Clackmannanshire is connected to the Sustrans National Cycle Network (NCN). Several routes of varying lengths and difficulties are accessible from Clackmannanshire.
NCN 1
NCN Route 1: Dover to John O'Groats is the longest GB cycle route, passing through the eastern side of Britain. Can be accessed from Clackmannanshire via NCN76.
NCN 76
NCN Route 76: Berwick-upon-Tweed to Kirkcaldy, via Dunbar, Edinburgh, Grangemouth, Stirling and Alloa. The route is 168 miles in length and is fully open and signed in both directions. For the section between Dunbar and Kirkcaldy, the route is known as 'Round the Forth'.
Edinburgh - Stirling (via Grangemouth)
This section of the route splits from NCN1 at Cramond Bridge on the A90 on the western edge of Edinburgh. It follows the shore around Dalmeny Park before picking up the B924 in South Queensferry. Here a link connects back with the NCN1 to cross the Forth Road Bridge and meet the northern part of NCN76. The coast is again followed, briefly diverting inland around Hopetoun House, before reaching the B903 at Blackness. This leads to the A904 which is followed on and off through Bo'ness. A minor road, following the Antonine Wall, then leads to the A905 in Grangemouth, but after about a mile, the route cuts through housing estates to rejoin the A904 briefly. After crossing the River Carron on the A905 bridge, minor roads once more lead the route north to the A876. Both the Kincardine Bridge and the Clackmannanshire Bridge have spurs connecting back to the northern part of the route, but the southern arm heads off, across the M9, M876, and back across the M9 once more before finally rejoining the A905 east of Fallin. This road is then followed on and off again until the edge of Stirling, where a detour through the industrial estate leads to Stirling railway station.
Stirling - Kirkcaldy (via Alloa)
The northern arm of NCN76 heads east out of Stirling, across the footbridge to Cambuskenneth and then north to the A907. After a mile on this busy road (with limited pavements), the quiet old parallel alignment road is picked up beyond the Manor Powis roundabout. This leads onto the Dumyat junction, from where an off-road route passes through Cambus and into Alloa. The signage in Alloa isn't always clear, but a collection of side streets and paths through housing estates eventually leads out of town to the east and through woodland to Clackmannan. Here NCN764 heads north to follow the old railway line to Dunfermline. NCN76 meanwhile, heads south out of Clackmannan - the town centre is at the top of a surprisingly steep little hill - and out across the level ground of the Forth estuary. After passing links across the Forth on both the Clackmannanshire Bridge and the Kincardine Bridge, the A985 is briefly picked up at Kincardine. Then it's along the side road, which is also part of the Fife Coast Path, past the former Longannet Power Station site to pretty Culross. Valleyfield and Torryburn on the B9037 are slightly less photogenic, before a steep climb up to Crombie on the A985 once more. The route drops back to the coast through Charlestown, before climbing again into Rosyth, where the town centre is missed, and the route passes through the industrial hinterland of the docks.
Stop to look at the ruined Rosyth Castle. The junction under the A90, at the Forth Road Bridge is the start of a short run along the B981 through North Queensferry into Inverkeithing. Here the other end of NCN764 is met, and then it's back to the shore and the Coast Path. Through Dalgety Bay, a brief run on the A921 in Aberdour, and into Burntisland where the A921 is picked up again, but for longer. At Kinghorn the route suddenly turns inland, climbing steeply over a hill, before dropping back to the Coast Path in Kirkcaldy.
NCN 764 Meets: NCN1, NCN76
NCN Route 764 is a relatively short cycle route which can be easily cycled in one day. The majority of the route is along the former railway line which precedes the Sustrans network and was originally created as the Alloa - Dunfermline Cycle route by Clackmannanshire Council and Fife Council. Starting on route NCN76 in the centre of Clackmannan, NCN764 heads northeast along the B910, under the A907 Clackmannan bypass road and onto the old railway overbridge. Immediately before the bridge a road to the left provides access to the ramp up onto the old railway trackbed. The route then follows the old railway line for approximately 10 miles east to the edge of Dunfermline with connections to minor roads at Gallows Loan, Oakley and Back Muir. Access can be made at other points but is not so easy. From the edge of Dunfermline, the route starts deviating from the old trackbed, first around a small housing estate and then briefly along the A907 before zigzagging along footpaths and quiet side roads towards the town centre. After a while the cycle route finds the railway line once more, albeit at street level in Buffies Brae alongside an old viaduct through the town. In 2012 the construction of a new Tesco Store caused the next section to become rather confused, although several of the busier roads through the town have shared footway/cycle paths, so getting lost doesn't necessarily mean competing with traffic. The cycle track definitely reappears in Leys Park Road, heading east past the Football Stadium, to terminate on NCN1 near Dunfermline's Queen Margaret Station. There is car parking at Buffies Brae for those tackling the Dunfermline - Alloa and back cycle.
