The
following trails built
on old railway lines first appeared in the publication "On
Your Bike", Issue 5, Spring 1999 edition. Our thanks
again go to Carlton Reid for allowing us to reproduce the
information.
Rail Trail - Aidrie
to Bathgate, east of Glasgow
One of several
long sections of dismantled railway paths in the Glasgow area (the
others lie to the west of the city). The Airdrie to Bathgate
path now forms part of Sustrans
Clyde to Forth long distance trail.
The
route: Airdrie - Caldercruix - Blackridge - (south of Armadale)
- BathgateDistance: 15 miles one way, 30 miles bothStart & Parking.
1. Craigneuk, on the east of
Airdrie, off the A89 Armadale road to the east of the roundabout
with the A73.
2. Whiteside,
southwest of Bathgate, just off the B7002.
Surface & Hills:
Good quality gravel path. There is a gentle climb from Bathgate or
Airdrie to Hillend Reservoir which is the highest point.
Road & Road
Crossings: No major road crossings.
Links or
other nearby trails: The new town of Livingston has a fine network
of traffic-free
cycleways. the Union Canal and Forth & clyde Canal lie to the north.
Map & Leaflet:
OS Landranger Maps 64 and 65. Basic leaflet available from Sustrans,
53 Cochrane Street,
Glasgow, G1 1HL Tel: 0141 572 0234.
Nearest
Railway: Airdrie or Bathgate.Refreshments:
Airdrie, Caldercruix, Blackridge and Bathgate.
