Great North Trail (Northern Highlands)
The Great North Trail (Northern Highlands) runs from Fort Augustus to Rosehall over 2 stages: 157 km and 1,916 m of climbing in the UK. Every stage has a map, elevation profile, road facts and a GPX file.
Route at a glance
- Distance
- 157 km
- Climbing
- 1,916 m
- Stages
- 2
- Countries
- 1
- Average stage
- 78 km
- Longest stage
- 84.7 km
- Most climbing
- 1,252 m
- Riding time
- ~13 h
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Best months
- May to Sep
- GPX
- Every stage + whole tour
- Start
- Fort Augustus
- Finish
- Rosehall
Full route map
Itinerary: 2 stages
Average 78 km and 958 m a stage. Longest day: stage 1 (84.7 km). Most climbing: stage 1 (1,252 m). Shortest: stage 2 (72.2 km).
| Stage | Route | Country | Distance | Climbing | Surface | Difficulty | Time | GPX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Augustus to Contin | UK | 84.7 km | 1,252 m | Mixed, much unpaved | Hard | 7 h 04 min | GPX |
| 2 | Contin to Rosehall | UK | 72.2 km | 664 m | Mostly unpaved | Moderate | 6 h 01 min | GPX |
How difficult is this tour?
157 km and 1,916 m of climbing over 2 stages: 78 km and 958 m a stage on average.
The longest day is stage 1, Fort Augustus to Contin (84.7 km); the most climbing is on stage 1, Fort Augustus to Contin (1,252 m); the shortest is stage 2, Contin to Rosehall (72.2 km).
At 78 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 60–100 km.
Riders can go faster or slower than the documented itinerary: the same 157 km is 3 riding days at 60 km a day, 2 riding days at 80 km a day and 2 riding days at 100 km a day.
Surface and traffic
Mostly unpaved: 66% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 34% as paved.
0 km (0%) is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane; 11 km (7%) is on main roads without one, and 36 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more.
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 51 km, on stage 2.
Signed routes this tour follows
- Great North Trail (Northern Highlands) - stages 1, 2
Best time to ride
From ten years of weather at the stage towns, May to Sep are good for riding along the whole route.
Logistics
- 1 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 51 km, on stage 2.
What it was actually like to ride
About this tour
The Great North Trail (Northern Highlands) covers 157 km in 2 stages in Great Britain, starting at Fort Augustus and finishing at Rosehall. It has a total climb of 1916 m, passing through towns including Contin and Garve.
The first stage from Fort Augustus to Contin is 84.7 km and gains 1252 m of elevation. It includes four climbs, the longest starting right at the beginning with a 4.9 km climb averaging 7.2%, the highest point on this stage reaching 549 m. Other notable climbs occur around km 12 and between km 47 and 56. Water or food stops are frequent with 16 available along this stage.
Stage two from Contin to Rosehall is 72.2 km with 664 m of climbing. This stage features several smaller climbs, mostly under 4 km and averaging between 2.5% and 3.9% gradients, with the highest point at 363 m. Only one water or food stop is recorded for this stage.
Both stages lie entirely within Great Britain, with no international border crossings. Temperature and seasonal data are not recorded for either stage. The terrain complements the climbing totals, starting with demanding climbs early on and easing into shorter gradients on the second day.
Photos from the road
Stage 1 · Fort Augustus to Contin 
Stage 2 · Contin to Rosehall
Questions riders ask
How far is Fort Augustus to Rosehall by bike?
157 km along this route, in 2 stages averaging 78 km.
How long does it take to cycle from Fort Augustus to Rosehall?
Moving time is estimated at about 13 hours. At 60 km a day it is 3 days, 80 km a day it is 2 days and 100 km a day it is 2 days.
How much climbing is involved?
1,916 m in total. The most climbing in a day is 1,252 m on stage 1, Fort Augustus to Contin.
How difficult is the route?
At 78 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 60–100 km. The longest day is 84.7 km.
Is it suitable for a road bike?
34% of the route is mapped as paved and 66% as gravel or unpaved. Based on that: gravel or mountain 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, May to Sep are good for riding along the whole route.