Caledonia Way
The Caledonia Way runs from Oban to Campbeltown over 2 stages: 191 km and 2,104 m of climbing in the UK. Every stage has a map, elevation profile, road facts and a GPX file.
Route at a glance
- Distance
- 191 km
- Climbing
- 2,104 m
- Stages
- 2
- Countries
- 1
- Average stage
- 96 km
- Longest stage
- 113.9 km
- Most climbing
- 1,386 m
- Riding time
- ~14 h
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Bike
- Road bike
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- GPX
- Every stage + whole tour
- Start
- Oban
- Finish
- Campbeltown
Full route map
Itinerary: 2 stages
Average 96 km and 1,052 m a stage. Longest day: stage 2 (113.9 km). Most climbing: stage 2 (1,386 m). Shortest: stage 1 (77.5 km).
| Stage | Route | Country | Distance | Climbing | Surface | Difficulty | Time | GPX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oban to Lochgilphead | UK | 77.5 km | 718 m | Mostly paved | Hard | 5 h 32 min | GPX |
| 2 | Lochgilphead to Campbeltown | UK | 113.9 km | 1,386 m | Mostly paved | Hard | 8 h 08 min | GPX |
How difficult is this tour?
191 km and 2,104 m of climbing over 2 stages: 96 km and 1,052 m a stage on average.
The longest day is stage 2, Lochgilphead to Campbeltown (113.9 km); the most climbing is on stage 2, Lochgilphead to Campbeltown (1,386 m); the shortest is stage 1, Oban to Lochgilphead (77.5 km).
At 96 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 80–120 km.
Riders can go faster or slower than the documented itinerary: the same 191 km is 4 riding days at 60 km a day, 3 riding days at 80 km a day and 2 riding days at 100 km a day.
Surface and traffic
Predominantly paved: 94% is mapped as paved, 5% as unpaved or gravel.
8 km (4%) is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane; 121 km (63%) is on main roads without one, and 46 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more.
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 34 km, on stage 2.
Signed routes this tour follows
- Caledonia Way - stages 1, 2
Best time to ride
From ten years of weather at the stage towns, Jun to Sep are good for riding along the whole route.
Logistics
- 2 of 2 stage finishes have a hotel, guesthouse or campsite mapped within a short ride of the finish.
- The longest stretch without a café, shop or water on any stage is 34 km, on stage 2.
What it was actually like to ride
About this tour
The Caledonia Way is a two-stage cycling route that runs from Oban through Lochgilphead to Campbeltown in Great Britain. The overall tour covers 191 km with total climbing of 2104 metres.
Stage 1 stretches 77.5 km from Oban to Lochgilphead with 718 metres of elevation gain. The terrain includes several climbs, the largest starting at 39.2 km lasting 3.7 km with an average gradient of 3.8% and maximum 8.5%, reaching 191 metres height. The highest point of this stage is 196 metres. It passes through Taynuilt, Kilchrenan, Dalavich, Kilmartin, and Cairnbaan among others. There are seven water or food stops available.
Stage 2 covers 113.9 km from Lochgilphead to Campbeltown with 1386 metres of climbing. This stage features numerous shorter climbs, the longest of which is 3.8 km starting at 7.6 km with an average gradient of 3.6% and maximum 5.7%, reaching 199 metres. The highest point reached is 201 metres. The route passes through Ardrishaig, Achahoish, West Tarbert, Saddell, and Calton among many other places, with thirteen water or food stops.
Both stages remain in Great Britain without border crossings. No temperature or month information is provided. The route offers frequent opportunities for refreshment on stage 2, while stage 1 also has multiple stops. The climbs are moderate in length and gradient, making the tour accessible while offering a challenge through the rolling terrain.
Photos from the road
Stage 1 · Oban to Lochgilphead 
Stage 2 · Lochgilphead to Campbeltown
Questions riders ask
How far is Oban to Campbeltown by bike?
191 km along this route, in 2 stages averaging 96 km.
How long does it take to cycle from Oban to Campbeltown?
Moving time is estimated at about 14 hours. At 60 km a day it is 4 days, 80 km a day it is 3 days and 100 km a day it is 2 days.
How much climbing is involved?
2,104 m in total. The most climbing in a day is 1,386 m on stage 2, Lochgilphead to Campbeltown.
How difficult is the route?
At 96 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 80–120 km. The longest day is 113.9 km.
Is it suitable for a road bike?
94% of the route is mapped as paved and 5% as gravel or unpaved. Based on that: road bike.
Is there a GPX file?
Yes. Every stage has its own GPX download, and the whole tour is available as one GPX file with a track per stage.
What is the best time of year?
From ten years of weather at the stage towns, Jun to Sep are good for riding along the whole route.