Unofficial Cycle Routes - Coatbridge to Strathclyde Park

This route starts out following the Sustrans Coatbridge to Airdrie cycle route, then continues to Calderbank along the Monkland Canal. From Calderbank it takes an obscure way through to the Eurocentral complex before following roads through Eurocentral, a path through to Holytown, then local roads to Strathclyde Park. This route joins with the unofficial cycle route from Bellshill as it nears Strathclyde Park.

From opposite Coatbridge Central Station, follow the signed cycle route eastwards, passing the police station and through a supermarket car park. The route is not very obvious so follow the signs carefully. Go across the new bridge across the A725 dual carriageway road. The cycle route then joins the course of the Monkland Canal which has been filled in for this section (although there isn't a motorway built over this part).

Where the Sustrans route turns right at Locks Street and heads up a ramp to join an old railway viaduct, go straight on across the road, join the path and continue following the course of the canal. This turns right gradually and goes underneath the viaduct. Keep following the path and, after a road crossing, you will join a remaining section of the canal with water in it. Follow this to Calderbank. At the end of the canal you can either fork left to get to Calderbank village, or fork right and cross the small wooden footbridge over the Calder Water on the right to head towards Eurocentral, Mossend and Strathclyde Park.

Alternatively, from the end of the canal fork right then continue straight on to follow the North Calder Water Walkway. This route follows the river and links to the Sustrans Airdrie to Bathgate cycle path, between Drumgelloch and Plains, but is primarily intended for walkers. If taking this route note that there are a few locations where you will need to dismount for steps and steep gradients. It is sign posted with small signs and marker posts at most path junctions (although some crucial ones are missing), but be aware that when I cycled this route I was harrassed by a couple of drunks, chased by a big dog, and had to cycle past a man with a gun! That said, there were plenty of nice, ordinary people using the path too.

The route to Eurocentral is not easy to follow, being made up of rough paths and tracks through woodland. It is also rather overgrown on the first section and muddy on the second. (An alternative is to head up to Calderbank village and turn right onto the B802, right onto the B799, right onto the A775, then left into Stevenson Street in Holytown to rejoin the route.)

After crossing the river climb the steps up from the footbridge, fork left and climb a second flight of steps. At the top of these steps turn sharp right and follow a very basic path westwards, through the woods (this becomes the trackbed and embankment of the Airdrie - Calderbank - Mossend railway line). Shortly after a gap in the embankment the path comes to a dirt track. Climb down from the embankment and turn right onto this track. Turn left at two bends, straight on at two junctions just after the second bend, then right at the bend adjacent to the A8 dual carriageway road. Exit the woods over the gate (chained shut) on the left and follow the path up to the road bridge over the A8. From here follow the road into Eurocentral.

If returning via this route you will need to be especially careful not to miss the turn for the path through the woods from the dirt track. Naturally, it isn't signed or marked in any way!

After crossing the A8 dual carriageway head south on the main road into Eurocentral. Carry straight on at all the roundabouts, following the bend round to the left. At the present end of the road turn right onto a path. Follow the right bend in the path then fork left and follow a track which ends up in Holytown. Turn right onto the main road, then first left at the traffic signals into Stevenston Street, which is signed for New Stevenston.

After crossing the railway line near Holytown Station, turn right at the T-junction and head for Bellshill along Clydesdale Street. Turn second left after crossing the next railway line into Kirklee Road, then first right into Douglas Drive. Carry straight on along this road, which becomes Orbiston Drive, until its far end at Motherwell Road. Turn left, then immediately right into Bankhead Avenue. You may wish to cross the dual carriageway using the pelican crossing located on the right hand side of the two junctions. After a short distance along Bankhead Avenue, which veers left and becomes Orbiston Road, there is a car park on the left hand side. Use the entrance to Strathclyde Park on the left at the far end of the car park track. Follow this road over the railway line and turn right after the golf course. Fork left after this and you will arrive at the shore of Strathclyde Loch. Turn left to head towards Motherwell or right to head towards Bothwell. Hamilton can be reached by going either way around the artificial loch.

Bothwellhaugh was a village located at what is now the bottom of Strathclyde Loch.

From Strathclyde Park you can follow the unofficial cycle routes to East Kilbride, which takes in Bothwell and Blantyre on the way, Uddingston also via Bothwell, the short link to Motherwell, or to Strathaven, via Hamilton and Glassford.