Unofficial Cycle Routes - Coatbridge to Glasgow

There are various ways of cycling from Coatbridge to Glasgow. Sustrans has come up with a meandering route between the two places that manages to take in Uddingston and Westburn. There is also the main road, the A89, but this is quite busy, although there is a choice of using the wider A8 Edinburgh Road west of Baillieston Interchange.

This website deals with two routes. This page describes an interesting route from Coatbridge Town Centre through Drumpellier Country Park, Easterhouse, Queenslie and Cranhill to Dennistoun. From Dennistoun there is a choice of joining Alexandra Parade or crossing to the north side of the M8 motorway to join the Glasgow City Council Cumbernauld to Glasgow cycle route. See also the unofficial cycle route from Coatbridge to Baillieston that heads through western Coatbridge and crosses the Sustrans route at Kirkwood, before heading to Baillieston and Barachnie Cross on the in-town section of the A89.

Start from outside Coatbridge Central Station, across the road from the Sustrans route. Follow the Monkland Canal westwards from the town centre (the first section is infilled but a path follows the course), until the main path leaves the canal and goes up a ramp to a bridge. Cross the bridge and turn left then right over a railway bridge. Go through the gate and carry straight on until you join the main road through Drumpellier Country Park. Carry straight on past the gate across the road and pass Lochend Loch and the Visitors' Centre. Exit the park and turn left onto the road. At the main road junction (A752) turn right then left onto a minor road. This road leads over the M73 motorway and into Easterhouse. Carry straight on through Easterhouse until this road ends where you should turn right into Westerhouse Road. Go past the Shopping Centre and straight on at the traffic signals.

Continue straight on along the cycle lanes and through another two sets of lights, then turn right after Wellhouse Road onto a path that runs alongside the motorway. Pass the recycling centre and a footbridge to Glasgow Fort, then turn left at a path T-junction to emerge onto Horndean Crescent. Turn right onto this road and follow it round to the left through Blairtummock Industrial Estate. Turn right into Blairtummock Road.

Go straight on at the traffic signals into Bellrock Street. Look out for the Cranhill Water Tower which used to be lit with pretty lights at night. Go straight on through Cranhill, but turn left into Startpoint Street just after the small park to avoid the hill. Turn left at the far end of Startpoint Street into Loretto Street, left into Ruchazie Road, then first right into Warriston Street. This is quite a nice street for cycling along. At the end, cross Cumbernauld Road and go straight on into Dee Street. Turn left across an old bridge, cross Provan Road at the Pelican Crossing and go into Alexandra Park.

Follow the main path through the park, curving to the right, then at the far side (outside the Parks Department depot) turn right then fork left to exit the park into Sannox Gardens. You now have to make a choice. From here possibilities are taking Alexandra Parade into the city centre, crossing the M8 motorway to join the Glasgow City Council Cumbernauld to Glasgow cycle route via the footbridge at the top of Sannox Gardens and then left into Blochairn Road or by going through Roystonhill. There is also the possibility of going south to Glasgow Green through Bridgeton which is described in the unofficial cycle route from Springburn, through Dennistoun and Polmadie to Toryglen.

To take the Roystonhill route, turn left out of the park into Sannox Gardens then immediately turn right into Coventry Drive. At the traffic signals at the far end, go straight across to the pavement at the far side of the junction with the main road. Turn right and take the path that heads towards the motorway, crossing over slip-roads and under the main carriageways. Turn right at the path junction after the second footbridge, then at the end of the path turn left into Sandmill Street which becomes Dunolly Street. Either go left at the end onto Royston Road and then right to join the Glasgow City Council Cumbernauld to Glasgow cycle route at Garnock Street, or go left before reaching the main road by turning into Roystonhill. Go over the hill and at the U-bend join the path that decends into the subways beneath the motorway.

Following these subways brings you out onto a footbridge outside the Royal Infirmary. Turn right at the T-junction in the footbridge to get to Townhead. Turn right again at the end of the footbridge, then left into McAslin Street. Turn right onto the main road then first left into Glebe Court. Continue straight on onto a path through the housing scheme, right to the end where you should cross St Mungo Avenue to end up opposite Buchanan Bus Station. Turn right then cross North Hanover Street to join Cowcaddens Road and the Glasgow City Council Colleges Cycle Route via Port Dundas Road to the West End and Jordanhill.