Cycling Paisley – Kilbarchan – Lochwinnoch (NCN 7) on 25/01/21 was an enjoyable ride through pleasant countryside to Castle Semple Loch.
Route details –
Cycling Paisley – Kilbarchan – Lochwinnoch (NCN 7) on 25/01/21
For more details, map, etc. see my Route Details post on a similar route. That post is Cycle Routes in Scotland : Paisley – Lochwinnoch .(NCN 7) – ROUTE DETAILS.
Timings & Distances –
Cycling Paisley – Kilbarchan – Lochwinnoch (NCN 7) on 25/01/21
This section details the times I took for the various parts of the day and the distances cycled. For example, how long it took me to drive to the start of the route and when I started cycling. I also included how long I cycled for between various points in the route. The distances (in miles) between various points in the route, how long I rested for, etc. are also listed.
I included this section to 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. For example, the time required to travel to the start of the route, cycling speed, rest times, etc. will be different for different people.
(Note: The figures in brackets are the cumulative distances in miles from the start of the route.)
Left 10.20 / Paisley Stow Street car park 10.40 / Started cycling 10.55 / Elderslie 11.15 – 11.30 (2.53 – 3.20) / Kilbarchan 12.00 (5.90), cycled around to 12.15, rested 12.15 – 12.30 / Back at cycle path 12.35 (7.32) / Castle Semple Loch, Lochwinnoch 1.10 – 1.25 (11.53) / Back at car 2.30 (21.14) / Cleaned bike, etc. / Left 2.55 / Home 3.15.
Choice of route –
Cycling Paisley – Kilbarchan – Lochwinnoch (NCN 7) on 25/01/21
This is the same route I did the last time I was out on my bike. That’s when I had a spectacular fall on an icy patch on the cycle path. On that occasion I didn’t sustain any damage to me or my bike. I decided to do this route again today even though it was again very cold and frosty. I still thought it was safer than cycling on the roads where you could be hit by passing vehicles if you have a fall on the ice. Also, the route was within my local authority area to comply with the current Covid 19 regulations. I also wanted to take a few more photos and confirm some info for one of my Route Details posts. It was for the post Cycle Routes in Scotland : Paisley – Lochwinnoch (NCN 7) – ROUTE DETAILS.
Log –
Cycling Paisley – Kilbarchan – Lochwinnoch (NCN 7) on 25/01/21
As forecast, it was a cold but beautiful winters day with a clear blue sky and brilliant sunshine. It had been -3 degrees overnight and there was a covering of white frost all around. However, it was expected to get up to the dizzy heights of +4 degrees later today. Because of this I didn’t start cycling until 10.55, by which time the temperature had increased a bit.
As usual I was well wrapped up with four layers on my upper body. I also had a winter Buff head covering over my head and ears and a normal Buff round my neck. I had insulated winter hill walking trousers on and hill walking socks pulled up to my knees. In spite of all the padding I was still able to turn the pedals okay!
Start Point
The route starts across the road from the car park behind the bar/restaurant that is currently called Telfords. The reason for this name is explained on a plaque on the front wall of the building.
Paisley – Elderslie
As expected, the cycle path was covered in white frost but I took it easy and carefully and it was okay. Further on there were patches where the sun had melted the frost and it was fine to cycle on. However, I was always on the lookout for black ice. Especially after my spectacular fall on this cycle track the last time I was out on my bike. (Cycling from Paisley to Lochwinnoch (NCN 7) on 12/01/21 – LOG).
At Elderslie, where the route crosses over to the main road, I stopped at the lay-by before the traffic lights. I went into the small group of shops to the left to see what shops were there. I discovered that there was a convenience store and a coffee shop. Then I checked out the establishment on the corner at the traffic lights. This turned out to be a steak and grill bar/restaurant that also sold burgers, etc. Round the corner from this there were Chinese and Indian takeaways. I cycled up the main street as far as the Wallace Monument but couldn’t see any cafes. However, there was a Costa Express in the filling station just before the monument.
Elderslie – Johnstone
I returned to the cycle path and continued to just past the cut-off to the small town of Linwood. I stopped to take a photo of the weir across the river called the Black Cart Water. This is a popular viewpoint for walkers and cyclists.
