From accessibility to artwork, from Gourock to Glencoe. Our National Cycle Network Director, Carole Patrick, shares some highlights from our work on the Network in Scotland over the last year.
Glencoe Greenway was one of our standout projects from last year, delivered through our partnership with National Trust for Scotland. Credit: Michael Kelly.
The National Cycle Network already provides over 1,600 miles (around 2,600 km) of paths for walking, wheeling and cycling across Scotland.
It connects many of us to the people and places we love.
As the Network’s custodians, we’re working hard up and down the country to take care of these routes.
But we are also working towards our vision of what the National Cycle Network can become.
When people can move around easily, communities thrive.
The National Cycle Network can help us achieve this.
By expanding the Network, we can connect Scotland – joining urban and rural areas via a patchwork of safe walking, wheeling and cycling routes.
Our latest Impact Report shows us that we’re on our way to achieving this goal.
Here are four key takeaways from the report.
We’re improving the National Cycle Network – for everyone
In 2024-25 we did a fair amount of building – 27km to be exact.
Projects were dotted across the country, many of which we worked on in close partnership with local authorities.
From a new coastal path in Ardrossan connecting a community in regeneration.
To balancing access and conservation by bringing active travel into Glencoe.
Down in the Borders, we partnered with the Council to create a new traffic-free path in the town of Peebles.
Taking people away from the busy trunk road and instead passing along the River Tweed and through the park, this has created a much safer and more pleasant route to walk, wheel and cycle in and out of the town centre.
Part of our Scottish Government funded Network Development programme, the improvements in Peebles will eventually become part of the re-routed NCN 1. Credit: Scottish Borders Council.
Over on the west coast, we’ve been working with Inverclyde Council to make local their local Network routes accessible for everyone.
Path upgrades on the coastal Route 753 between Gourock and Inverkip replaced a narrow, stoney track with a smooth, wide surface now suitable for wheelchairs and buggies.
A deteriorating section of Route 75 between Kilmacolm and Auchenbothie was also revitalised.
Bollards that had blocked many people from using the path were removed and redesigned, and new signage was added to improve navigation and visibility.
These are just a few examples of the 507 access barriers we removed, and the 152km of signage we upgraded last year.
Funded by the Scottish Government, we're working hard with partners across Scotland to remove barriers. From personal experience, Sam tells us why accessibility on the Network is so important.
We're making people feel safer and more welcome on the Network
It’s not only through infrastructure that we can improve people’s experience on the Network.
Our projects show time and again the positive impact that artwork has on public spaces and local communities.
The Niddrie-Bingham tunnel on Route 1 outside Edinburgh, perceived by locals as unsafe and neglected, was transformed through our Targeted Arts project.
Working hand in hand with local people, the project created a mural in the tunnel that reflected the nature and industrial history of the area.
80% of people surveyed afterwards felt more welcome on the route, and 100% agreed the artwork made the route more attractive with one respondent describing it as “less threatening”.
Niddrie-Bingham tunnel is just one example of how we're brightening up the Network via our Targeted Arts project and our ArtRoots programme, both funded by the Scottish Government.
Communities are at the heart of the Network
Communities are central to our work – not least our volunteers, who play an indispensable role in caring for the National Cycle Network.
Many volunteers take part in specific projects on the Network, like John in Ayrshire.
After retiring from farming in early 2025, he got involved in our Citizen Science wildlife recording project during the summer.
As well as giving him a renewed sense of purpose, John values volunteering as an opportunity to get outside and discover his surroundings.
John, volunteer of 10 years
There's times you don't realise the big difference it makes… until you actually do it.
I've never regretted being outside on the Network, recording [wildlife] or just walking or cycling on it.
Thanks to people like John, we significantly increased our total wildlife recordings on the Network from this project alone.
This is just one of 11 different projects that our volunteers helped us deliver in 2024-25.
We need to continue to invest in the Network
All of these examples from across our work show how powerful the Network is in connecting us to people, places and nature.
But the impact of the National Cycle Network ripples out beyond this, in ways we might not observe.
Although harder to visualise, it's the impact on our health, our wellbeing and our world that fuels our mission at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust.
Access to the National Cycle Network means access to healthier choices for our body and our mind – 31% of those who use the Network do so for health and exercise, and 27% use it as a greenspace.
The Network also benefits the economy and the climate, with trips on the Network replacing 7.5 million car journeys in 2024.
This saved over 2,000 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to around 2,000 people flying from London to New York.
By replacing these car journeys, the Network helps prevent long term health conditions and reduces the number of road collisions – all saving the NHS money.
And these savings contribute towards the £61 million that the National Cycle Network brings to the economy each year.
The National Cycle Network boosts our health, benefits the economy, and reduces our impact on the environment. Credit: Michael Kelly.
All of this is compelling evidence for continued investment in the National Cycle Network.
With 44% of Scotland’s population currently living within 1km, imagine what could happen if the Network went further.
Taking forward our charity’s strategy for 2025-2050, we’ll be placing even more focus on building the Network across Scotland and the rest of the UK.
So that we can make it possible for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle safely and joyfully.
Read the report
Find the full National Cycle Network Scotland Impact Report for 2024-25 here.
