Cycling from Killearn to Aberfoyle (NCN 7) on 5 Dec 21 was a fine route with great views of the beautiful Trossachs area of Scotland.
This is one of many great routes I have cycled in Scotland. Other great routes I have cycled are listed on the page Cycle Routes in Scotland.
Choice of Route
I chose the route Cycling from Killearn to Aberfoyle on 5 Dec 21 because I wanted to extend the route I had cycled in Aug. 20 from Drymen to Aberfoyle. That route was 20 miles long. Extending it to start from Killearn resulted in a 28 mile route.
Also, I hadn’t recorded any details of the trip in Aug. 20 on the website.
As today’s route is only 28 miles long this meant that I could complete it before it got dark. At this time of the year in Scotland it gets dark before 4.00 o’clock in the afternoon.
Also, the route is in a beautiful part of Scotland that is not far to drive to from Glasgow.
Route Map -
Cycling from Killearn to Aberfoyle (NCN 7) on 5 Dec 21
This route follows a section of the NCN 7 cycle path. It is one of the routes on the National Cycle Network run by the charity called Sustrans. Their map of this route can be accessed on their website www.sustrans.org.uk.
However, I also prepared my own map, as shown below. I did this to plot the section of the route from Killearn to the point where it joins the NCN 7 cycle path.
Also, I wanted to see the hills profile and the total ascent shown on the map below after you press “Play”.
Route map for Killearn To Aberfoyle (NCN 7) 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 -
Cycling from Killearn to Aberfoyle (NCN 7) on 5 Dec 21
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 9.35 / Arrived at Killearn 10.20 / Started cycling 10.35 / Drymen 11.10 – 11.15 (4.25) / Gartmore 12.15 – 12.20 (10.95) / Aberfoyle 12.40 (14.04) / Lunch to 1.00 / Left Aberfoyle 1.05 / Drymen 2.15 (23.74) / Back at Killearn 2.50 (27.98) / Left 3.05 / Home 4.05.
Computer Readings -
Cycling from Killearn to Aberfoyle (NCN 7) on 5 Dec 21
At the end of each trip there are a variety of readings on the bike’s computer. Some of them I record for future comparison purposes.
For this route the readings are as follows :
Trip distance 27.98 mls. | Max. speed 27.1 mph | Ave. speed 8.9 mph | Trip time 3 hrs. 7 mins. | Odometer 3,634.7 mls.
Log -
Cycling from Killearn to Aberfoyle (NCN 7) on 5 Dec 21
As forecast it was a beautiful winter’s day with a clear blue sky and brilliant sunshine. Also, as expected, it was very cold and icy.
When I arrived at Killearn there were no spaces in Station Road where I had parked the last time I started a route from here. So I parked at the car park in front of the Health Centre.
Killearn - Gartness
I left the car park and cycled down Station Road and then turned right into Gartness Road.
As it was such a cold, icy morning Gartness Road had icy patches on it at times. It is a quiet back country road so it is not gritted.
Not long after I had started cycling down Gartness Road I had a slight stumble on one of the icy patches. I had slowed down to pull in to the side of the road to allow a van to pass. As I pulled in my bike slid on the ice and I fell over onto the ground. Fortunately I was almost stopped by then so no harm was done.
It did make me think, though, about the wisdom of continuing. However, I decided just to carry on. I just took my time and avoided any icy patches. Soon the road conditions improved, with any icy patches mainly on the side of the road.
From the start of Gartness Road there was a long downhill stretch. Then there were a couple of small climbs before a final descent into the small hamlet of Gartness.
Gartness - Drymen
There is 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 is where the route joins the NCN 7. 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 indicating straight ahead to Drymen. So I just continued on the road straight ahead.
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 had only intended to stop at the village green in Drymen for a few minutes, but I ended up talking to a local resident for five minutes or so. He was an 85 year old man who had only recently stopped cycling on his e-bike!
Drymen - Gartmore
The road out of Drymen was a series of quite long climbs. It then dropped down via a long series of descents to the village of Gartmore.
When reaching Gartmore there is a sign on the outskirts of the village welcoming cyclists.
I cycled along into Gartmore and then turned sharp left into the Main Street, which is a long, steep hill.
Part way up the hill, on the right hand side next to the Black Bull Inn, there is a community bike shed and repair facility. It has a stand that a bike can be supported on. It also has tools such as spanners, screwdrivers, pliers, etc. that are attached to the stand by wires. There is also a free air machine.
In Gartmore food and refreshments are available in the Black Bull Inn. There is also the community owned General Shop, which is a general store, licensed grocer and post office..
Gartmore - Aberfoyle
After leaving Gartmore the route continued on the road through various forests. There were a couple of car parks at the forests along the way that are used by families and walking groups who walk on the trails through the forests.
The NCN 7 cycle route continued to be sign posted through this section of the route.
After coming out of the forests there was a fine view of the snow covered Ben Lomond in the distance.
The route continues on the road until the outskirts of Aberfoyle.
Here it cuts off to an off-road cycle track all the way into the centre of Aberfoyle.
I continued on the cycle track until it ended in the car park behind the Main Street in Abefoyle.
Because of my wariness around coronavirus I was still not going into cafes. I therefore sat at a picnic bench in the car park behind the Main Street to eat my sandwiches and drink my juice.
Return to Killearn
Then I returned to Killearn by the same route.
On the return journey a very bright sun had come out and I was cycling straight into it. It was so bright and right in my eyes at times I had to take one hand off the handlebars to shield my eyes so that I could see where I was going.
I was conscious of the fact that it got dark about 3.30 p.m. in Scotland at this time of year. Consequently I used the electric motor extensively on the hills to save time. As a result I was back at Killearn at 2.50 p.m.
Levels of Assistance Used -
Cycling from Killearn to Aberfoyle (NCN 7) on 5 Dec 21
On the outward journey between Killearn and Drymen I used the first level of assistance, ECO mode, several times to get me over the tops of hills.
After Drymen I also had to use the second level of assistance, TOUR mode, at times on the steeper hills.
On the return journey I wanted to make sure that I got back to Killearn before 3.30 p.m. as it starts to get dark then in Scotland at this time of year.
Consequently I used the first and second levels of assistance a lot to get me over the hills quickly. At times I also used the third level, SPORT mode, on the steeper hills.
Battery Charging -
Cycling from Killearn to Aberfoyle (NCN 7) on 5 Dec 21
When I got home and put the battery on charge the fourth bar was flashing on the battery level indicator on the side of the battery.
This meant that I had used up to two of the five bars on the battery.
Consequently it took one and a half hours to fully recharge the battery.
Summary -
Cycling from Killearn to Aberfoyle (NCN 7) on 5 Dec 21
It was a fine ride to the beautiful Trossachs area of Scotland. The route took in four villages – Killearn, Drymen, Gartmore and Aberfoyle.
It was a fine winter’s day with a clear blue sky and brilliant sunshine although, of course, it was very cold and there were icy patches on the road in the morning.
The hilly terrain provided some good exercise, even when using the electric motor for assistance at the top of the hills.