National Cycle Network

WWCT (formerly Sustrans) is custodian of the National Cycle Network (NCN) and manages the strategic vision and detailed Network Plan for the network. The NCN spans the whole of Scotland (and the UK).

The NCN currently comprises more than 2,600km across urban, inter-urban and rural areas. Urban areas account for 23% of Scotland’s NCN with 77% connecting rural areas, and the Network serves 236 of Scotland’s 514 settlements (the National Records of Scotland defines settlements as built-up areas which round to 500 people or more, with larger settlements divided into localities to reflect areas which are more easily identifiable as the towns and cities of Scotland).

Table 5: NCN Infrastructure and Delivery Summary for 2023–24 and 2024–25

Case Study: NCN 781 Glen Coe path

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) led on the development and delivery of a project to create an active travel path along Glen Coe from Glen Coe village to the Clachaig Inn road via the Glen Coe visitor centre.

The new path enables sustainable access into one of Scotland’s most iconic and popular natural places. It provides an alternative to the A82 trunk road and opens up walking, wheeling and cycling access to the local community and visitors.

In 24/25, WWCT funded NTS £839K to construct most of the remaining sections of the project (following investment of £1.1m in 23/24). This complemented £350K of funding from the Rural Tourism Investment Fund.

A total of 4.3km of bound path was constructed and a crossing under the A82 created. It was originally suggested that the crossing would need to be at grade on a very busy, 60mph speed limit road. WWCT promoted an alternative proposal to build a bridge under the A82 crossing of a burn. Following investigation, this was ultimately adopted and constructed, providing a significantly safer and more pleasant route.

Two sections of the route remain to be improved and further extensions east into the glen are being investigated.