Gravel · United Kingdom
Aberfoyle – Balloch 50
A hilly 50 km gravel loop from Aberfoyle, Stirling through Kinlochard and Milton, with 556 m of climbing. The first 42 km has no café, shop or water. Mostly unpaved: 69% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 31% as paved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 50.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 556 m
- Riding time
- 3½–5 hours
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 42 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Aberfoyle
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 556 m
- 50 km
Route description
- Aberfoyle
- Kinlochard
- Milton
- Aberfoyle
Starting from Aberfoyle at 20 m elevation, the route heads into a series of gentle climbs of 40-67 m gain over 1.5-2.7 km segments, with slopes averaging 2.3-2.8%. The highest point is reached just before 23 km at 301 m elevation, including a 2.8 km climb averaging 5.3% with a maximum gradient of 10.8%. The ride is mostly on gravel tracks covering 69% of the distance, with 31% paved. It includes 13 km on main roads, specifically the B829 road, which has no cycle lanes and speed limits of 80 km/h or above for 12.6 km. There is a longest descent of 3.5 km dropping 120 m starting near 9.6 km. The terrain features flat sections as well, making up 44% of the route. Services and stops are limited along the way, with no café, shop, or water point for 42 km after Aberfoyle. Aberfoyle at the start and finish offers cafés like The Station and Pit:stop, a bakery, a pub, a supermarket, restaurants, and bike shops. Toilets are located in Aberfoyle and near Kinlochard around 38 km. The route passes near peaks including Kirton Hill, Barr a' Ghartain, Stob a' Bhlair Bhain, and Caisteal Corrach beneath.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 301 m, 22.7 km in.
Highlights
- Climb averaging 5.3% gradient near km 20
- Highest point at 301 m elevation
- 69% of route on gravel tracks
- Passing near Barr a' Ghartain peak at km 15.5
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 1.6 km | 2.7 km · 67 m · 2.5 % · max 4.2 % | 102 m |
| Unnamed climb | 4.5 km | 2.1 km · 48 m · 2.3 % · max 3.2 % | 147 m |
| Unnamed climb | 7.7 km | 1.6 km · 42 m · 2.7 % · max 3.7 % | 198 m |
| Unnamed climb | 13.9 km | 1.5 km · 40 m · 2.8 % · max 4.7 % | 110 m |
| Unnamed climb | 16.7 km | 2.1 km · 59 m · 2.8 % · max 4.4 % | 150 m |
| Unnamed climb | 19.9 km | 2.8 km · 145 m · 5.3 % · max 10.8 % | 301 m |
| Unnamed climb | 33.3 km | 1.8 km · 47 m · 2.6 % · max 4.9 % | 159 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (13.4 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 69% track · 27% main road · 3% quiet street · 1% minor road
- Main roads
- 13.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 12.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B829 (13 km)
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved: 69% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 31% as paved.
- Gradient
- 30% climbing · 26% descending · 44% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.7 km over 5% · 0.6 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 9.3% at 22 km
- Longest descent
- 3.5 km from 9.6 km, dropping 120 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 42 km, from the start. Along the route: 10 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop, 1 water point, 2 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmThe Station · café · 150 m off route
- 0 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 100 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · 110 m off route
- 0 kmAberfoyle Bike Hire · bike shop · 220 m off route
- 0 kmAberfoyle Pharmacy · pharmacy · 110 m off route
- 38.4 kmToilets · 150 m off route
- 42.3 kmWee Blether Tea Room · café · 30 m off route
- 49.2 kmLiz MacGregors · restaurant · 50 m off route
- 49.2 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 40 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.5 km — Old Kirk (ruins)
- 15.6 km — Barr a' Ghartain (peak)
- 29.4 km — Stob a' Bhlair Bhain (peak)
- 43.3 km — Crannog (archaeological site)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- The Station (150 m), Maggie's Aberfoyle Kitchen (140 m), The Forth Inn (70 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (40 m)
Know before you go
- 13 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 12.6 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- No café, shop or water for 42 km after Aberfoyle
- Steepest 500 m section at 9.3% gradient near km 22
