Gravel · United Kingdom
Stage 3 of 3 · EuroVelo 12 from Inverness← Stage 2
Altnaharra to Thurso
A hilly 95 km road cycling route from Altnaharra, Highland to Thurso through Braetongue, Coldbackie and Achina, with 940 m of climbing. Most of it (78.1 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 27.2 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. The first 28 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 94.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 940 m
- Riding time
- 6 h 46 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 28 km
- Best months
- Jul to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Altnaharra → Thurso
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 940 m
- 95 km
Route description
- Altnaharra
- Braetongue
- Coldbackie
- Achina
- Armadale
- Portskerra
- New Reay
- Achvasadal
- Westfield
- Thurso
Starting at Altnaharra (0 km), the route immediately begins climbing, with the first 4.3 km gaining 126 m at an average gradient of 2.9%, reaching 206 m elevation. After this initial climb, the route descends and undulates, passing Braetongue (24.5 km), Tongue (25.3 km), and Coldbackie (29.6 km). A series of moderate climbs occur between 30.5 km and 69.9 km; the longest is 3 km starting at 36 km with an average gradient of 3.3% and a maximum of 8.9%. The highest point of the ride is at 228 m around 6.6 km in. The route descends to its lowest point of 8 m at 44 km near Invernaver.
The route primarily follows the A836 main road for 76 km, with a total of 83% of the ride on main roads and 14% on minor roads. Almost all the surface is paved, with only 1% unpaved. There are 78.1 km of main roads without cycle lanes, and 27.2 km of these roads have 80 km/h or higher speed limits. Places passed include Bettyhill at 46 km and Melvich at 66.6 km. Several cafés and pubs for stopovers or refuelling are near the route, including Weavers café at 28 km and The Café at Bettyhill at 46.9 km. There is a long stretch of 28 km from Altnaharra with no café, shop, or water. Thurso station at 93.6 km is a bailout point.
Notable peaks near the road include Cnoc a' Mhòid (253 m) at 5.4 km, Ben Tongue (302 m) at 28 km, and Cnoc an Fhreiceadain (307 m) at 30.2 km, close to the midsection of the route. The route concludes at Thurso (93.7 km), which has several cafés, pubs, and restaurants as well as a bike shop and supermarket.
Highlights
- Cnoc a' Mhòid near 5.4 km
- Ben Tongue near 28 km
- Cnoc an Fhreiceadain near 30.2 km
- Bettyhill village at 46 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.3 km | 4.3 km · 126 m · 2.9 % · max 5.3 % | 206 m |
| Unnamed climb | 30.5 km | 1.5 km · 42 m · 2.8 % · max 4.1 % | 100 m |
| Unnamed climb | 36 km | 3 km · 101 m · 3.3 % · max 8.9 % | 151 m |
| Unnamed climb | 44.1 km | 1.7 km · 48 m · 2.8 % · max 4.3 % | 56 m |
| Unnamed climb | 46.9 km | 1.6 km · 68 m · 4.2 % · max 7.1 % | 86 m |
| Unnamed climb | 50.9 km | 1.5 km · 40 m · 2.8 % · max 4.4 % | 152 m |
| Unnamed climb | 56.2 km | 1.5 km · 65 m · 4.3 % · max 7.4 % | 94 m |
| Unnamed climb | 61.4 km | 1.9 km · 67 m · 3.5 % · max 6.7 % | 81 m |
| Unnamed climb | 68.6 km | 2.8 km · 73 m · 2.6 % · max 3.8 % | 84 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 82% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 27.2 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 83% main road · 14% minor road · 1% quiet street · 1% track · 1% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 78.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 27.2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- A836 (76 km), C1001 (13 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 25% climbing · 26% descending · 49% flat
- Steep sections
- 3 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 7.9% at 38.1 km
- Longest descent
- 4.3 km from 23.1 km, dropping 86 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 28 km, from the start. Along the route: 38 cafés and restaurants, 7 shops, 3 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmGhillies Bar · pub · 180 m off route
- 28 kmWeavers · café · 90 m off route
- 45.8 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 45.9 kmBettyhill General Merchants · convenience store · on the route
- 45.9 kmPetrol station · on the route
- 46.9 kmThe Café at Bettyhill · café · 60 m off route
- 60.9 kmStrathy Inn · restaurant · 40 m off route
- 65.9 kmWest End Stores · convenience store · 160 m off route
- 66 kmToilets · on the route
- 67.5 kmHalladale Inn · pub · on the route
- 76 kmThe Reay Shop · convenience store · on the route
- 87.6 kmOur Wee Shop · café · 240 m off route
- 92.7 kmJET · petrol station · 110 m off route
- 93.7 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 94.1 kmCardosi · café · 170 m off route
- 94.1 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 250 m off route
- 94.1 kmThe Bike Shop · bike shop · 390 m off route
- 94.1 kmNumark Pharmacist (Williamsons's) · pharmacy · 150 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 93.6 km — Thurso (station), 90 m off route
Worth a stop
- 36.6 km — Borgie Bridge Broch (archaeological site)
- 46.7 km — The Farr Stone (monument)
- 50.4 km — Bettyhill Viewpoint (viewpoint)
- 76.9 km — Reay War Memorial (monument)
Stay after this ride
- Pentland Hotel · hotel · 40 m from the finish
- Sandra's Backpackers · hostel · 70 m from the finish
- St Clair Hotel · hotel · 80 m from the finish
- Holborn Hotel · hotel · 110 m from the finish
- Muthu Royal Hotel · hotel · 120 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Ghillies Bar (180 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Pentland Hotel Pub (20 m), Olive (120 m), Northern Bites Takeaway (130 m)
Know before you go
- 28 km with no café, shop or water from km 0 to 28
- 78.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 27.2 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- 1% gravel or unpaved surface