Cycle Routes

 

Cycle Routes

Where can I cycle?

There are a variety of signed/mapped routes available to cycle on in Perth and Kinross: 

Perth Cycle Commuter Routes
Ideal for accessing the Perth City Centre from the surrounding areas.  These can also be used for other purposes and are recommended routes, often with special measures to help cyclists.

National Cycle Network Routes
Signed and mapped long distance routes that can also be used for short journeys.
Other recreational cycle routes.
 
Cyclists can use any roads apart from motorways although less busy roads are more enjoyable.

Commuter Cycle Routes to Perth City Centre

In 2000 a Perth Cycle Commuter Routes Study was commissioned which recommended that a network of cycle routes be developed to encourage people to cycle to work.  As well as facilitating cycling to work the routes are also suitable for other journeys including cycling to school, for shopping and for leisure journeys.

a) Western Edge and Oakbank to Perth City Centre via the Glasgow Road

This route starts on Lamberkine Drive on Perth's Western Edge and runs parallel to the Scouring Burn to Woodlands Road.   Here it joins the shared-use footway on the Glasgow Road until the mini-roundabout at Oakbank Place.  From here cyclists heading into Perth stay on Glasgow Road.  Once on Glasgow Road cycle lanes are provided on the road with cyclists sharing the bus lane for part of the route.

b) North Muirton to Perth City Centre

This route begins on Arran Road in the North Muirton Industrial Estate.  A link to the Perth Flood Prevention Barrier is planned for 2007 that will create a link to the riverside path.  The route follows Arran Road turning left at the mini-roundabout, into Bute Drive and then along Argyll Street and Jura Street.  Then the route utilises the shared use path through Iona Court and through the park to Bute Drive.  After this the route is on traffic calmed roads - Gowans Terrace, Carnegie Place and through to Balhousie Street - reaching the Perth Inner Ring Road at Atholl Street.
 
c) Inveralmond Industrial Estate to Perth City Centre

The best route here is to join the cycle track along the River Almond from the Inveralmond Industrial Estate.  This can be accessed from Lawgrove Place and Ruthvenfield Place both off Ruthvenfield Road.  Follow the river, first the Almond and then the Tay, all the way along to Perth's North Inch.   The whole route along the river is off-road along paths shared with pedestrians.

d) Luncarty to Inveralmond and Perth

This route begins in Luncarty following the Denmarkfield Farm road to the A9.  A shared use cycle/pedestrian path runs parallel to the A9 to the River Almond where it turns sharp right, under the A9.  This section is subject to occasional flooding and may be muddy so care is required.  The path comes up through Bertha Woods to join the old A9 and crosses the River Almond.   From here the Inveralmond Industrial Estate is easily reached.  Alternatively turn left after the river bridge to join the riverside path and National Cycle Network route 77.  At the River Almond turn right for Perth city centre or left for Almondbank. 

e) The Perth Lade Route

Access to the Lade route is from Mill Street near to the Tourist Information Centre.  The route runs from the City Centre, close to the St Catherine's Retail Park to the Crieff Road and on to Tulloch.  The majority of the route is on traffic free paths shared with pedestrians.

f) Scone to Perth City Centre

The route runs along Main Street in Bridgend along Strathmore Street, Pitcullen Crescent and on the Perth Road to Scone.  The majority of the route has cycle lanes provided on the road with cyclists sharing the bus lane for part of the journey.  It is proposed that a small part of the route along Pitcullen Crescent will be shared with pedestrians although this has not yet been formalised.

National Cycle Network Routes in Perth and Kinross

There are three National Cycle Network Routes which pass through Perth and Kinross.

Route 1 -  Edinburgh to Aberdeen
Route 7 - Lochs and Glens (North) Inverness to Glasgow
Route 77 -  The Salmon Run - Dundee to Pitlochry

For further details of these routes visit www.perthshire.co.uk/index.asp?lm=340

National Cycle Network Route 1 is also part of the North Sea Cycle Route. This is a 6,000 km route linking up various cycle routes and paths through countries bordering the North Sea.  For further information visit www.northsea-cycle.com

Regional Route 83 - Dunkeld to Ballinluig This route utilises the old A9 from Dunkeld to Rotmell followed by traffic free paths and tracks parallel to the A9 to Ballinluig.

Routes being developed

There are also a number of routes currently being developed by the Council and brief details of these are as follows:

a) Bridge of Earn to Perth

This route is being developed and when complete will provide cyclists with a route from Bridge of Earn to Perth.  The section of pathway between Bridge of Earn and Craigend on the outskirts of Perth has already been surfaced and widened.

b)Arran Road to the River Tay

 
A short section of path that will provide a traffic free link between the North Muirton Industrial Estate and the River Tay is to be constructed.  This will enable cyclists travelling from the northwest of Perth (from villages such as Almondbank) to access this area without having to negotiate Inveralmond Roundabout.

c) Scone to Perth via Quarrymill

This route is being developed in conjunction with Sustrans.  A new pedestrian/cycle bridge is proposed that will link Quarrymill with the North Inch.  For further information about this project visit Sustrans website www.sustrans.org.uk

d) Round Perth

Utilising existing paths, tracks and quiet roads this will enable people to cycle round the outskirts of Perth.  The route can either be used as a link route to access different areas of Perth or can be done as a complete circuit visiting attractions along the way such as Caithness Glass, Huntingtower Castle, Noah's Ark, Cherrybank Gardens, Perth City Centre and the South and North Inches.

e) Perth to St Fillans/Lochearnhead

This route is being developed in conjunction with Sustrans.  The route will be partly on and partly off road.  The route will take in Perth, Methven, Crieff, Comrie and St Fillans and will link to National Cycle Network 7 at Lochearnhead.

f) Lomondville

A new section of route is to be constructed on National Cycle Network Route 1 to link to the Dryside Road avoiding Wester Balgeddie.

g) Round Loch Leven

An off road route is being developed round the eastern side of Loch Leven from Kinross to Vane Farm (see www.tracks-kinross.co.uk). The feasibility of extending this route to link Vane Farm to Kinross along the western side of the Loch is being investigated.

h) Perth City Centre

A study has been commissioned to look at routes for cyclists within the city centre area.  Following on from this, works will be undertaken to make the centre of Perth more accessible to cyclists.

Maps and Further Information

 
Perth, Scone, Bridge of Earn and Luncarty -  a map showing cycle routes in this area will be published in Spring 2007.   Maps detailing National Cycle Network routes 1, 7 and 77 which run through Perth and Kinross are available from Sustrans at (www.sustrans.org.uk)

Eight free leaflets containing cycle route suggestions centred on the main towns of Perthshire are available by telephoning 01577 861186 or visit: www.perthshire.co.uk/index.asp?tm=18
 
ByCycle, the Perth and Kinross Cycle Campaign, is currently working on a selection of cycle maps for Perth and Kinross.  For further information contact the ByCycle Secretary on 01738 475255 or e-mail: pmclennan@pkct.org