Kingdom Cycle Route
The Kingdom Cycle Route runs from Dalgety Bay to Dalgety Bay over 2 stages: 176 km and 1,269 m of climbing in the UK. Every stage has a map, elevation profile, road facts and a GPX file.
Route at a glance
- Distance
- 176 km
- Climbing
- 1,269 m
- Stages
- 2
- Countries
- 1
- Average stage
- 88 km
- Longest stage
- 90.3 km
- Most climbing
- 700 m
- Riding time
- ~13 h
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Best months
- May to Sep
- GPX
- Every stage + whole tour
- Start
- Dalgety Bay
- Finish
- Dalgety Bay
Full route map
Itinerary: 2 stages
Average 88 km and 635 m a stage. Longest day: stage 2 (90.3 km). Most climbing: stage 1 (700 m). Shortest: stage 1 (85.4 km).
| Stage | Route | Country | Distance | Climbing | Surface | Difficulty | Time | GPX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dalgety Bay to Newport-on-Tay | UK | 85.4 km | 700 m | Paved | Hard | 6 h 06 min | GPX |
| 2 | Newport-on-Tay to Dalgety Bay | UK | 90.3 km | 569 m | Mixed surface | Hard | 6 h 27 min | GPX |
How difficult is this tour?
176 km and 1,269 m of climbing over 2 stages: 88 km and 635 m a stage on average.
The longest day is stage 2, Newport-on-Tay to Dalgety Bay (90.3 km); the most climbing is on stage 1, Dalgety Bay to Newport-on-Tay (700 m); the shortest is stage 1, Dalgety Bay to Newport-on-Tay (85.4 km).
At 88 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 70–110 km.
Riders can go faster or slower than the documented itinerary: the same 176 km is 3 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: 91% is mapped as paved, 8% as unpaved or gravel.
25 km (14%) is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane; 28 km (16%) is on main roads without one, and 68 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more.
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 20 km, on stage 1.
Signed routes this tour follows
- Kingdom Cycle Route - 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
- 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 20 km, on stage 1.
What it was actually like to ride
About this tour
The Kingdom Cycle Route covers 176 km and is divided into two stages, both within Great Britain. The route forms a loop starting at Dalgety Bay, heading to Newport-on-Tay, and returning to Dalgety Bay.
Stage 1 runs from Dalgety Bay to Newport-on-Tay over 85.4 km, with a total climbing of 700 m. The route passes through many places, including Dunfermline, Kinross, and Newburgh. The terrain has several climbs, the highest reaching 286 m, with gradients up to 6.3%. The longest climb is 4 km long with an average gradient of 2.4%.
Stage 2 covers 90.3 km from Newport-on-Tay back to Dalgety Bay, climbing 569 m. It passes through towns such as Tayport, Leuchars, and Kirkcaldy. Climbs are generally moderate with the highest point at 165 m and maximum gradients up to 4.3% over a 3.2 km climb. This stage has more water or food stops, totalling 25.
Both stages lie entirely within Great Britain and feature a mix of gradual and moderate climbs. No temperature data or specific months of riding were recorded. The availability of water or food stops along the route is good, especially on stage 2.
Photos from the road
Stage 1 · Dalgety Bay to Newport-on-Tay 
Stage 2 · Newport-on-Tay to Dalgety Bay
Questions riders ask
How far is Dalgety Bay to Dalgety Bay by bike?
176 km along this route, in 2 stages averaging 88 km.
How long does it take to cycle from Dalgety Bay to Dalgety Bay?
Moving time is estimated at about 13 hours. At 60 km a day it is 3 days, 80 km a day it is 3 days and 100 km a day it is 2 days.
How much climbing is involved?
1,269 m in total. The most climbing in a day is 700 m on stage 1, Dalgety Bay to Newport-on-Tay.
How difficult is the route?
At 88 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 70–110 km. The longest day is 90.3 km.
Is it suitable for a road bike?
91% of the route is mapped as paved and 8% as gravel or unpaved (1% has no surface data). Based on that: road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel 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.