Cycling Loch Lomond – Glen Fruin – Garelochhead – Helensburgh on 17/08/22 was a fine route with great views of Loch Lomond, Glen Fruin and the Gareloch.
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 From My Cycle Routes in Scotland
I chose the route Cycling Loch Lomond – Glen Fruin – Garelochhead – Helensburgh on 17/08/22 because I wanted a route that wasn’t too far a drive, wasn’t too long or demanding yet still gave me a good level of exercise.
I therefore prepared this route, which was based on part of my route Loch Lomond West Glens – ROUTE DETAILS.
This was only 35 minutes drive from Glasgow to Loch Lomond. I planned the route to return from Garelochhead via Helensburgh. This was shorter and easier than continuing along Loch Long, climbing up the very steep hills of Glen Douglas and returning via the West Loch Lomond Cycle Path.
Route Map -
Cycling Loch Lomond - Glen Fruin - Garelochhead - Helensburgh on 17/08/22
Route map for Loch Lomond - Glen Fruin - Gare Loch - Helensburgh 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 & Distances -
Cycling Loch Lomond - Glen Fruin - Garelochhead - Helensburgh on 17/08/22
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 9.45 / Arrived at parking at Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch 10.20 / Started cycling 10.30 / Duck Bay 10.40 (1.20) / Road to Glen Fruin 11.05 – 11.10. (3.74) / Top of pass at far end of Glen Fruin 11.55 (10.13) / Bench overlooking Gare Loch 11.57 – 12.30 (10.52) / Far end of Garelochhead 12.50 (13.03) / Back at start of Garelochhead 1.00 (13.86) / Back at bottom of Glen Fruin road 1.10 (14.79) / Helensburgh 2.15 – 2.50 (20.39) / Back at Duck Bay 3.35 (26.24) / Back at car 3.50 (27.62) / Left 4.00 / Home 4.35.
Computer Readings -
Cycling Loch Lomond - Glen Fruin - Garelochhead - Helensburgh on 17/08/22
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 27.62 mls. | Max. speed 27.6 mph | Ave. speed 8.4 mph | Trip time 3 hrs. 17 mins. | Odometer 4,190.4 mls.
Log -
Cycling Loch Lomond - Glen Fruin - Garelochhead - Helensburgh on 17/08/22
The weather at the start of the day was good. It was bright with high white clouds and patches of blue sky. There was only a gentle breeze.
Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch
The route commences at the Loch Lomond Shores visitor attraction, which is on the outskirts of the town of Balloch. Balloch is located on the southern shores of Loch Lomond. It’s main street is a thriving tourist area.
At Loch Lomond Shores there is an indoor shopping mall. There are also attractions like the Bird of Prey Centre, a Tree Zone aerial adventure course and Adventure Golf.
In the large building on the side of the loch there is the Sea Life aquarium.
As well as the indoor shopping mall there are also shops, cafes and restaurants outside overlooking the loch.
Balloch - Glen Fruin
The first section of the route is on the West Loch Lomond Cycle path. This path runs along the back of the free car park at Loch Lomond Shores. To get to the cycle path I turned left onto the walkway that runs alongside the car park.
At the end of the walkway I turned right onto a road. I followed this road to the top of the hill. On the right here is the start of the cycle path, which can be narrow and bumpy at times. The path leads past the Cameron House Hotel and Lodges, where seaplane tours are available.
After this I continued for a short distance on the road that leads to Duck Bay. This area is very popular with tourists. Here there is a hotel and marina and there are large grassy areas with picnic benches.
I stopped at Duck Bay for a few minutes to admire the fine views across Loch Lomond towards Ben Lomond.
I cycled along the narrow road round the bay, past all the parked cars. At the end of the road I picked up the cycle path again.
I continued on the path until I reached the Arden roundabout. At this roundabout I needed to turn left onto the Helensburgh cycle path. This cycle path runs alongside the A818 road to Helensburgh.
To do this I had to cross the very busy A82 road, which is busy in both directions. There are two spots where you can cross. I chose the second spot which is just a few yards past the first spot. It has an island in the middle of the road that makes it much safer and easier to cross.
After crossing the A82 I cycled up the hill on the Helensburgh cycle path. At the top of the hill there is a small roundabout. The main road to Helensburgh is on the left. The narrow, single track road up Glen Fruin is straight ahead.
Glen Fruin - 1st. Section
By the time I got to the Glen Fruin road it was bright with high white clouds and blue skies and there had been some sunny intervals. Prior to the climb up the glen I stopped to take off my Buff headgear that I had on underneath my helmet. I also took off my gloves and my fleece top, and put then all in my saddlebag.
The first section up Glen Fruin is a steady climb and not too steep. After the top of the first climb there is a long, steep winding descent. At the end of this descent there is a road that leads off to the left over a bridge. I ignored that and continued cycling straight on.
The road then levels out as it goes along the floor of the glen.
I continued cycling along this pleasant stretch of road. Some distance along I could see on my right the hill called Beinn Tharsuin. This is a low level hill walk that I normally do in the winter months.
I continued cycling until I reached the other end of the glen. The area around this end of the glen is used by military personnel. This is confirmed by the warning signs that are scattered along the side of the road.
In all the years I’ve cycled this route I’ve never seen anything mentioned in the warning signs, let alone a soldier.
Nevertheless just past the first of these signs there are army barracks that are used as a training centre.
