Strathaven, Drumclog and Loudon hill Cycle Route
Strathaven is becoming something of a regular feature on the route of the Tour of Britain cycle race. This is a welcome endorsement of the excellent cycling to be found on the gently undulating roads around this vibrant market town.
Mountain biking is also receiving a boost in the area with the opening of over 50 miles of tracks at the new Whitelees Wind Farm a short distance to the north of the town.
Map: OS Landranger 71
Train: Hairmyres 11 miles – signed cycle route to Strathaven.
Refreshment: Strathaven is well served by tearooms, pubs and restaurants.
Distance: 20 miles
Time: 2 – 3 hours
Difficulty: moderate
Terrain: quiet back roads.
Points of Interest near Strathaven, South Lanarkshire
1. Strathaven Castle(ruin) – one of the many lords of Strathaven Castle punished his wife by having her bricked up alive inside a purpose-built niche. Recently human remains were found when part of the castle walls collapsed.
2. Loudon hill is a volcanic plug just inside the Ayrshire border. The site of a famous victory by Robert the Bruce over the English in 1307 it is also an excellent viewpoint.
3. Battle of Drumclog took place in 1679 when Bonnie Dundee patrolling with his dragoons encountered a group of Covenanters. It was a victory for the Covenanters and Dundee only just managed to escape with his life having been knocked from his horse. A short detour from the route is necessary to visit the memorial.
The Route
- Leave the Common Green by Bridge Street (Tudor coffee house). Follow Bridge Street to roundabout at Strathaven Castle. Turn right and then turn left into Todshill Street.
- Turn left at the next junction and then take the first right into Newtown Road. At fork in road take the right fork and follow road out T-junction with B743. Turn left and cross bridge over river Avon.
- Beyond the bridge take the first right.
- Following the road we keep right however at Westlinbank Farm ignore right for Kilmarnock and continue straight on. Continue downhill to T-junction and go in the direction of Kilmarnock, B745.
- After short distance come to crossroads. Turn right and follow road into Drumclog.
- At A71 at Drumclog Memorial Kirk. Cross straight over onto Meadowfoot Road.
- At Mossside go to the right. After 500 yards turn left. (Straight on and downhill past Stobieside for Battle of Drumclog).
- At next T-junction turn right and follow long straight road downhill.
- Once over stone bridge go to the right and continue parallel with the Calder Water.
- At cross roads go straight over.
- Follow road for 2 ½ miles and turn left for Strathaven Airfield. After a short distance at the top of the hill turn right and follow road into Strathaven.
- Follow road downhill through a residential area. At T-junction turn right along Lethame Road to return to Common Green.
Whiteless wind farm
Over 50 miles of tracks linking the 140 wind turbines high on the Eaglesham Moors have now been made available for walkers and particularly mountain bikers to enjoy.
There is however plenty of room for everyone and for those who want to take it more slowly there is a visitor centre, where you can learn about the wind farm, and café on the Eaglesham side and a museum at Lochgoin.
Perhaps the best reason for cycling at Whitelees is the remarkable view over the central belt and beyond to the Highlands. The wind farm is accessed on the Lanarkshire side from Ardoch Rig (NS 638 467) where there is a car park.
There are a number of signed routes on offer from the visitor centre including the Lochgoin route (8 miles).
Download a detailed map and obtain more information from the Whitelee Farm website.
Please remember to follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.