Cycling in Elgin
3 cycling routes from Elgin, Moray, United Kingdom, 38 to 104 km, 224 km mapped in all, with up to 775 m of climbing in a day. Rolling riding (6 m of climbing per km on average), mostly road routes, 30 km on cycle paths or lanes. Best months to ride: Jun to Sep.
At a glance
- Routes
- 3
- Lengths
- 38–104 km
- Biggest day
- 775 m
- Terrain
- Rolling
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Bike
- Road bike
- Difficulty
- Easy to Hard
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Longest gap
- 45 km
- GPX
- Every route
Know before you go
Added up from the recorded routes and OpenStreetMap; nothing estimated.
- Surface
- Paved almost throughout — 8 km of gravel or unpaved road across the routes.
- Roads
- 12% of the riding on main roads without a cycle lane · 30 km on cycle paths or lanes.
- High point
- 403 m on Elgin to Carrbridge.
- Bail-outs
- A railway station or ferry within reach on 3 routes.
- No services
- 45 km on Elgin to Carrbridge.
Cycling guide to Elgin
Cyclists riding from Elgin can choose from several routes ranging from short to long distances. The Elgin to Carrbridge route extends 104.4 km with 775 m elevation gain, passing through several towns including Forres, Nairn, and Tomatin before reaching Carrbridge. Another popular ride is the 82.1 km route to Inverness, climbing 465 m and visiting places such as Newmill, Culloden, and Raigmore. For shorter rides, a 37.9 km section of National Cycle Route 1 runs through local towns including Duffus, Hopeman, and Burghead.
These routes vary in road surface, with the longest having up to 96-97% paved surfaces, and include stretches of gravel or unpaved paths. Facilities and services are present but can be sparse for some distances, for example up to 45 km without services on the Carrbridge route. Railway stations near the routes provide potential transit options. Cycle paths are included along some sections, for example 7.2 km on the Carrbridge route and 8.2 km on the Inverness route.
More on terrain
Terrain
The terrain includes a mix of flat and rolling roads with some moderate climbs. The biggest climb on the Carrbridge route is 3.3 km at an average gradient of 2.8%, rising 94 m to 397 m elevation. On the Inverness route, the largest climb is 1.7 km at 4.3% average gradient with a 74 m gain, reaching 130 m height. The highest elevation reached on rides from Elgin is 403 m on the Carrbridge route.