August 29, 2025 - A new short film, Overland, has been released by Bikepacking Scotland with the support of waterproof sock specialist DexShell. The nine-minute film, available on YouTube, follows an overland journey across the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park from east to west and introduces a new 177km-bikepacking route.
Devised by adventure cyclist and author Markus Stitz, the route runs from Culross on the Firth of Forth to Kilcreggan on the Firth of Clyde. Designed for gravel and mountain bikes, it is now available here.
Stitz explains his inspiration: “I think the Scotland I have experienced in the last 16 years living here has always been an interesting place in terms of the weather. Yes, there are blue sunny skies every now and then. But there’s also the other side of the country: when it’s raining, when the fog is rolling in, when the clouds are coming over the mountains. I really love to portray that side of Scotland, and that’s what the new film is about.”
He adds: “With the right gear, it’s totally fine to go out bikepacking pretty much in any season in Scotland. For me, there’s a massive fascination to that wetter side of Scotland too. It’s super green. It’s mystic. It’s majestic – and I really enjoy cycling in those conditions.”
Route highlights
The coast-to-coast route begins in Culross, Fife, and is accessible by public transport at both start and finish. From April to October the free Inner Forth Bike Bus runs on Sundays to nearby Newmills, while train and bus connections from Dunfermline or Rosyth provide year-round access. At the western end, a passenger ferry connects Kilcreggan with Gourock, offering onward travel by ferry to Dunoon or by train to Glasgow Central.
The route showcases the diversity of Scotland’s landscapes and heritage: expansive woodlands, glittering lochs, fast-rolling gravel tracks, late medieval tower houses, Roman hillforts, and welcoming towns. The journey is best undertaken from Easter to late October, when the Loch Lomond water bus operates. Outside of this period, riders are advised to leave the route at Aberfoyle and follow NCN 7 to Balloch, then continue via the John Muir Way to Helensburgh and the Wild About Argyll Trail to Garelochhead.
In print and on the trail
Overland also features in Gravel Rides Loch Lomond & The Trossachs and Argyll, Stitz’s forthcoming guidebook showcasing 15 of the region’s best gravel cycling routes. Due to be published in November 2025 by Vertebrate Publishing, the book covers routes from 16 to 177km, ranging from accessible day rides to adventurous multi-day trips across some of Scotland’s most spectacular and remote landscapes.
The new coast-to-coast route also offers a unique way to travel to or from the Dunoon Dirt Dash, an annual bikepacking event taking place on 27–28 September 2025. More details are available here.
