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Ballater to Montrose

Ballater, Aberdeenshire, United KingdomGravel

Signed route The waymarked Scotland Trail (regional route), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Stage 6 of 6 of the Scotland Trail. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

86 km
Distance
986 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Mixed
Surface
Download GPXMap
Motrose Pavilion
Photo: Orit Kislev · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
986 m
Distance
86 km
02004006008001,000m0 km20406086 km913 m · highest, at 29.1 kmStartFinish

Route overview

Riders suited for a long ride with significant climbing and mixed surfaces.

Stage 6 of 6 of the Scotland Trail: 85.7 km from Ballater to Montrose with 986 m of climbing, on the signed route.

The route starts in Ballater at 0 km, passing through Tullich (2.3 km), Cambus o' May (4.2 km), Dinnet (10.4 km), and Tanar (15.4 km). Early climbs include a 2.1 km ascent gaining 80 m starting at 11.1 km with a max gradient of 10.4%, followed by a 4.2 km climb of 104 m average 2.5%. The main climb begins at 22.8 km, rising 592 m over 5.8 km with an average 10.2% gradient and a steepest 500 m section at 24.3%. The highest point is 912 m at 28.6 km near Mount Keen. From here the route descends for 4.9 km dropping 603 m towards Tarfside (43.4 km).

Highlights

  • Mount Keen near 28.6 km at 912 m
  • Longest descent 4.9 km dropping 603 m
  • Climb up to 26% gradient at 28.4 km
  • Knockie Viewpoint near 15.7 km

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Tullich 2.3 km
  2. Cambus o' May 4.2 km
  3. Dinnet 10.4 km
  4. Tanar 15.4 km
  5. Tarfside 43.4 km
  6. Millden 49 km
  7. Gannochy 60.3 km
  8. Edzell 62.2 km
  9. Westside 64.8 km
  10. Inchbare 65.6 km
  11. Newtonmill 67 km
  12. East Mains of Keithock 67.8 km
  13. Trinity 68.5 km
  14. Burnside of Keithock 68.5 km
  15. Templewood 68.9 km
  16. Huntlyhill 70.8 km
  17. Muirshade of Gallery 75.7 km
  18. South Hill of Craigo 76.3 km
  19. Three Laws 76.8 km
  20. Hillhead of Hedderwick 78.4 km
  21. Rosemount 78.8 km
  22. Hillside 80.1 km
  23. Montrose 83.1 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—11.1 km2.1 km80 m3.8 %10.4 %238 m
—17 km4.2 km104 m2.5 %3.7 %302 m
—22.8 km5.8 km592 m10.2 %26 %912 m

High point 912 m at 28.6 km; low point 4 m. Passes beneath Craigendarroch, Mon, Belrorie Hill.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
42% minor road · 24% track · 12% main road · 11% cycle path
Main roads
10.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
7.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
9.3 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
B966 (8 km)
Surface
62% paved · 38% gravel or unpaved
Gradient
18% climbing · 19% descending · 63% flat
Steep sections
3.9 km over 5% · 3.4 km over 8% · 2.9 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 24.3% at 28.4 km
Longest descent
4.9 km from 29.2 km, dropping 603 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.

Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 62 km, from 0 km to 62 km.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0 kmOrka Artisa Cafe & Bistro · café · 100 m off route
  2. 0 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 140 m off route
  3. 0 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 130 m off route
  4. 0 kmToilets · 230 m off route
  5. 0 kmBike Station Ballater · bike shop · 70 m off route
  6. 0.1 kmBallater Clinic · clinic · 90 m off route
  7. 0.2 kmRiverside Garage · petrol station · 240 m off route
  8. 14.3 kmToilets · 80 m off route
  9. 43.4 kmToilets · 50 m off route
  10. 58.5 kmToilets · 60 m off route
  11. 62.1 kmSinclair's Larder · café · 50 m off route
  12. 62.1 kmDrinking water · 100 m off route
  13. 62.1 kmEdzell Pharmacy · pharmacy · 30 m off route
  14. 62.2 kmHamish A MacKay · petrol station · on the route
  15. 82.3 kmLidl · supermarket · 80 m off route
  16. 82.3 kmAsda · petrol station · 40 m off route
  17. 83.1 kmDavidsons Chemists · pharmacy · 390 m off route
  18. 84.4 kmTraill Pavillion · café · 30 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 83.1 km — Montrose (station), 490 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 15.7 km — Knockie Viewpoint (viewpoint)
  • 28.6 km — Mount Keen (peak, 939 m)
  • 37 km — Invermark Castle (castle)
  • 51.7 km — Colmeallie (archaeological site)
  • 62.6 km — Dalhousie Arch (attraction)

At the start

  • Orka Artisa Cafe & Bistro · café · 100 m
  • Bike Station Ballater · bike shop · 70 m
  • The Bothy Ballater · café · 120 m
  • Rothesay Rooms · restaurant · 20 m
  • Co-op Food · supermarket · 140 m

At the finish

  • Traill Pavillion · café · 30 m
  • East Coast Burgers · café · 100 m
  • Roo's Leap · restaurant · 390 m
  • Kontiki · bar · 400 m

Stay after this ride

  • Grey Harlings · hotel · 460 m from the finish
  • Park Hotel · hotel · 930 m from the finish
  • Links Hotel · hotel · 960 m from the finish
  • Star Hotel · hotel · 1.2 km from the finish
  • George Hotel · hotel · 1.2 km from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Mixed
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
7 h 08 min
Best months
Jun to Aug — daily highs of 17–18 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water 61.9 km
  • 10.5 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 7.3 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
  • 38% of route is gravel or unpaved

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

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Orit Kislev · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Stanley Howe · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Russel Wills · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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