There are some classic road rides and tours around the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park we have chosen a few of our favourites. Several of them connect with the waterbus services that exist around the park and add another dimension to your journey. Make sure you check time-tables and book your journey when connecting to other services.

If you prefer a paper map the The Stirling, Forth Valley & the Trossachs waterproof cycle map is available and has some great tour suggestions. Share your ride #cycleinthepark.

A long distance route, with some steep climbs which make this a challenging route. You could be in the saddle for approximately 5-6 hours means it’s for experienced, fit cyclists used to this type of ride. You are rewarded with some spectacular scenery, a boat trip, you will pass through native rainforest, along some heritage routes and visit local villages creating a classic tour.

The route starts with a boat journey on the Inversnaid Explorer from Tarbert (with the nearby Arrochar and Tarbert rail station) to Inversnaid, then follows the road to Aberfoyle which has shops and several cafes (a short detour to Stronachlachar provides another café option). From Aberfoyle follow NCN7 back to Balloch (which has a train station) and then the West Loch Lomond Cycle Path back to Tarbert. Pre-booking your rail and ferry journeys are recommended.

A relatively easy going route combing off-road and on-road with some climbing involved. Some gravel riding so a robust bike recommended.

The route starts in Callander and follows NCN7 out towards Invertrossachs before joining the Three Lochs Forest Drive and returns by the A821 before turning right over Gartchonzie Bridge which featured in the 1959 film The 39 Steps before re-joining NCN7 into Callander.

 

Experience one of the best road cycling routes in Scotland with the classic climb of the Dukes Pass, around Loch Katrine past the birth place of Rob Roy Macgregor and on to Stronachlachar with it’s popular Pier Café and then onwards to Kinlochard and Aberfoyle.

 

A 48 mile-long circular route travels by the main road on the north shore of Loch Tay before returning along the quieter, narrower south shore road, which is part of NCN7

Starting in the charming tourist village of Killin. Don’t miss the mighty Falls of Dochart in the village centre and spend a little time in the Breadalbane Folklore Centre, which houses the famous 8th century St Fillin’s healing stones.

Head east out of Killin towards the conservation village of Kenmore at the head of the Loch before turning right onto the south shore road.

There are beautiful views all the way along the loch and, before the hamlet of Lawers, you can detour off to climb the steep road to the Ben Lawers nature reserve, where there is a nature walk, keep an eye out for some of the ancient crannogs that are in the Loch.

From Port of Menteith on the edge of the National Park and the home of Scotland’s biggest trout fishery the Lake of Menteith Fishery, the Lake Hotel and Inchmahome Priory. There is a great opportunity to take in another classic cycling road climb. Follow the road alongside the Lake towards Arnprior passing Lochend Chalets and Nick Nairn Cook School, Cardross Estate home to the annual Doune the Rabbit Hole music festival. At Arnprior turn right then left and start the aptly named “Top of the World” climb before turning left towards Kippen and on to Thornhill passing the Woodhouse Café and Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve on the way before arriving back in Port of Menteith.

This route also features in the cycling routes on the Trossachs Trail.