Glen Fruin - 2nd. Section
Just past the army barracks there is a monument to a clan battle that was fought near this spot. The monument is accessed via a set of stairs on the right of the road.
The Battle of Glen Fruin took place in 1601. It was between the Colquhouns and the McGregors. An information board and an engraved boulder at the site give full details of the battle.
The road then commences to climb steeply up to the high point at this end of the glen. From here there are good views back down the glen.
After passing this high point there is a steep descent that affords the opportunity for some welcome free-wheeling. Half-way down the descent there is a bench overlooking the Gareloch. Here I stopped for lunch. I ate my sandwiches and drank some juice, whilst admiring the views. Fortunately the sun had come out from behind the clouds and there was only a gentle breeze so it was very pleasant.
The view down to the left is good, as shown above. However, the view down to the right is spoiled by the Faslane naval base for nuclear submarines.
I continued on the very steep and winding descent all the way down to the A814 Arrochar road at the bottom of Glen Fruin. Here I crossed over the road and turned right onto the cycle path that skirted the Faslane naval base.
Faslane - Garelochhead
This cycle path runs alongside the high barbed wire fence that surrounds the naval base. At the roundabout where the entrance to the naval base is I took the first exit onto the B872 road.
The cycle path continues on the pavement alongside this road all the way to the outskirts of the village of Garelochhead. Here the pavement narrows so I cycled the last short distance into the village on the narrow road.
I cycled to the far end of the village whilst admiring the views over the loch.
In Garelochhead the facilities included the Perch cafe, the Anchor Inn, a Chinese takeaway, a deli shop, a convenience store and a hardware store.
I cycled slowly back through Garelochhead, stopping a couple of times to view the scenery and to see what was going on in the village. I also stopped for a few minutes to admire the view over the loch again.
Garelochhead - Rhu
Then I cycled back from Garelochhead to the Faslane Naval Base. At the point where the road comes down from Glen Fruin I cycled straight ahead on the cycle path next to the road.
This took me to the small town of Rhu.
Here the road narrows and it is necessary to cycle on the narrow pavement. Further along I crossed the road at the pedestrian crossing and picked up the cycle path that ran alongside the other side of the road. It continued past Rhu Marina, where there is a cafe.
Rhu - Helensburgh
I continued cycling from Rhu on the cycle path alongside the bay. There were fine views across the bay along this stretch.
Then I continued cycling along the cycle path until I reached the seaside town of Helensburgh, the birthplace of John Logie Baird, one of the inventors of television.
I decided to spend half an hour or so in Helensburgh before cycling up and over the hill back to Balloch. I therefore chained my bike to a bike stand on the prom. Then I bought a double nougat ice cream wafer and sat on the prom to eat it and admire the view over the bay.
Helensburgh - Balloch
After leaving the prom I cycled along the busy road to the first set of traffic lights, where I turned left. I cycled up the hill on this busy street, until the traffic thinned out. By this point there was a cycle path painted on the road.
I continued cycling on the cycle path up the very long hill that seemed to go on and on, although it wasn’t too steep.
Near the top of the hill, just at a reservoir, the cycle path crosses over to the other side of the road. The path then undulates for a while and then there is a bit of a climb back up to the Glen Fruin roundabout, that I passed on the outward route.
Then I enjoyed some free wheeling back down to the busy A82 road. I carefully crossed this road and picked up the West Loch Lomond cycle path back through Duck Bay and back to Loch Lomond Shores on the outskirts of Balloch.
Electric Motor Assistance -
Cycling Loch Lomond - Glen Fruin - Garelochhead - Helensburgh on 17/08/22
Loch Lomond - Glen Fruin - Garelochhead
The first time I used the electric motor was on the small hill up the Helensburgh cycle path. I cycled half-way up the hill unassisted. I then used the first level of assistance, the ECO mode, to get me up to the top of the hill.
On the first section of the climb up Glen Fruin I only managed about a third of the way up unassisted then I had to use ECO mode to get me up and over the hill. Then I used it again on another couple of hills after that.
On the level stretch of road along the floor of the glen I didn’t need any assistance from the electric motor.
However, when I got to the other end of the glen I again needed to use the ECO mode. This was when climbing up to the high point at that end of the glen, just past the army barracks. In fact, I stopped at the first lay-by up the hill to rest and get my breath back, whist admiring the view back down the glen.
After leaving the top of Glen Fruin I enjoyed free-wheeling down the very steep and winding descent down to Faslane.
The route from Faslane to Garelochhead was a wee bit hilly but I managed it without any electric motor assistance.
Garelochhead - Helensburgh - Loch Lomond
The cycle along to Rhu and then to Helensburgh was mostly flat so I didn’t need any assistance from the electric motor on this section.
After leaving Helensburgh I managed part way up the very long and relentless, although not too steep, hill on my own steam. Then due to tiredness I had to use the ECO mode to get me to the top of the hill.
I had to use the ECO mode again on part of the hill up to the Glen Fruin roundabout.
After that, though, I cycled on my own steam back to Loch Lomond Shores on the outskirts of Balloch.
Summary
Cycling Loch Lomond - Glen Fruin - Garelochhead - Helensburgh on 17/08/22
This shortened version of the Loch Lomond West Glens route was really good for a shorter day’s cycling.
It still retained the climb up and along Glen Fruin. It included visits to Garelochhead, Rhu and Helensburgh, and there was a pleasant cycle along the coast.
The weather remained good throughout the day.