffic times (around 9 in the morning or after 3.30 in the afternoon),
the shared path cycle track, you could rejoin just before the fire station in Greenock.

I ride the cycle track almost every day, cutting off and on at various points and its okay..
I have even cycled it occasionally at night but now I'm retired I'm out during the daytime...
Its by far the easiest option...
If during midweek, I'll ride shotgun

Bouverie is a helluva steep bit then you still have to climb to the cycle track..
Use Google Maps to look at the main road and see where that path is.....

 

[jim55]

Thanks