Cycling in Innerleithen

Cycling from Innerleithen offers loop routes up to 86 km with climbs under 200 m and mostly paved surfaces, visiting numerous Scottish Borders villages.

3
Routes: 218 km
In total: 86 km
Longest ride: 690 m
Most climbing

Rides in Innerleithen

Road · From the map · United Kingdom
Innerleithen Blue Route
Innerleithen, United Kingdom
70 km524 m ↑ModerateGPX
Added Sep 2026
Road · From the map · United Kingdom
Innerleithen Purple Route
Innerleithen, United Kingdom
86 km690 m ↑HardGPX
Added Sep 2026
Road · From the map · United Kingdom
Innerleithen Yellow Route
Innerleithen, United Kingdom
61 km533 m ↑ModerateGPX
Added Sep 2026

Riding in Innerleithen in numbers

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
Longest stretch without services: 40 km on Innerleithen Purple Route

When to ride in Innerleithen

Typical conditions by month, 2015–2024 reanalysis. Bars run from the average daily low to high.

Best months: Jun to Aug.

6°1°J15

7°2°F15

8°2°M17

11°3°A12

14°7°M15

17°10°J15

18°11°J20

18°11°A17

16°10°S14

12°7°O15

8°4°N15

7°3°D18

BestFineHard goingRain days per month under each bar · typical wind 22 km/h from the SW

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.

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.

Nearby destinations

All destinations

Cycling in Innerleithen

Rides in Innerleithen

Innerleithen Blue Route

Innerleithen Purple Route

Innerleithen Yellow Route

Riding in Innerleithen in numbers

When to ride in Innerleithen

Nearby destinations

Peebles

Selkirk

Darnick

Melrose

Newtown St Boswells

Hawick

Cavers

Denholm

Nisbet

Crailing

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