Cycling Loch Lomond East Side on 1 Jul 21
- Choice of Route
I chose Cycling Loch Lomond East Side on I Jul 21 as the last cycle trip I did was on the west side of Loch Lomond. (It was Cycling Loch Lomond West Glens. Click here to go to the blog for that route.) So I thought that I would cycle the east side of Loch Lomond today, especially as I hadn’t cycled this route yet this year.
I normally cycle a version of this route in the short winter days, when I start and end at the village of Drymen. This reduces the distance to 23 miles.
However, we were in the midst of a warm sunny few days in Scotland and the days were long. I therefore decided to start the route at the village of Killearn, which is about 4 miles from Drymen. This would result in a total distance of about 31 miles.
Route Map
Route map for Loch Lomond East Side by E-Bike Cyclist.scot on plotaroute.com
The map above is an interactive map. Press “Play” (click on the white triangle in the middle of the screen) to activate it. You can then zoom in or out by pressing the buttons that appear in the top left of the screen. The map can be moved by dragging it. Once you press Play the hills profile of the route will appear at the bottom of the map. Further comprehensive detailed analysis of the hill profile can be obtained by clicking on “More Detailed Profile” at the top left of the hills profile section. You can also select full screen mode by clicking on the icon in the top right corner of the map.
Timings and Distances
Anytime I cycle on one of my cycle routes in Scotland I use this section to record trip details. I record the times I took for the various parts of the day and the distances cycled. This includes when I started cycling and how long I cycled for between various points in the route. I also record the distances (in miles) between various points in the route and how long I rested for, etc.
I included this section so that I can look back at the timings and distances to help me plan my day if I decide to do this trip again. This section could also assist others with planning their day if they decide to do this route. Each person, of course, will have to adjust the timings to suit their own circumstances, e.g. cycling speed, rest times, etc.
(Note: The figures in brackets are the cumulative distances in miles from the start of the route.)
Left Glasgow 10.35 / Arrived Killearn 11.20 / Started cycling 11.50 / Gartness 12.00 (1.6) / Drymen 12.35 (4.2) / Lunch to 1.05 / Balmaha 1.40 – 2.00 (8.3) / Milarrochay Bay 2.10 (9.5) / Rowardennan 2.50 – 3.30 (14.80) / Milarrochay Bay 4.20 – 4.40 (20.72) / Balmaha 4.50 (21.80) / Drymen 5.20 (25.90) / Gartness 5.45 (28.92) / Killearn 6.05 (30.51) / Left 6.30 / Home 7.20
Cycling Loch Lomond East Side on 1 Jul 21
- Log
When I arrived at Killearn the weather was fine. It was bright with white clouds and patches of blue sky. There was very little wind.
Normally when I cycle this route I park at the small public car park on the Main Street, in front of the health centre. Previously I felt a bit uncomfortable parking here. It was always busy and I wondered if I was denying a space to a resident.
So this time I spent some time looking around a bit. I eventually found a space on the road up the side of the car park. This road is called Station Road and is where the route starts.
Killearn - Gartness
I cycled down Station Road and turned right into Gartness Road. From here there was a long downhill stretch. Then there were a couple of small climbs before a final descent into the small hamlet of Gartness. By this time the sun had come out from behind the clouds and it was nice and warm and bright.
Gartness is one of those places where they have great faith in human nature. As result they have what is known as an “Honesty Box”. This is like a small unmanned shop where there are drinks, chocolate bars, ice cream, etc. You can help yourself to what you want. It is assumed that you will be honest and place the appropriate cash in the money box.
Gartness - Drymen
There is a quite a short, sharp, climb coming out of Gartness that is quite steep. Fortunately this is followed by a steep descent.
Part way down this descent on the left hand side of the road there is a cut off onto the NCN 7 cycle path in the other direction. This leads to Croftamie, Balloch and Dumbarton.
Across the road there is another NCN 7 sign, which I didn’t see on my way down. This one leads to Drymen. etc. So I continued cycling straight ahead to Drymen.
