Adventure cycling

The Falkirk area has so much to offer the experienced cyclist. From flat canal towpaths running across the Falkirk area as they travel coast-to-coast across Scotland, to purpose-built, red-grade mountain bike trails deep in the Scottish countryside, you’ll find plenty to challenge and excite even the keenest of cyclists. 

 

This three-day itinerary offers a variety of terrain to keep things interesting as well as visiting some of the area’s most famous attractions. There are two versions of the route – one for road bikes and more suitable for mountain bikes. We’ve estimated a three-day timeframe to complete the route, but if you’re in a hurry, see if you can complete it in just two!

Gravel Route

 

Road Route

 

Day 1: Falkirk Town Centre

If you are travelling to the area by train, then Falkirk Town Centre is a great spot to start your visit. If you are arriving by car, there is also plenty of parking available in the town centre. Visit the pedestrianised High Street where you’ll find lots of cafes and bistros to fuel up with a spot of breakfast. The Falkirk Steeple sits in the heart of the High Street and there’s an Active Travel Hub where you can find out more about the many cycling routes you can take to explore the area. Make time to stop at the Faw Kirk too. Its ancient graveyard is steeped in Scottish history, with its graves including the tomb of Sir John De Graeme dating back to the time of William Wallace- and the Battle of Falkirk which took place in 1298. 

 

Distance: Falkirk Town Centre - Falkirk Wheel: 14min/2.5miles

Related resources & routes

  • Bike Pump Available
  • Bike Racks

Day 1: Falkirk Wheel

The Falkirk Wheel is within easy cycling distance of Falkirk High and Falkirk Grahamston stations as well as Falkirk High Street. From Falkirk High train station, ride along the Union Canal towpath until you reach the Wheel. From the High Street or Falkirk Grahamston, follow the one-way system out of the town centre and cycle to the Forth & Clyde Canal towpath. On the way, you’ll pass Rosebank Distillery, home of one of the Lowlands finest malt whiskies. The site is currently being refurbished and will reopen in 2023. Look out for the gleaming copper stills in the giant windows as you cycle past. From there, join the Forth & Clyde Canal towpath to reach The Falkirk Wheel.

The Wheel is the world’s only rotating boat lift. An engineering marvel, it links the Forth & Clyde Canal with the Union Canal and has become a must-see visitor attraction. Opened in 2002 as part of the millennium link project, it celebrates its 20th birthday in 2022. The Union Canal is celebrating its 200th anniversary in the same year so look out for special events marking both big birthdays. 

If you have the time, there is so much to see and do at the Wheel. From woodland walks, segway hire and trips to the nearby Roman Antonine Wall and Rough Castle, to boat trips and paddleboarding, you can easily spend hours here. There is also bike hire available from Outdoor Trax and, for over 16’s, E-bike hire is also available.

 

Distance: Falkirk Wheel – Callendar Estate: 10min/ 1.6miles

Related resources & routes

  • Bike Racks
  • Bike Shop
  • Water Bottle Top Up
  • Washing facilities available
  • Bike Pump Available

Day 1: Callendar Estate

A visit to Callendar Estate is a must if you and your family enjoy a spot of mountain biking. A short ride up the hill from the Falkirk Wheel, it has many trails for people of all abilities 

Follow the track up through woodland to the Callender Estate Activity Centre. Or you can take your pick from a network of challenging single-track mountain bike trails, heritage trails, and easy routes through the woods. Each trail is signposted and graded according to its level of difficulty to help you decide which way to go. As you ride, look out for the Battle of Falkirk Muir Monument, commemorating the battle between the Jacobites and the Government army in 1746. 

When you reach the activity centre, take a turn on a short pump track there or check out the cycling accessories for sale at Greenrig Cycles. You can also enjoy a drink or spot of lunch at The Café at Canada Wood before carrying on with your ride. If you need a place to stay, you’ll find Spoke n’ Boot Camping Pods nearby. They’re specifically aimed at cyclists and walkers travelling the John Muir Way which cuts through Callendar Estate. 

 

Distance: Callendar Estate – Muiravonside Country Park: 45min/7.75miles

Related resources & routes

  • Bike Shop
  • Bike Racks

Day 1: Muiravonside Country Park

From The Café at Canada Wood, cross over Lochgreen Road and ride through undulating farmland as you follow the track to Slammanan Road. Once there, enter Lionthorn Woods on your right-hand side. Follow the path until you reach Glen Village where you will be able to join the Union Canal towpath. Stay on the towpath all the way until you reach Muiravonside Country park. Leaving the towpath to enter the park, you’ll see Bridge 49 Café Bar & Bistro as you cross over the canal. It’s a great place to stop for a drink or bite to eat before you set off again.

