Road · United Kingdom
Cycling in Orkney Islands
Cycling on Orkney Islands offers an 88 km road route from Stromness with moderate climbing and predominantly paved roads.
The Orkney Islands region has one main cycling route starting from Stromness, extending 88 km along EuroVelo 12. This route is point-to-point and utilises a mixture of main roads and minor roads, mostly paved with very little unpaved surface.
Climbing is moderate with a total of 607 m on the route and the steepest 500 m segment averaging a 5.3% gradient. Riding is mostly flat or gently rolling, with the majority of the route on main roads. The climate is mild year-round with maximum average daily highs ranging from 6°C in January to 15°C in July and August, suggesting suitable cycling conditions throughout the year.
What the riding is like
The terrain on Orkney Islands is mostly flat to rolling with 66% of the distance flat and 16% climbing. The single route is 88 km long with 607 m of climbing, the steepest segment being 5.3% over 500 m. Roads are primarily main roads (62%) and minor roads (32%), with a very small amount of cycle path (0.2 km). The surface is 99% paved with minimal unpaved sections. There are no climbs steeper than 10%.
Cycling infrastructure
Cycle path km total 0.2 km; main roads cover 62% (54.1 km without cycle lanes), with 10.8 km on roads having speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
Best time to ride
Average daily high temperatures range from 6°C in January to 15°C in July and August, suitable for riding year-round.
Riding in Orkney Islands in numbers
- 1
- 88 km
- 88 km
- 607 m
Where to start in Orkney Islands
Rides in Orkney Islands
When to ride Orkney Islands
6°3°J21
7°3°F18
7°4°M18
9°5°A14
11°7°M15
14°10°J15
15°11°J19
15°12°A19
14°10°S18
11°8°O19
9°6°N19
7°4°D20
BestFineHard goingRain days per month under each bar · typical wind 32 km/h from the W