This is a great cross-country route for mountain bikers, or cyclists who ride gravel bikes, cyclocross bikes or hybrid bikes with grippy tyres. The route starts in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire. See below for my guided route from Glasgow to Milngavie.
Milngavie to Dumgoyne to Pipe Track MTB route
Milngavie is where the 96-mile West Highland Way starts. The off-road route is walked by tens of thousands of people annually. It finishes in Fort William.
This mountain biking circuit starts and finishes on the first section of the WHW trail.
After around 10km (6 miles), the route leaves the WHW to head towards the Pipe Track, near Dumgoyne Hill in the Campsie Fells.
The Pipe Track was created in the mid-1800s when a water pipe was being constructed to carry fresh drinking water to the people of Glasgow. The track runs from Killearn, near Dumgoyne, to Blanefield/Strathblane and it’s a great way to create a mountain biking circuit from Milngavie.
At Strathblane, this circuit climbs into Mugdock Country Park on the intersecting John Muir Way, another long-distance trail, before rejoining the West Highland Way to return to Milngavie.
Milngavie, WHW, Pipe Track Circuit: The details
Start/finish: The West Highland Way obelisk in Milngavie precinct.
Distance: 27km (17 miles)
Elevation gain: 395m
Terrain: Mostly tracks and trails; some rocky sections; short sections of tarmac.
Bike type: Mountain bike, gravel bike, cyclocross bike or hybrid with grippy tyres.
Follow route: OS Maps or on Strava.
Video: Overview of the route:
Starting from Glasgow?
You can access the start of the West Highland Way at Milngavie by cycling from Glasgow. See my route video here:
My Glasgow to Milngavie bike route
You can also follow: OS Maps route.