I cycled on for a short distance to the junction where there is cut-off to Gourock on the NCN 75. Here I took a picture of the NCN sign for inclusion in my Routes blog.
I continued cycling along on the NCN 7 and soon reached the town of Johnstone. At this point I passed by the large Morrisons supermarket just at the side of the cycle path. I crossed the busy main road at the traffic lights. Here there was a sign indicating that there was a cycle route to the centre of Johnstone to the left, but it was on the busy main road.
Johnstone – Kilbarchan
At the other side of the road I cycled straight ahead on the NCN 7. Soon after this I reached the cut-off for Milliken Park. Here the NCN 7 appears to go straight ahead but it actually does a U-turn to the right. At this point I took a photo for my Routes Details blog of this route.
I cycled on for another few miles and then I took the cut-off to the village of Kilbarchan. I wanted to check out what facilities were available in the village. When you take this cut-off you are immediately on to a side road at which you turn left. You go down the brae and turn right at the bottom onto the main street.
Kilbarchan
A short distance further along on the left there is a bar/restaurant called the Trust Inn. Just past this there is a Co-op convenience store. Further along, if you turn right into Ewing Street and climb up a steep hill to the Steeple building, there is a coffee shop called Bobbins. Continue on past Bobbins, turn right back on to the main street then right again into New Street. Here there is a family friendly bar/restaurant called Habbies. (It is named after an eighteenth century piper closely associated with Kilbarchan).
I cycled on further along the main street and up the second steep hill in Kilbarchan. However, there were no more cafes. So I cycled back down to a spot on the main road just round from Habbies. Here there were a couple of benches. I sat here and ate my sandwiches and drank some juice. There was a clear blue sky and brilliant sunshine with little wind, so it was very pleasant. However, it was still cold so I only stayed for 15 minutes as by that time the cold started to seep into my body and legs. This was despite the four layers and hill walking trousers & socks that I had on!
Kilbarchan – Lochwinnoch
I returned to the cycle path for the final four miles or so of the route. The path now had black stretches where the frost had melted. However, there were still stretches where the path was covered in white by the frost, so I still took care. I was especially careful when I came to the underpass at the road at Howwood where I had my spectacular fall last time out but it was okay this time.
When I reached Castle Semple Loch at Lochwinnoch I took a photo of the visitors centre for my Routes Details blog of this route. In the visitors centre there is a cafe and toilets. It was closed just now due to the Covid 19 restrictions.
I sat at a bench overlooking the loch for another 15 minute rest. I ate a fruit & nut bar and drank some juice.
Return Journey
The cycle back was good and the weather continued to be fine, with brilliant sunshine and a clear blue sky.
Electric motor assistance –
Cycling Paisley – Kilbarchan – Lochwinnoch (NCN 7) on 25/01/21
Normally on a flat route on a cycle path like this I wouldn’t use the electric motor at all. Today I used it for a very short spell after I came off the cycle path and cycled up and down the main road in Kilbarchan.
The main road in Kilbarchan winds it’s way up a hill and it effectively has two sections. The first section is up to the Church Street/New Street junction. It’s not too steep so I managed to get up this part on my own steam without any assistance from the electric motor.
I found the second part to be much steeper. So after cycling up about the first third of this part of the hill I had to use the first level of assistance (ECO mode) from the electric motor to get me up the rest of the hill.
Thus during the course of the day I only used the assistance from the electric motor for a few minutes over a short distance. Consequently when I got home I didn’t need to put the battery on charge.
Summary –
Cycling Paisley – Kilbarchan – Lochwinnoch (NCN 7) on 25/01/21
It was good to get out on my bike on such a lovely winters day, even though it was cold and frosty. I would have really regretted not going out had I been stuck at home looking out the window at the blue sky and the brilliant sunshine. Getting wrapped up in all the layers of clothing with the warm trousers and socks was a small price to pay to enable me to get outdoors, enjoy some cycling and get some exercise.
Normally I wouldn’t have cycled the same route two times in a row, but the frosty conditions made it necessary. Also, I wanted to take the photos and get the info I needed for my Routes Details blog of this route.