Across Scotland by canal and coastline — Cycling the John Muir Way

Welcome to the John Muir Way; a long distance walking and cycling route that spans the breadth of Scotland from Helensburgh on the west coast to Dunbar on the east. The trail totals 134 miles (216 km) from coast to coast, visiting the glorious Loch Lomond and through the city of Edinburgh’s historic heart before tracing the coastline to the finish.

It takes its name from the well regarded conservationist John Muir (1838-1914), who was born in Dunbar where the trail concludes. Muir later moved to North America and became a pivotal member responsible for securing the future of wilderness areas including Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. You’ll pass through numerous wildlife reserves on your ride, mostly marshland and coastal areas, so if you enjoy birdwatching, you’ll love this trip!

Certain parts of the official John Muir Way cycling route differ to the walking route via so-called braids. These detours function to avoid particularly hard parts of the trail that would be awkward with a bike and protect some parts of the path that are prone to erosion.

The John Muir Way is the perfect challenge for novice tourers, or experienced riders looking to take it a bit more leisurely. The way is well signed and is mostly flat or gently undulating, frequently passing through villages and towns where you can get supplies and places to stay.

Here we propose four stages of around 30 miles (48 km) a day which can be combined or further split as you wish. These should give you plenty of time to explore the many historic landmarks, attractions and nature reserves that line the route.

Each stage of the John Muir Way starts and finishes in towns and villages where you’ll find many options for overnight accommodation, as well as places to eat and drink. Of course you can choose to camp along the route also. If you choose to do this, make sure you are respectful of the environment and follow the Outdoor Access Code (outdooraccess-scotland.scot/).

The best time of year to ride the John Muir Way is likely to be in the summer months, although it might be best to avoid weekends if possible as there are many shared use paths that may become quite congested in the peak season. Springtime or autumn will no doubt give you some beautiful changing seasons, but make sure you pack your waterproofs and plenty of layers just in case!

A lot of the John Muir Way is on unpaved trails, so you’ll need a bike with wider tyres – typically 30mm or wider. A solid touring, cyclo-cross, adventure or gravel bike or a hybrid will be ideal. Alternatively a light-weight rigid or hardtail mountain bike would be fine, although a full suspension bike here would maybe be overkill!

Access to either end of the trail is easy, with both Helensburgh and Dunbar home to train stations that regularly link into the major connecting stations of Edinburgh and Glasgow. For more information on train travel in the region, visit scotrail.co.uk. It’s always worth checking if you can take your bike on the train before travelling, as these regulations may change.

For further information about the John Muir Way, visit johnmuirway.org/route or see our hiking Collection if you fancy exploring it on foot komoot.com/collection/892250/john-muir-way-stunning-coast-to-coast-across-the-heartland-of-scotland.