100 Climbs Route: Day 17, Leadhills to Inveraray

In August 2018, three Cycling UK members - Dominic Millar, Graham Salisbury and James Findlater – cycled a 3,300-mile, 29-day route around Britain to take on all 100 hills featured in Simon Warren’s book ‘100 Greatest Cycling Climbs’. This route plots day 17 of the journey, 113 miles from Leadhills to Inveraray, taking in the climb of Rest and be Thankful.

There’s only one climb on today’s route: the appropriately named ‘Rest and be Thankful’. After all the efforts of recent days, and all the climbing you’ve done en route to Scotland, this is a day to recharge the batteries a little (although only a little, mind - there's still 113 miles to cover).

The route starts in Leadhills and takes you north through Uddington, Kirkmuirhill and eventually Hamilton. Then it’s a rare urban cruise for this tour, traversing Glasgow from east to west and picking up the River Clyde as you leave the city. Compared to some of your previous days in the wilds, there are plenty of refuelling opportunities here and if you really want a deep-fried local delicacy, you’ve certainly earned it.

Follow the Clyde towards the sea, then head north at Dumbarton. You’ll soon find yourself riding among the lochs of Argyllshire, passing to the north of Loch Long before dropping down to Hell’s Glen to start our one classified climb for the day.

Rest and be Thankful is steep in places, especially after the small stone bridge, but probably the biggest challenge is the potholed and broken surface, which never really gets much better.

With that one climb ticked off the list, head west round the top of the next loch, and hole up in Inveraray for the night.