Lets StartSkating Now
Where To Skate In Scotland
You've purchased skates and taken skating lessons. Now where are you going to skate? It is not unusual to hear new skaters exclaim they can't find anywhere to skate. Well, here's a list of 50 venues in Scotland to get you started. There are many more places which you may already know about. Tell us, and we'll add it to the list.
ABERDEEN
DUTHIE PARK
Some pathways
suitable for Beginners. EASY
AIRDRIE to
BATHGATE
Using NCR75. A good skate with a few
rough patches. EASY
AYR, WHITLETTS
ACTIVITY CENTRE
This is an indoor skater
friendly venue.
EASY SKATING
DUNDEE
Riverside Drive, about 4½ miles long, runs along beside the main road,
unfortunately.
DUNDEE
Riverside Drive, about 4½ miles long, runs along beside the main road,
unfortunately. EASY
DUNFERMLINE
PITTENCRIEFF PARK
well kept park & surfaces
Very hilly. Suit early skater
for workout. Top facilities
ABERDEEN
ESPLANADE
Surfaces generally
good, some rough
patches. Easy access.
ARDROSSAN
& SALTCOATS
Skate both Towns, along
sea front. Good Surfaces.
Some Kerbs. VERY EASY
ISLE of CUMBRAE
A great skating day out
ruined by rough surfaces it puts skaters off
attempting this route.
DUNOON
Nice stretch of tarmac from the pier towards Kirn. Can be busy with pedestrians.
ABERFELDY
VICTORIA PARK
Good venue for
Beginners. Includes
Skate Park. EASY
AYR ESPLANADE
Good Surfaces, flat, sometimes busy,a few kerbs, can be windy.
VERY EASY
CULROSS
Mile long cycle track at
front. Ideal for Beginners.
Flat smooth surface.
VERY EASY
Know a good place to skate? Why not share it and let others enjoy skating with you?
CLACKMANNAN to DUNFERMLINE using NCR 764. Straight undulating cycle track. Some rough surfaces can be a bit gritty, mostly easy skating. Best with a following wind. This used to be a favourite venue but some parts of the route have deteriorated quite a bit and may not appeal to all skaters.
Best on big wheel skates.
EAGLESHAM WINDFARM
Park ¾ mile past the visitor centre. Smooth surfaces, a few speed bumps. Short, just over a mile long. Good for beginners.
EDINBURGH CIRCUIT
Some rough surfaces & hills, cross & skate a couple of busy roads, a few steps, only for the competent skater.
DUMBARTON to BOWLING using NCR 7
Good tarmac surface, some rough patches, mostly flat, a couple of hills. There and back about 7 miles with one road to cross, take care. Smooth surface runs
out at Bowling. Suitable for most skaters.
EDINBURGH WEST - CRAMOND ESPLANADE
Esplanade off Marine Drive, mainly flat and smooth, some rough patches, steep hill access/exit at Silverknowes. Recently extended smooth surface. Highly Recommended. Approx 2½ miles from Cramond to Granton TrySkating learn-to-skate lessons available here by arrangement.
EDINBURGH EAST
PORTOBELLO
Smooth surface, some cobbles, slight gradient, can be busy and windy.
EASY skating
EDINBURGH
VARIOUS ROUTES
Dave Henniker's videos show you skating options throughout the city.
GLASGOW - EAST
Follow NCR 75 from Glasgow Green. Some parts very rough, some smooth. Avoid tree roots start from Dalmarnock Rd.
HELIX PARK - Home of the Kelpies
One of the best skating areas in Scotland. Flat, Smooth
Surfaces - What can go wrong? Beginner to Expert you
won't be disappointed. Can be busy at weekends.
This is the home of Falkirk Wheelers. EASY EASY
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GLASGOW EAST - GLASGOW GREEN
Some really rough surfaces, one or two steep bits but mainly flat. Plenty of easy skating. Easy access. Most suitable for big wheel skates. A bit of a challenge. TrySkating learn-to-skate lessons available here.
GLASGOW SOUTH - BELLAHOUSTON PARK
Mainly good surfaces, occasionally rough, mainly flat, a few hills, one steep. The cycle track has a smooth surface, plenty of easy skating. Highly recommended. TrySkating learn-to-skate lessons available here. EASY
GLASGOW EAST - HOGGANFIELD LOCH
Ideal for beginners. Generally smooth flat surface around the loch. A couple of rough bits & undulations. On sunny days can be very busy & difficult to find space in car park.
GLASGOW CENTRAL - ARC SPORTS CENTRE
Indoor skating for all on Sunday mornings from 10.30am. Drop in session, new skaters always welcome. Learn to skate. Try the Lap-Ladder. This is our favourite indoor venue, EASY skating
We're always on the lookout for new smooth flat tarmac. Keep us posted when you find some.
