Cyclists.com

Deeside Way

Aberdeen, Aberdeen City, United KingdomMixed

Signed route The waymarked Deeside Way (Walk Wheel Cycle Trust 195), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

50 km
Distance
392 m
Elevation gain
Moderate
Difficulty
Mixed
Surface
Download GPXMap
The Deeside Way at Cairnton Wood
Photo: Bill Harrison · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
392 m
Distance
50 km
050100150200250m0 km1020304050 km200 m · highest, at 38.0 kmStartFinish

Route overview

This ride suits cyclists looking for a moderate 50 km ride with some climbing and mixed surfaces.

Deeside Way is a 50 km point-to-point cycle route in Aberdeen City, United Kingdom.

Starting from Aberdeen and passing through Ferryhill and Broomhill, the route heads west through several suburbs including Cults, Bieldside, and Peterculter before reaching Drumoak and Crathes. The overall elevation gain is 392 m, with the highest point at 200 m around 37.5 km into the ride. The route climbs mainly after 28.8 km with several moderate gradients up to 7.6% pitch before descending towards the finish at Aberdeen. The surface is about half paved and half gravel or unpaved. Over 30 km are on cycle paths, with other sections on tracks, minor roads, quiet streets, and a short stretch of main road without a cycle lane. Riders encounter 13 km on main roads, including 3.2 km posted at 80 km/h or more. The route is named Deeside Way for nearly 29.4 km. Facilities are well-distributed near the start and through towns: cafés, shops, petrol stations and bike shops are available before 28.9 km, but there is a longest stretch of 12.3 km with no café, shop or water after this point. Toilets and bailout stations can be found at 0 km and near 25.5 km. The finish is close to The White Cottage restaurant in Aberdeen.

Highlights

  • Climbs with max gradient 7.6% between km 28.8 and 33
  • Cycle path covers 63% of route
  • Peaks near the road: Kaim Hill at 3.4 km, Kirkenie Hill at 41.3 km
  • Longest descent 2 km dropping 107 m from km 38

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Kaimhill 2.3 km
  2. Mannofield 2.6 km
  3. Garthdee 3 km
  4. Braeside 3.4 km
  5. Pitfodels 4.2 km
  6. Cults 5.3 km
  7. Bieldside 7 km
  8. Milltimber 9.1 km
  9. Peterculter 11.5 km
  10. Coalford 13.4 km
  11. Drumoak 17.6 km
  12. Park 18.2 km
  13. Crathes 22.6 km
  14. Banchory 28.5 km
  15. Deebank 28.9 km
  16. Potarch 40.8 km
  17. Tillydrine 42.8 km
  18. Kincardine O'Neil 44.1 km
  19. Dess 47.3 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—28.8 km1.9 km75 m4 %7.6 %131 m
—31.3 km1.3 km58 m4.4 %7.6 %176 m
—36.2 km1.3 km47 m3.7 %5.8 %200 m
—44.1 km2.3 km80 m3.5 %5.4 %179 m

High point 200 m at 37.5 km; low point 13 m. Passes beneath Kaim Hill, Hill of Tillylair, Hill of Tillybath.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
63% cycle path · 15% track · 8% minor road · 8% quiet street
Main roads
1.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
3.2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
30.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
Deeside Way (29 km)
Surface
52% paved · 47% gravel or unpaved
Gradient
17% climbing · 11% descending · 72% flat
Steep sections
2 km over 5% · 0.3 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 7.7% at 32.3 km
Longest descent
2 km from 38 km, dropping 107 m

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0 kmBP North Esplanade · petrol station · 180 m off route
  2. 0.6 kmThe Park Cafe · café · 110 m off route
  3. 0.7 kmToilets · 110 m off route
  4. 1.5 kmAbergeldie Convenience Store · convenience store · 50 m off route
  5. 5 kmBoxcar Coffee & Yard · café · on the route
  6. 5 kmSkyline Cycles and Sports Ltd · bike shop · 30 m off route
  7. 10.6 kmM&S Simply Food · convenience store · 120 m off route
  8. 10.6 kmBP · petrol station · 120 m off route
  9. 11.4 kmPeterculter Pharmacy · pharmacy · 170 m off route
  10. 18.2 kmPark Shop · convenience store · 70 m off route
  11. 23.7 kmMilton Brasserie · restaurant · 80 m off route
  12. 27.9 kmRide Coffee House · café · 110 m off route
  13. 28.4 kmToilets · 100 m off route
  14. 28.4 kmBanchory Cycles · bike shop · 140 m off route
  15. 28.4 kmBanchory Clinic · clinic · 110 m off route
  16. 44.1 kmGolden House · fast food · on the route
  17. 44.2 kmVillage Store · convenience store · on the route
  18. 44.3 kmToilets · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 0 km — Aberdeen (station), 740 m off route
  • 25.5 km — Riverside Halt (station), on the route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 0 km — A ABD CR (archaeological site)
  • 3.4 km — Kaim Hill (peak, 52 m)
  • 16.8 km — The Keith Tower (monument)
  • 25.9 km — Welcome to Banchory Stone (monument)

At the start

  • The Park Cafe · café · 560 m
  • Ferryhill Stores · convenience store · 400 m
  • Papa John's · fast food · 230 m
  • Londis · convenience store · 200 m
  • Sweet Mumma's Kitchen · café · 330 m

At the finish

  • The White Cottage · restaurant · 690 m

Stay after this ride

  • Lodge on the Loch Hotel · hotel · 1.1 km from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Mixed
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
3 h 34 min
Best months
Jul to Aug — daily highs of 17 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch with no café, shop or water for 12.3 km after 28.9 km
  • 1.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane
  • 3.2 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limit or more
  • Gravel or unpaved surface for 47% of route

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Bill Harrison · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Stanley Howe · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Scott Cormie · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons