Sustrans Route 75

[Garthur]

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

Has anyone ever traveled on route 75 through to Edinburgh from Glasgow? I'm looking to do this at the weekend and was just wondering what it was like and if it is sign posted well enough so that I don't need to take a map with me. I know there are some parts on road and I'm not really expecting these to be sign posted but looking at it on google maps it seems most are on a cycle path away from the road.

I've only recently started cycling and only have a mountain bike but been out on the road a lot the last few weeks. Just looking for a good ride that's not to far from home. Planning on starting around Airdrie and if I make it to Waverley then get the train back home. If not then I'll worry about how to get home wherever I make it too lol

Thanks

 

[andym]

IME NCN routes are well signposted, but it's still worth carrying a map just in case you miss a sign - or you need to find the nearest train station.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

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

Has anyone ever traveled on route 75 through to Edinburgh from Glasgow? I'm looking to do this at the weekend and was just wondering what it was like and if it is sign posted well enough so that I don't need to take a map with me. I know there are some parts on road and I'm not really expecting these to be sign posted but looking at it on google maps it seems most are on a cycle path away from the road.

I've only recently started cycling and only have a mountain bike but been out on the road a lot the last few weeks. Just looking for a good ride that's not to far from home. Planning on starting around Airdrie and if I make it to Waverley then get the train back home. If not then I'll worry about how to get home wherever I make it too lol

Thanks

Read this review for guidance.
I have not done this route, but have followed the canal from Glasgow via Falkirk Wheel right into Edinburgh centre, taking the train back. Is there a canal entry near Airdrie?
If you are ok with riding on quiet roads, there is this great route by @Rasmus done it twice, drops you at the end of the Edinburgh cycle path, then follow signs for town and train station.
If you do the trip on N75, report back please, I'm interested.

 

[Garthur]

Thanks. Ill be starting from Airdrie. If it goes well i may go from Airdrie to Greenock in a few weeks time. From what I've been reading, part of the route just after Airdrie used to go via the railway line to bathgate but the railway was reopened a couple of years ago. I'm not sure if that part is now road or if its a path that runs alongside the railway or both though. I will try and take pictures on the way and will update here. I'm also hoping mobile reception is good enough so I can use google maps on my mobile if I get lost. Will try and get myself a cheap map tomorrow if I can though. At the worst, I know most of the back roads between Glasgow and Edinburgh so I can always cycle back on the roads.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

We cycled from Glasgow to Edinburgh via Airdrie along the route I've attached to my previous post.
Joined the Pedal on Parliament. It was great fun!
Looking forward to read your report!

 

[Brandane]

Thanks. Ill be starting from Airdrie. If it goes well i may go from Airdrie to Greenock in a few weeks time. From what I've been reading, part of the route just after Airdrie used to go via the railway line to bathgate but the railway was reopened a couple of years ago. I'm not sure if that part is now road or if its a path that runs alongside the railway or both though. I will try and take pictures on the way and will update here. I'm also hoping mobile reception is good enough so I can use google maps on my mobile if I get lost. Will try and get myself a cheap map tomorrow if I can though. At the worst, I know most of the back roads between Glasgow and Edinburgh so I can always cycle back on the roads.

I have only done this route the once, so from memory ............. From Airdrie to Plains it is on road, then there is a nice new path alongside the railway line which was built to compensate for the fact that the railway re-possessed the old path to build the new train line! All is well until you get to Livingstone then it becomes a bit tricky because of the sheer number of paths they have through all their parks. It is sign posted but you have to keep a sharp eye out for the signs. The route then takes you on minor roads to Balerno, and from there it follows the water of Leith all the way into Edinburgh. When dry, the water of Leith is a great path, but when wet it is quite muddy.

 

[shyfire]

I've cycled route 75 from Glasgow City Centre to Coatbridge. It was well signed but a little confusing round about Dalmarnock where the path was closed and a diversion in place. That was over a year ago so may have changed. Quite flat and good quality path, a few on road sections but again signed and not that busy. Didn't go beyond Coatbridge or the section you're doing first. Instead took the road up through Bargeddie to join the Strathkelvin Railway path at Moodiesburn which can take you up to Kirkintilloch and NCR 754 (the Glasgow-Edinburgh canal route) or further on as far as the start of the West Highland Way.

Enjoy

 

[Pat "5mph"]

The Dalmarnock path is closed again at the moment at Shawfield.
Need to come out, cycle round till the bridge and the Tesco, rejoin the path there.

 

[Garthur]

I didn't do this at the weekend. I was planning out the ride and decided that it would be too easy for me to get lost, which I wasn't worried about. What I was worried about was getting lost, phone battery dieing and injuring myself all at the same time. So, I've bought myself a Garmin Edge 810 (should arrive today or tomorrow) and an external battery pack to charge anything with a USB (I bought this last week before posting but it just arrived a few days ago).

So, now I'm going to do this this weekend although the sudden change in weather may be a deciding factor. I've mapped up a route on Garmin Connect that I plan to do. I believe this is following NCN75 as much as possible but I suppose I'll find that out when I do it.

If anyone wants to look over the the route. I'm leaving from the top end of Motherwell and heading up through Holytown and joining the 75 from Airdrie (just after crossing the bridge at the A8 I believe).

Route is at http://connect.garmin.com/course/4357017

 

[Fubar]

I didn't do this at the weekend. I was planning out the ride and decided that it would be too easy for me to get lost, which I wasn't worried about. What I was worried about was getting lost, phone battery dieing and injuring myself all at the same time. So, I've bought myself a Garmin Edge 810 (should arrive today or tomorrow) and an external battery pack to charge anything with a USB (I bought this last week before posting but it just arrived a few days ago).

So, now I'm going to do this this weekend although the sudden change in weather may be a deciding factor. I've mapped up a route on Garmin Connect that I plan to do. I believe this is following NCN75 as much as possible but I suppose I'll find that out when I do it.

If anyone wants to look over the the route. I'm leaving from the top end of Motherwell and heading up through Holytown and joining the 75 from Airdrie (just after crossing the bridge at the A8 I believe).

Route is at http://connect.garmin.com/course/4357017

Alternatively you could join numerous other CC Eccosers and do this

 

[HLaB]

The last time I did it was pre reopening of the Bathgate line but I think they had to provide 'standard' replacement when it opened.

 

[Garthur]

Alternatively you could join numerous other CC Eccosers and do this

Knew nothing about this, if I did I'd have arranged to come but I've got no way of getting there as it stands just now (no car this weekend) :-(

I'll keep an eye out for the next one though ;-)

 

[Fubar]

Knew nothing about this, if I did I'd have arranged to come but I've got no way of getting there as it stands just now (no car this weekend) :-(

I'll keep an eye out for the next one though ;-)

Absolutely, we do rides all over the place (Arran was the last one) so please keep your eyes on the Informal Rides section and feel free to tag along to anything that takes your fancy! Regards, Mark

 

[fimm]

I've cycled a lot of this at various times.
As someone said upthread - Plains to Bathgate is really easy and very nice. Bathgate onwards through Livingston is a bit fiddly (but the bits I know seem well enough signposted, just keep an eye out (you sometimes get signs telling you you've gone off route as well)).
Once you get up towards Kirknewton (after a bit I don't know because it is off road and I use a road bike) there's a bit on a slightly busier road and then you are onto back roads towards Balerno. Watch out for one right turn (off the Long Dalmahoy Road) which is a bit difficult to spot.
Then you've got another bit of slightly busier road and then you're onto the Water of Leith path (look out for the little obelisk on the left). Actually I'm trying to remember if there's sign to tell you to turn right at the traffic lights in Balerno. There must be, I just can't picture it!

Think about railway stations in Edinburgh - if you are going back to Ardrie you can get on the train at Edinburgh Park and Haymarket as well as Waverley (I bike-train-bike commute on this line). Haymarket is probably the easiest to get to from the end of the canal if you go all that way; but if you turn away from Edinburgh along the canal you can get to Edinburgh Park as well.

 

[fimm]

Ah, now looked at your map.
Here's Airdrie to Livingston almost totally off road (well actually we went the other way)