GLASGOW - WEST
KELVINGROVE PARK
Mainly good surfaces, a bit hilly, has skate park. Can be very busy. EASY
GLASGOW - EAST
TOLLCROSS PARK
Some paths suitable for beginners. Smooth surfaces. EASY
GLASGOW - WEST
VICTORIA PARK GDNS
Suitable for beginners, flat variable surfaces, narrow paths, gets busy
GREENOCK ESPLANADE
Mostly flat, a hill at one end, reasonable surfaces. Easy access. Can be busy & windy. EASY
HUNTLY NORDIC &
OUTDOOR CENTRE
Purpose-built all-weather facility for cross-country skiing and rollerskiing, Tuition available.
IRVINE
Smooth paths near the Magnum Centre and around the boating pond. EASY
IRVINE to PRESTWICK using NCR 7
Take care when crossing railway lines and on gritty pavement close beside a busy road. Good smooth & rough surfaces. This is a skating challenge for the more experienced skater.
KILMARNOCK to IRVINE using NCR 73
Smooth flat surface from Kilmarnock to Springside, thereafter surfaces become rougher and narrower. Occasional hill. Not a route to suit every skater. A challenge.
LARGS ESPLANADE
Flat, mainly good surfaces, sometimes busy near the ferry terminal. Can be windy. Easy access. Recommended. TrySkating learn-to-skate lessons available here by arrangement. EASY
KILMACOLM to JOHNSTONE using NCR 75
Undulating terrain, patches of upgraded smooth tarmac. Some rough surface. Possible to skate to Lochwinnoch. Need to be capable of crossing the busy B789 road. EASY skating.
LOCHWINNOCH LOOP to BELLAHOUSTON PARK
Use Cycle Routes. Must be capable of stopping on public roads, cope with rough surfaces, steep hills and crossing busy roads. This route is a challenge. For experienced skaters only.
LOCHWINNOCH LOOP using NCR 7
Steep start/finish hill. Good "off the road" skating. Some undulating terrain. Skater friendly pathway but not entirely smooth. Must be capable of stopping
otherwise EASY skating.
LIMEKILNS
Narrow Promenade
suitable for
Beginners only.
MONIFIETH to
CARNOUSTIE
Ability to stop necessary
on this cycle path, some
rough surfaces & hills.
MONTROSE
Skate anywhere, the town is flat. EASY Skating.
MOTHERWELL
DUCHESS PARK
Small park best for Beginners.
NEWTONMORE TO KINGUSSIE
About 2 miles of tarmac on the cycle path, part of National Cycle Network route 7. Pretty flat, a couple of slight rises. No car parking near Kingussie end, but a handy layby at Newtonmore end and some verge parking possible in between.
EASY skating.
STREET SKATES has some skating locations in England
PERTH, NORTH INCH PARK
Mostly flat, reasonable surfaces. Easy access. Good for beginners. Highly recommended. Can be busy at popular times. Park at Bell's Sports Centre, PH1 5HS. EASY Skating,
NEWTON MEARNS TO FENWICK
Smooth surfaces occasional rough patches. Some sections spoiled by pathway grit. More suited to big wheel skates. Start from Fenwick to have a following wind. EASY skating.
PRESTWICK ESPLANADE
Smooth tarmac, a few strips of cobbles. Rough surface at the south end past the sailing club. Plenty of car parking. EASY Skating.
ST. ANDREWS to LEUCHARS
Good skating on smooth tarmac. Beware the cyclepath is immediately beside the busy A91 road. (see photo) This route is only recommended for experienced street skaters.
SEAMILL to ARDROSSAN
Runs close beside the busy A78. Good for a bit of practise.
STRATHCLYDE PARK
Smooth pathways are narrow & can be busy. Car parks have rough surfaces.
TROON
Skate anywhere, the town is flat.
EASY Skating Recommended.
Skate Routes
Grading skate routes can be tricky because, dependent on ability, what one skater finds easy another finds difficult. Should you be reasonably fit and capable of stopping proficiently then all the skate locations are relatively easy. If you can't stop competently you must not skate on public roads. Not sure you can handle any of this. Can't skate rough surfaces? Then take a private lesson or join group indoor classes in your area.
Feedback
We like to know what you think of the skate routes. When you have skated one, please email your comments. It helps to keep descriptions accurate and up-to-date. Found somewhere good to skate in your area with decent surfaces and mainly flat? Share it with other skaters by having it listed.
Safety First
StartSkating recommends wearing pads & helmet everytime you go skating. When skating in public areas, please give precedence to pedestrians, especially children, elderly and disabled people at all times.