Road · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 3 · Great North Trail (John O' Groats)← Stage 1Stage 3 →
Altnaharra to Watten
A rolling 108 km gravel route from Altnaharra, Highland to Watten through Syre, Badanloch Lodge and Kinbrace, with 594 m of climbing. Most of it (73 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 4.7 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 53 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 55–107). Mixed surface: 75% is mapped as paved and 25% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 108.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 594 m
- Riding time
- 9 h 02 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 53 km
- Best months
- Jul to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Altnaharra → Watten
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 594 m
- 108 km
Route description
- Altnaharra
- Syre
- Badanloch Lodge
- Kinbrace
- Lochside
- Forsinard
- Strathmore Lodge
- Mybster
- Spittal
- Watten
The route starts at Altnaharra and heads to Syre at 18.2 km, where the first climb begins. This 3.7 km climb averages 3.1% and gains 115 m up to 165 m. A second shorter climb follows between 25.4 km and 27.3 km with a 2.6% average gradient. The ride continues mostly on the B871, B873, A897, and B870 main roads for 73 km, all without cycle lanes, interspersed with 26.6 km of tracks and minor roads.
Beyond Kinbrace at 43.1 km there is a bailout station, with refuges also at Forsinard (54.7 km) and Altnabreac (76.7 km). A longer 4.4 km climb starting at 60.8 km gains 139 m at an average of 3.2%, peaking at 211 m near Sletill Hill. The route then descends towards Watten at 107.2 km and 28 m altitude passing archaeological sites close to Mybster and Lochside.
The surface is 75% paved and 25% gravel or unpaved. There is a longest stretch of 52.5 km without café, shop or water from Forsinard onwards. Water and toilets are available at Forsinard and Watten. The finish at Watten has a pub and a convenience store a short distance off route.
Highlights
- Climb near Sletill Hill at 65 km height 211 m
- Bailout station at Kinbrace 43 km
- Longest stretch without café or water 52.5 km after Forsinard
- Archaeological sites near Mybster 97.6 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 17.9 km | 3.7 km · 115 m · 3.1 % · max 4.4 % | 165 m |
| Unnamed climb | 25.4 km | 1.9 km · 48 m · 2.6 % · max 3 % | 178 m |
| Unnamed climb | 60.8 km | 4.4 km · 139 m · 3.2 % · max 5.7 % | 211 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 67% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 4.7 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 68% main road · 25% track · 6% minor road · 1% quiet street
- Main roads
- 73 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 4.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B871 (25 km), B873 (18 km), A897 (17 km), B870 (13 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 75% is mapped as paved and 25% as gravel or unpaved.
- Gradient
- 15% climbing · 15% descending · 70% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.6 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 7.6% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 4.6 km from 53.1 km, dropping 84 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 53 km, from km 55 to 107. Along the route: 2 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop, 2 water points and 2 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 30.2 kmGarvault House · restaurant · 380 m off route
- 54.7 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 54.7 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 107.2 kmThe Brown Trout · pub · on the route
- 107.2 kmWoodside Village Store · convenience store · 90 m off route
- 107.2 kmToilets · 100 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 43.1 km — Kinbrace (station), 40 m off route
- 54.7 km — Forsinard (station), 40 m off route
- 76.7 km — Altnabreac (station), 130 m off route
Worth a stop
- 10.5 km — Coill' Ach' a' Chùil Broch (archaeological site)
- 94.1 km — Tulach Buaile a' Chroic, Broch (archaeological site)
- 97.6 km — Mybster Broch (archaeological site)
- 107.2 km — Alexander Bain Monument (monument)
Stay after this ride
- Caithness Camping Pods · campsite · 3.7 km from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- The Brown Trout (30 m)
- Shops
- Woodside Village Store (90 m)
Know before you go
- 73 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 4.7 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limit
- 25% gravel or unpaved surface
- No café, shop or water for 52.5 km after Forsinard