Sometimes I get the best jobs! This summer I was commissioned by Scottish Canals to cycle and write about the towpath routes in central Scotland. There are many, many miles of traffic free routes in and around Glasgow and Edinburgh and between these two cities.

While these routes have been in existence for a long time, upgrading work and canal clean ups have made them more accessible and vastly more attractive. I thought that Scottish Canals would benefit from charting these cycle (and walking) routes on their dedicated website. They agreed. So I got on my bike and did some towpath cycling.

Over a few days I rode the routes, taking notes and charting distances. The IT whizzkids at Scottish canals then added these routes and descriptions to their website.

Great traffic-free cycling routes for all

If you own a mountain bike, hybrid or cyclocross bike the towpaths and trails on the Forth & Clyde and the Union canals are  perfect for cycling, whether it’s an hour with the family or days in the saddle. I was surprised by how much there is to see and if you like cycling between pubs and cafes, you’ll find the canal routes very pleasing.

Anyway, I did all the hard work and writing in the summer so you could follow these routes whenever you fancy. See these links:

Cycling routes on the Forth & Clyde Canal and the Union Canal.