Lochwinnoch Cycle Loop - Kilbirnie - Paisley
14 miles (22 km)
This circular route follows National Cycle Route 7 and 75 from Kilbirnie to Paisley. It runs along a disused railway line and is largely traffic free so suitable for cyclists and walkers.
On the way you'll pass Kilbirnie Loch and Castle Semple with lovely views over the water to the surrounding hills.
The route starts on Auchengree Bridge where you can pick up the trail and head north east past Kilbirnie and Kilbirnie Loch. The trail continues past Barr Loch, Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve and Castle Semple Loch.
You continue to Kibblestone, Kilbarchan and Johnstone where there's a stretch along the Black Cart Water. You then pass Elderslie before coming into Paisley where the route finishes.
Lochwinnoch Cycle Loop Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Lochwinnoch Cycle Loop Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Lochwinnoch Cycle Loop OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Lochwinnoch Cycle Loop Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
The old Dalry and North Johnstone Line now a cycle path. The wooden trough on a trestle is a gutter for carrying a ditch over the cutting.
The site of Lochwinnoch Loop railway station, closed in 1966 when the relief loop railway via Kilbarchan was closed. Now there are three independent arch bridges with blue painted steel grilles between them. View to the town over the bridges from the cycle path which uses the trackbed.
Kilbarchan loop. Disused railway heading north into Renfrewshire. Also known as the Lochwinnoch Loop, or Dalry and North Johnstone Line, the railway was built in an era when the current line between Paisley and Ayrshire could not cope with the volume of freight needing shifting. This relief line on the west side of the lochs was closed to passengers in 1966 and freight shortly afterwards. I have a 1:50 000 map with a small length still marked - northwards to Kilbirnie. Now it is a very popular cycle path - part of National Cycle Route 7 which takes a circuitous route between Carlisle and Glasgow via Galloway
Trough crossing the railway. A metal trough which appears to carry a farm ditch across the rocky cutting on the disused North Johnstone and Dalry Railway. The railway was built in an era when the current line between Paisley and Ayrshire could not cope with the volume of freight needing shifting. This relief line on the west side of the lochs was closed to passengers in 1966 and freight shortly afterwards. I have a 1:50 000 map with a small length still marked - northwards to Kilbirnie. Now it is a very popular cycle path - part of National Cycle Route 7 which takes a circuitous route between Carlisle and Glasgow via Galloway.
Castle Semple. The railway was built in 1905 to provide extra capacity and relieve what is the remaining railway east of Castle Semple Loch. Much of its course is through cuttings.
Barr Loch. Pasture with view to Barr Loch taken from the narrow minor road between Beith and Roadhead, Lochwinnoch
Castle Semple Loch from Cycle track.Taken at recently completed ramp to visitor centre off cycle route No 7