After this descent there was a long, steep hill to climb. The road then gradually descended until it reached the busy A811 road. Here I carefully crossed the road to get to the path on the other side. This path is formed by long wide steps so I had to walk my bike up it.
It is possible to stay on the bike and avoid this path. You can turn left onto the A811 and then turn right onto the B858 Main Street. This takes you into the centre of Drymen. You can also get to the centre of Drymen by turning right onto the A811. You then turn left onto the Old Military Road / Stirling Road.
I pushed my bike up the path to the road at the top. Then I cycled down the road into the centre of Drymen.
I went to one of the benches at the back of the village green and stopped to have my lunch. The sun was still out and it was beating down on me as I ate my sandwiches and drank my juice – wonderful!
After eating my lunch I put suncream on my face, my arms and my legs to protect me from sunburn.
Eating places around the village green were the Drymen Inn, the Drymen bakery & deli, the Clachan bar (estd. 1734) and the Winnock Hotel which runs along the back of the village green.
Along the Main Street from the village green there is also the Skoosh coffee shop and the Buchanan Arms Hotel.
Drymen - Balmaha
After lunch I cycled along the Main Street and turned right into Balmaha Road. This road is undulating, but the hills are not too steep.
The road passes through two small villages – Buchanan Smithy and Milton of Buchanan.
The name of Buchanan also features in the Buchanan Arms Hotel in Drymen. Presumably the hotel and villages are named after George Buchanan, a 16th. century poet, historian and tutor to queens. He was born in Killearn. There is huge, very tall monument to him in Killearn.
I continued cycling until I reached the popular tourist village of Balmaha, which is situated on the shores of Loch Lomond.
When I arrived in Balmaha it was very busy with tourists. There is a large car park there, with a visitors centre and public toilets. The car park was almost full, as to be expected on such a warm, sunny day. The cafes with outside seating on the Main Street were also very busy.
Further along on the Main Street there is a small park dedicated to Tom Weir. He was a well known mountaineer, climber and hill walker. He had his own television show called “Weirs Way” that was very popular.
In the small park there is a picnic area and a viewpoint over the bay. There is also a very lifelike bronze statue of Tom Weir.
Balmaha - Rowardennan
I left Balmaha by cycling along to the end of the Main Street. The road then turns sharply right and up a short but very steep hill with a 15% incline.
Ten minutes after leaving Balmaha I reached Milarrochay Bay. This is a spot that is very popular with families. It has a stony beach and kids like to play in the water here. I didn’t go into the car park here on the way out as I intended to stop here on the way back.
The stretch of the route between Balmaha and Rowardennan is a long series of small hills. Although they are not very high some of them are very steep. So it is a succession of climbs and then descents, which I found very tiring.
This is offset though by the wonderful views of Loch Lomond and the hills on it’s west side. These hills include Beinn Dubh which is one of the hills I climb each year. It is accessed from Luss on the west side of the loch.
I continued cycling up and down the hills alongside the loch. I found the last stretch to Rowardennan really difficult as it had some very steep hills.
Rowardennan
Eventually I arrived at Rowardennan, which is where the road ends.
There is only one eating place at Rowardennan and that is the Rowardennan Hotel. It serves food in the bar and it has picnic tables outside. A water sports company operates next to the hotel.
Past the hotel there is a very busy car park that is mainly used by walkers climbing Ben Lomond. At the car park there is a small visitors centre with public toilets.
There is also a small bay and a jetty at Rowardennan. There is a Youth Hostel further on from the car park.
By the time I reached Rowardennan I was really tired due to all the hills I had to cycle up all the way from Killearn. However, this was more than offset by the fact that it was still great weather with warm, bright sunshine.
I slowly cycled round the very busy car park, stopped to admire the views at the small stony bay and took some photos, etc. I then went back round to the side of the car park and sat at a wooden bench overlooking the loch.