Muiravonside Country Park sits in 170 acres featuring farmland, nature trails and the River Avon Heritage Trail. Cross a small road bridge when you leave the towpath and follow the track into the park. It will take you to the burbling River Avon. The Avon Aqueduct that carries the Union Canal towers above you as you cycle along the riverbank. Then follow the track up the hill and past Newparks Farm and its herd of Highland Cows before completing your loop of the park. Re-join the canal towpath where you left it. From here, you’ll soon reach the Avon Aqueduct itself. Dismount and take the time to savour the stunning, panoramic views as you walk across this incredible, 26-metre-tall structure that celebrated its 200th birthday in 2021.

Distance: Muiravonside Country Park - Blackness Castle: 56min/9.5miles

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Day 1: Blackness Castle

Once back on your bike, ride along the Union Canal through Linlithgow to the town of Philpstoun. Leave the towpath and cycle down towards the shores of the Firth of Forth where you’ll find Blackness Castle. On the way, you’ll pass Mannerstons Café & Farm Shop which sells its own delicious, home-made ice cream as well as being open seven days a week for food and refreshments.

Nicknamed ‘the ship that never sailed’ due to its unique shape, Blackness Castle is an imposing fifteenth century fortress jutting out into the Firth of Forth. Formerly a royal castle, a prison and a garrison, it is now a popular tourist attraction and a filming location for the period drama, Outlander and other major film and TV programmes. If you have time, explore the craggy interior of the castle and enjoy the spectacular views towards South Queensferry and the three iconic bridges that cross the Firth of Forth there.

While at Blackness, enjoy a quick drink or a delicious dinner at The Lobster Pot at Blackness on Sea. As its name suggests, lobster is always on the menu at this cosy local pub near Blackness Castle! It’s a local favourite and a relaxed spot to get some refreshments before cycling to Bo’ness.

 

Distance: Blackness Castle - Bo'ness Town: 21min/4 miles

Related resources & routes

  • Bike Racks
  • Water Bottle Top Up

Day 2: Bo’ness Town

A short cycle along the foreshore from Blackness, you’ll reach the historic coastal town of Bo’ness. Once a major Scottish port and centre for heavy industry, you’ll find The Bo’ness Mining Memorial commemorating over 900 years of coal mining in the area plus other historic sculptures on the path along the shore. You’ll also spot steam trains roaring along the track at the nearby Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway. This heritage railway has featured in hit Hollywood films as well as popular TV shows such as Outlander. It's also home to Scotland’s largest railway museum. 

While in the town, enjoy lunch or a coffee at local, cyclist-friendly accessible venue The Corbie Inn on the foreshore. Or combine a spot of retail therapy in the town centre with a trip to McMoos Ice Cream Parlour for Desserts and Coffee. You’ll find it next to The Hippodrome, Scotland’s oldest purpose-built cinema which is still in use today. 

 

Distance: Bo’ness Town - Kinneil Estate: 10min/2.1miles

Related resources & routes

  • Bike Racks
  • Water Bottle Top Up
  • Bike Pump Available

Day 2: Kinneil House, Museum and Estate

Also at Bo’ness, a short ride from the town centre, you’ll find Kinneil House, Museum and Estate where you can experience 2,000 years of history. From Bo’ness, take a route along the foreshore, through Kinneil Local Nature Reserve and up the hill to Kinneil House and Estate. From Roman times to the industrial revolution, the remnants of a long and rich history can be seen everywhere across the Estate. Visit the museum to find out more. Then take a ride around the beautiful grounds and along the mountain bike trails at Kinneil Woods. You’ll also find a pump track and skills area there. Finally, look out for the route of the the iconic Bo’ness Hill Climb, a heritage motorsport event that takes place at Kinneil every summer.

Distance: Kinneil Estate – Helix Park: 42min/ 6.3miles

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Day 2: The Helix Park & Kelpies

No visit to the area is complete without visiting The Helix Park and the iconic Kelpies. The Kelpies are just over 6 miles from Kinneil House and are one of Scotland’s most popular tourist attractions. 

Cycle towards Grangemouth and make your way through the beautiful Victorian Zetland Park. Newly refurbished, you’ll find a pump track, bike library offering free bike hire and an Ebike station as well as ornate gardens and paths to explore. From there, ride through Grangemouth centre to find the banks of the River Carron and the Charlotte Dundas Trail. The Trail will take you to the Helix Park and the Kelpies. 

The Kelpies are the largest equine sculptures in the world. Standing 30 metres tall, these two majestic steel sculptures are a tribute to the working horses that pulled barges along Scotland's canals. After cycling underneath the towering structures, stop at the Visitor Centre to find out more or visit the coffee shop to refuel before heading on your way again.

Distance: Helix Park - Dunmore Pineapple: 40min/7.8miles

Related resources & routes

  • Bike Racks
  • Bike Pump Available
  • E-bike station
  • Water Bottle Top Up

Day 2: Dunmore Pineapple

Leaving the Kelpies behind, take a 40-minute cycle through the Skinflats area towards the town of Airth. As well as an RSPB Nature Reserve, look out for the Powfoulis Manor Hotel, a traditional Scottish Baronial Manor House that is now a popular wedding venue. 

