Abington to Lambhill

About 20 minutes after a 6:30 am start from the Mount View Campsite along National Cycle Route (NCR) 74, there was an interesting chat with a man recording nature – observing curlews with chicks and pointing out a short-eared owl sitting on a distant post.

A breakfast stop after about 10 miles at Cairn Lodge Services above has established another unmissable fixed point in regular trips to Glasgow. Here bikepackers will find a bike rack, excellent toilets, hundreds of charging points, a pleasant spacious dining area and a farmhouse shop in which to to browse and buy from if feeling well-to-do or have taken advantage of a free shower. There are also classy recycling facilities as shown in the photo below. It was my pleasure to be served an excellent breakfast by Joanne in a friendly manner that might be expected from a tiny family business.

The B7078 from Abington to Larkhall, based on the old A74, runs roughly parallel to the M74 so is not too busy and is used in places by NCR 74. Dedicated cycle paths distanced from the road are excellent. Similarly, further north through Boswell, the B7071 runs roughly parallel to the M74. Cycle route 74, however interesting and varied, is circuitous and hilly in parts. Today’s plan was to reach Lambhill in time and condition for visiting a care home by using direct B roads where necessary in areas near Larkhall, Hamilton and Bothwell then follow NCRs 74, 75, 756 and 754 to Lambhill.

This plan was adhered to and worked a treat. Plan execution included marvellous coffee and minestrone at Rosso Bothwell before (nearly 400 metres up the B7071) accessing the NCR to the right by taking a short track down to the left then under-passing the road.

The care home visit started badly by following a direction to Herbert’s distant temporary room from which he had just returned. Understanding his mumbled speech was problematic but I think we did agree that you should lie low when they come to get you. Staff kindly opened the cinema room for me to write and give us both a break. Afterwards Herbert’s room was cooler and he spoke distinctly if not coherently and seemed to understand more of my efforts to communicate.

This log was completed in the "COORIE by the coast" cafe in Limekilns (70 km from Lambhill by my route mainly of cycle paths) from 11:30 am.