Cycling in Innerleithen
3 cycling routes from Innerleithen, Scottish Borders, United Kingdom, 61 to 86 km, 218 km mapped in all, with up to 690 m of climbing in a day. Rolling riding (8 m of climbing per km on average), mostly road routes, 60% of the riding on main roads without a cycle lane. Best months to ride: Jun to Aug.
At a glance
- Routes
- 3
- Lengths
- 61–86 km
- Biggest day
- 690 m
- Terrain
- Rolling
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Bike
- Road bike
- Difficulty
- Moderate to Hard
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Longest gap
- 40 km
- GPX
- Every route
Know before you go
Added up from the recorded routes and OpenStreetMap; nothing estimated.
- Surface
- Paved almost throughout.
- Roads
- 60% of the riding on main roads without a cycle lane.
- High point
- 448 m on Innerleithen Purple Route.
- Bail-outs
- A railway station or ferry within reach on 1 route.
- No services
- 40 km on Innerleithen Purple Route.
Cycling guide to Innerleithen
Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders is a base for three loop routes ranging from 61 to 86 km. These routes pass through various nearby villages including Walkerburn, Traquair, and Peebles. The routes offer moderate elevation gains between 524 m and 690 m, with the highest points reaching up to 448 m. Cyclists follow mostly paved roads with minor gravel sections, providing varied terrain over distances suitable for day rides, connecting several local settlements without railway stations nearby except on the Yellow Route which has one station. The biggest climbs vary from 107 m over 3.4 km at an average of 3.2% to 192 m over 6.1 km at 3.2% average gradient, with maximum gradients up to 6.8%. These routes are shaped as loops, allowing for rides to and from Innerleithen through multiple towns such as Selkirk, Tweedsmuir, and Kirkton. The uneven lengths and elevation gains provide options for different cycling abilities within the Borders region.
More on terrain
Terrain
The rides offer rolling terrain with total elevation gains between 524 m and 690 m. The longest climbs are moderate, ranging from 3.4 km to 6.1 km with average gradients around 3.2% to 3.6%, and maximum gradients up to 6.8%. The highest elevations reached are between 302 m and 448 m. Overall, the terrain is undulating rather than mountainous, with climbs spread throughout the routes.