Cycle up past Airth Castle, once a medieval stronghold and now a popular hotel and spa. Skirt past the village, to find the Dunmore Pineapple tucked away in the countryside. It’s an elaborate and eccentric summer house built in the shape of a pineapple in the 18th century by Lord Dunmore. The Pineapple sits at the heart of a huge walled garden that is open to visitors. You can explore the rest of the Dunmore Estate through an archway to the left of the building and follow tracks past old farm buildings and the ruins of Dunmore Park House stately home. Loop back to Dunmore Pineapple and when you leave, take a right to join the road that takes you to the village of Torwood.

Distance: Dunmore Pineapple - Torwood: 40min/7 miles

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Day 2: Torwood Castle and the Blue Pool

Torwood Castle sits in woodland clearing not far from the small village of Torwood. The track leading to the castle is signposted as a public right of way to Denovan up the hill from the village. Built in the sixteenth century, the ruined castle was once the seat of the Clan Forrester. The woodland near the castle is also the site of an ancient Iron Age broch and a local curiosity known as the Torwood Blue Pool. From the castle, cycle for about half a mile along farm tracks until you reach a clearing. There, you’ll find the circular, man-made pool on the edge of secluded woodland. Its mysterious bright blue water is a remnant form the area’s coal mining history. Near the village of Torwood, you’ll find both Glenbervie House Hotel and Ciros Italian Restaurant at Glenbervie Golf Club. Blossom’s Bistro at Torwood Garden Centre is also a short cycle away in nearby Larbert.  

Distance: Torwood - Carron Valley: 57min/11miles

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Day 2: Carron Valley

End your second day with a trip to the spectacular Carron Valley. Follow farm tracks towards the town of Denny, where you can stop for a bite to eat or for a spot of shopping before crossing over the M80 motorway and taking the road to the village of Fankerton. Keep riding and notice the hills rising before you as you follow the banks of the River Carron. 

Carron Valley is a man-made reservoir set in stunning countryside surrounded by rugged mountains. With many mountain bike and road trails, the Carron Valley is a popular destination for cyclists. The Red Route mountain bike track here is a challenge for experienced cyclists, taking you up into the mountains on a 5 mile/8 km adventure. Or you can enjoy gentler tracks around the shores of the reservoir and its impressive dam. Look out for the nearby Duncarron Medieval Village, an open air museum featuring traditional buildings from the past to give a glimpse of what life was like long ago.

Distance: Carron Valley – Seabegs Wood: 70 min/12 miles

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Day 3: Seabegs Wood

Start your day at Seabegs Wood on the edge of the town of Bonnybridge. It features a stretch of the Roman Antonine Wall, which is part of the Roman Empire UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ride from Carron Valley, past Kilsyth to pick up the Forth and Clyde towpath. You’ll find the ruins of the wall on your right just before you reach the town of Bonnybridge. Follow in the footsteps of the Romans as you explore the well-preserved stretch of rampart and ditch and section of the Military Way.

 

Distance: Seabegs Wood – Callendar House & Park: 44min/7.2miles

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Day 3: Callendar House & Park

From Seabegs Wood, continue to follow in Roman footsteps by cycling through the nearby Rough Castle and past the Falkirk Wheel to join the Union Canal and its towpath. When you reach Falkirk, leave the towpath at Falkirk High Station and ride to Callendar House and Park.

Callendar House is a stunning French chateau-styled country house set in its own parklands near Falkirk Town Centre. A firm favourite with local families, it has playparks, a boating lake, and plenty of woodland tracks to explore. You’ll also find a handy water top-up station and a Forth Bike E-bike station. 

Follow the Callendar House Trail, riding around the historic house and boating lake or follow the woodland trails further up the hill. See if you can find the Forbes family mausoleum before looping back down the hill to the play area. After exploring the park, stop at the house to visit the souvenir shop, exhibition space and tearoom.

Distance: Callendar House & Park - Falkirk Distillery: 12min/2.2miles

Related resources & routes

  • Water Bottle Top Up
  • E-bike station
  • Bike Racks

Day 3: Falkirk Distillery

Soon, a trip to Falkirk won’t be complete without a trip to a whisky distillery. The town is seeing a revival of its historic lowland whisky distilling traditions at Rosebank in the town centre. The old distillery there is currently being refurbished. At the same time, Falkirk Distillery is a brand-new distillery that has been built on the edge of the town. Ride from Callendar Park, through Laurieston and Polmont before taking a left turn down the hill and past the new, gleaming white distillery building on your right. The distillery is opening to visitors soon. From there, loop back to Falkirk Town Centre and the High Street to complete your tour. 

 

Distance: Falkirk Distillery - Falkirk town centre: 23min/3.7miles

Related resources & routes

Visit Falkirk for Cycling