Between Bathgate and Airdrie the route follows alongside the newly reopened Airdrie-Bathgate railway line, passing Armadale, Blackridge and Caldercruix. Where the cycle route merges onto the A89 (Main street) [Plains] then through a short section of residential streets in Airdrie, (Craigneuk, Gartlea and Cairnhill) before proceeding into Coatdyke, the route joins a disused railway line between Airdrie and Coatbridge. The section into Coatbridge town centre is on the alignment of the former Monkland Canal. Beyond Coatbridge the route passes through Tannochside, Uddingston, Newton and Westburn to reach Cambuslang. From Cambuslang to Glasgow the route follows the Clyde walkway.
The route runs along the north of the Clyde to the SECC, where it joins NCR 7 through Paisley to Johnstone. It then branches west, following a disused railway track through Bridge of Weir and Kilmacolm to Port Glasgow. After a short residential section, it rejoins the disused railway in an industrial estate, which it follows to Greenock. It then leads to the sea front, and along to Gourock.
A 14-mile (23 km) section of the route between Airdrie and Bathgate closed in October 2008 as part of a £300 million project to reopen the railway. Network Rail built a replacement cycle path.[3]