This is one of a series of guides on cycle routes produced by the Stationery Office for Scotland. There is a useful foreword produced by the Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) which gives helpful advice to would‐be cyclists about gear, what to wear, what procedures are necessary if involved in an accident, the highway code, lighting regulations and so on. Metric measurements are given and there is a conversion table to show mileage. Cycling (we are told) is healthy, environmentally friendly and above all fun! Travel at your own pace, meet people along the way and experience the real country. Explore parts of the country that you didn’t know existed (unless like the reviewer you are a walker and runner) ‐ and improve your fitness at the same time. Cycling is good for you ‐ the CTC urges everyone to go by bike and feel a lot better for it! The author is an experienced cyclist and runner and knows the area well.
The 25 rides listed in this guide cover an area throughout the counties of Stirling, Clackmannan and Falkirk on both sides of the Highland Line. The countryside is beautiful in this part of Scotland and there is much to take in. The rides vary in length from 11 to 62 kilometres and in difficulty from very easy to very demanding. For the most part, they cover a network of minor roads with little traffic. Some of the routes also exploit the towpaths along the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals. Some off‐road stretches can be muddy and/or narrow but surfaces are generally good. Cyclists are asked to respect the Law of Trespass ‐ for although one cannot be prosecuted for crossing private land, one can be sued for damage and asked to leave! Cyclists should therefore respect the highway code and use their common sense.
Each route is described in full and accompanied by a section of ordnance survey map showing the route. A box on the margin gives information such as distance, difficulty of terrain, refreshments and number of the appropriate OS map. One or two routes are almost totally urban (such as the Stirling town trail: a six‐and‐a‐half‐mile circular route) but most take the cyclist through beautiful countryside passing by castles, churches and other parts of local interest. These are described in the text, with plentiful anecdotes and mention of local folklore. So the guide acts as a historical tour of the area as well as a cyclist’s route planner. There are colour illustrations and the guide is nicely produced on good quality paper with a soft‐back cover. It is indexed. Also available in this series are 25 cycle routes round Edinburgh and Lothian and 25 cycle routes in and around Glasgow. If they are as well produced as this example, it would be worth purchasing all three for the reference shelves.
