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Lochwinnoch Cycle Loop - Kilbirnie - Paisley

13.67 miles (22 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap 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 OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Lochwinnoch Cycle Loop Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Lochwinnoch Loop cycle path - geograph.org.uk - 1443366

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.

Lochwinnoch Loop Station - geograph.org.uk - 1443048

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 - geograph.org.uk - 1443234

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 Lochwinnoch Loop railway - geograph.org.uk - 1443228

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.

Kilbarchan loop, Castle Semple - geograph.org.uk - 1442746

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 - geograph.org.uk - 34654

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 - geograph.org.uk - 1430829

Castle Semple Loch from Cycle track.Taken at recently completed ramp to visitor centre off cycle route No 7

Paisley Canal Line - geograph.org.uk - 1559677

 Paisley Canal Line. This railway is still in use between Glasgow and Paisley. After Paisley it is a cycle path, carrying National Cycle Route 7 and 75 between Paisley and Johnstone.

GPS Files

GPX File

Lochwinnoch Cycle Loop.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Lochwinnoch Cycle Loop.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)