Where would you go Glasgow – couple hrs to kill

Mrs SSS is going to the SEC for a day. So if i drop her off and have a bike in the car. Where would you go a short drive away for a few hours to kill before coming back to pick her up and head home…..

Aberfoyle

I presume you are looking to kill a few hours, rather than spend a few hours killing 😉

Glennifer braes covid trails are good, quite short and the climb back up is a bit harsh
Old kilpatrick hills also good , bit of a climb up though.
I haven’t been for a few weeks so both these might be a bit overgrown

Cathkin braes has the commonwealth xc track , it’s alright. If it’s a sunny day it can bring the neds out a bit

Mugdock has loads of decent stuff as well

How long is a few hours , glentress is an hour and a half away

It’s probably going to be about 3-4hrs from drop off to pick up so 30 mins there, 30 mins back  2-3hrs riding

XC preferred  big (up)hills not an issue.

SEC is on the north side. So head north short period to get off road would be good

i looked at Cathkin Braes, but I also looked at the Forth Clyde Canal too as in drive west from SEC then park up and join it. But it’s likely to be busy with walkers

had a look on Komoot and it doesn’t yield much from the collections shown.  But off-road routes around Bearsden /Milngavie start look to be ideal.

Mugdock area, with a start from Milngavie station area probs best bet given timings.

I’m in Milngavie happy to show you around if I’m about.👌

Likewise

Thanks guys. Its on Sunday – as in day after tomorrow. There is a Hair and Beauty thing on at the SEC (she has her own salon).

She has registered, and i think its 10-4pm opening times, but unlikely she’ll be there all day.

Although she has registered for the event she hasnt committed fully to going. If she does go it’ll probably be decided tomorrow evening.
So plan would be get her there for 10ish, drop her off, and go to Milngavie and do my biking time wasting. Wait for the inevitable call 2-3hrs later, go pick her up and go home.

I can confirm is shes going tomorrow if folks are free, but will look at the komoot/strava maps too.

i looked at Cathkin Braes, but I also looked at the Forth Clyde Canal too as in drive west from SEC then park up and join it. But it’s likely to be busy with walkers

if you want maximum convenience (like if she says she might only be 3 hrs) then NCN7 basically goes past the SECC and heads to bowling.  It’s not scenic as such but has some interesting industrial archaeology and changing geography / landscape along the way.  I’ve not ridden it for years but my dad rides it occasionally.  You can keep going from there and get to Balloch, and the train will take you back to Exhibition Centre.  Train is cheap no need to book the bike in advance.  Parking at SECC not cheap – but cheaper on South Side of the river and walking across the bridge.  On a Sunday there will be people out / dog walkers wherever you go unless it’s pissing down or a howling gale but I think never that busy for most of it.

Park in the main car park at Mugdock. That’s less than half an hour drive from the SEC. Then have a wee explore about. The park itself will be busy but head to the forest NW of it and have a wee explore. It’ll be quiet and there are fun nadgery little trails. You could even follow the WHW a bit towards Glengoyne Distillery and do a loop along the southern side of the campsies above the distillery heading towards Strathblane and then back to Mugdock. The WHW will probably have a good few folk on it tho.

As an alternative, how about staying on the cycle path along the Clyde, take a right at Dumbarton, and head to Balloch on Loch Lomond? Lots to see, the path is usually quiet, cafes and takeaways at Balloch, there’s the shopping centre at the Loch Lomond end with a proper sit down cafe/restaurant. Its a 4 hour round trip, it can be cut short anywhere, as its out and back.

Thanks for all the tips/advice. Shes decided not to go now. So i get to go to Aberfoyle tomorrow now 🙂

Aberfoyle is great – a mini-Golfie, 45 minutes from Glasgow. Still pretty dry at the moment (for Aberfoyle) despite last week’s rain.

Enjoy!