From here I had a great view across the loch to another hill on the west side that I climb every year. It is called Beinn Bhreac and it is one of my favourite low level hill walks. I like it as it affords fantastic views up and down Loch Lomond and across to Ben Lomond. I cycle past the access point to this hill when I do one of my other cycle routes. It is the Loch Lomond West Glens route. (Click here to go to this route.)
By this time the sun was very warm so I stretched out on the bench and laid back and soaked up the sun for about 20 minutes. I was glad of the rest as well as I was very tired.
Ben Lomond
Rowardennan is the access point for walkers to climb up the path to Ben Lomond. Ben Lomond is one of Scotland’s hills called “Munros”. These are hills over three thousand feet. They are called after Sir Hugh T. Munro who first listed all such hills in Scotland.
There is a well constructed path all the way to the top of Ben Lomond. However, it is a long and strenuous climb to get to the top. It therefore should only be attempted by those who are reasonably fit and have the proper footwear and clothing.
Rowardennan - Milarrochay Bay
After this welcome rest I left Rowardennan and started cycling back the way I had come. Obviously I found the cycling was just as difficult as the outward route.
As planned I only cycled as far as Milarrochay Bay. Although I had only been cycling for 50 minutes, I stopped here as it is a very picturesque spot.
Despite the fact that the beach here is a stony beach, it was very busy with families and couples. There were a lot of children playing on the beach and in the water.
I left my bike against a wall and walked along the beach and then back again. Then I sat on the grass against a tree and soaked up the sun again.
Milarrochay Bay - Killearn
I then retraced my route all the way back to Killearn. I just cycled straight through Balmaha, Drymen and Gartness as I had stopped at these places on the way out.
On the return journey my knees and thighs were quite sore. I was glad, therefore, of the assistance provided by the electric motor. Thank goodness for my e-bike!
When I got back to Killearn I walked about the village to check out the eating places. I found a coffee shop on the Main Street, a cafe/restaurant called the Kitchen Window in Killearn village hall and a bar/restaurant called the Old Mill Inn on the Main Street.
I then went to the old public toilets at the back of the car park on Main Street before driving home.
Cycling Loch Lomond East Side on 1 Jul 21
- Levels of Assistance Used
The first time I used the electric motor for assistance was when cycling out of the hamlet of Gartness. There is a really steep hill here. I managed the first section unassisted then I got up out of the saddle and managed another section unassisted. I then had to use the first level of assistance, the ECO mode, to get me up the final section and over the top of the hill.
The next time I used it was on the long, steep hill after the descent where the NCN 7 cycle path signs started. Here I used the first level of assistance, the ECO mode. With this level of assistance I struggled, but I just persevered as I wanted to get some exercise. Eventually I got to the top.
I needed assistance again from the electric motor on the steep 15% hill out of Balmaha. I started off with the first level of assistance, the ECO mode. Soon, though, I had to move up to the second level of assistance, the TOUR mode. Even with that level of assistance I still struggled a bit but I managed to get up and over the top.
On the final stretch of the outward route leading into Rowardennan I found it very difficult. I therefore had to use the ECO mode a lot and the TOUR mode at times.
The same was true for the return journey from Rowardennan to Milarrochay Bay. On this stretch I mostly used ECO mode and I had to use TOUR mode twice.
For the rest of the return journey I used mostly ECO mode and TOUR mode a couple of times.
Battery Charging
At the end of the day there were still five bars showing on the battery charge level indicator.
However, when I put the battery on charge when I got home the fifth bar was charging up. It took about an hour to fully recharge. This has been the normal pattern for me recently.
I was quite pleased about this as this was a very hilly route.
Cycling Loch Lomond East Side on 1 Jul 21
- Summary
What a wonderful day! The weather was brilliant with long warm sunny spells. The scenery and views across Loch Lomond were fantastic.
As well as the nice village of Killearn I passed through some lovely picturesque villages such as Gartness, Drymen and Balmaha.
Although Rowardennan was busy it had a small bay and there were good views across the loch to Beinn Bhreac on the other side. The bay at Milarrochy is also very picturesque.
This more than offset the seemingly never ending series of hill climbs and descents, especially alongside Loch Lomond.