NCN 765 Meets: NCN76
NCN Route 765 is a scenic route through the rolling landscapes of the Inner Forth area, It links the centre of Stirling to the historic settlements of Bridge of Allan, Dunblane and Doune. A perfect journey for those interested in exploring the rich history of the area, the route runs along a mixture of quiet roads and traffic-free paths through tranquil glens and over undulating hills. Stop at Dunblane to visit the Cathedral, which dates back to 11th century, or stop off at Doune Castle, famous its appearances in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Game of Thrones and Outlander.
NCN 766 Meets: NCN76
NCN Route 766 is a short cycle route which is largely incomplete at present. However, it is possible to cycle most of the way either off road, or on quiet roads. Cycle Lanes on the A9 in Bridge of Allan Starting on the NCN76 at Stirling Station, route 766 heads north, occasionally using the A9, but more often than not running along parallel side streets to Causewayhead Roundabout. Turning west with the A9, most of the route through Bridge of Allan is on side roads, or on dedicated cycle lanes on the A9 itself. There are one or two gaps, but the lanes continue as far as the NSL signs. However, by turning off just before the Bridge of Allan, it is possible to use the old Glen Road to reach Dunblane, this is one of the proposed future routes for NCN765. Once in Dunblane, the route turns off the A820 onto Old Doune Road, which uses a footbridge to cross the A9 and follow the old road past a couple of farms. A new tarred path then links to the A820 opposite the Argaty Road junction. Follow this minor road and just over the river a small parking area provides a link onto the old railway line into Doune. At present the safest onward route to Callander is to cross Doune Bridge and take the B8032 and then the last mile or so of the A81 to meet NCN7. However, the final proposed route is to use the old railway line from Doune to Buchany, and then take the hilly road through Drumloist, and then picking up the railway line again for the final run into Callander.
NCN 767 Meets: NCN76, NCN768
NCN Route 767 Also known as the Devon Way, National Cycle Network Route 767 is a fully traffic-free route following the old railway line between Alloa, Tillicoutry and Dollar. This route is a great out-and-back day trip for the family and enjoys dramatic views across the Ochil Hills; known locally as the Hillfoots. NCN Route 767 also joins with NCN Route 768 at Tillicoutry and NCN Route 76 at Alloa to form the Alloa-Hillfoots Loop; a 12-mile circular route.
NCN 768 Meets: NCN76, NCN767
NCN Route 768 Joins Tullibody with Alva and Tillicoutry over 6 miles of traffic-free and quiet on-road sections, NCN Route 768 links with NCN Route 76 and NCN Route 767 to form the Alloa-Hillfoots Loop. Tracing the foot of the Ochil Hills over a mixture of railway path and the Hillfoots Road, Route 768 also connects to various footpaths into the Ochil hills and the plateau beyond. The route follows an old railway line at first, before using a mixture of quiet lanes and roadside paths. The route starts on NCN76 next to Dumyat Park Roundabouts on the A907 at Tullibody, and follows the old railway line north across the River Devon to Menstrie. It then turns left onto Menstrie Road, crossing the A91, and finding Long Row at the bottom of the steep hill. These are the Ochills, a steep linear ridge lining the boundary between Clackmannanshire and Perthshire to the north. Long Row heads east, meandering gently to reach Alva; part of the route being closed to most traffic. Beauclerc Street and Ochill Road lead us over the Alva Burn and down onto the A91 again. The last stretch of the route runs alongside the main road, sometimes along the pavement, but mostly on a new path constructed inside the field hedge. At the edge of Tillicoultry, the cycle route briefly uses the A91 pavement again, before turning right down Park Avenue, passing round the edge of the sports field, and then winding through side roads including Hareburn Road and Chapelle Crescent to meet NCN767, the Devon Way route near Sterling Mills.
Proposals have been put forward to extend the route at Menstrie along the former railway trackbed to Alva.