Berwick-Upon-Tweed to Troon
- 209 km
- 1,483 m
- Hard
- Paved
Elevation profile
- 1,483 m
- 209 km
Route overview
This ride suits strong endurance cyclists able to handle a long distance with moderate climbing.
A 209 km ride from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Troon in England with 2463 m climbing.
Starting near Berwick-upon-Tweed at 1 km, the route heads northwest through places including Paxton, Greenlaw, and Earlston. It features four main climbs: a 5 km climb from 49.8 km with 155 m gain peaking at 262 m, followed by shorter climbs near 57.5 km, 64.4 km, and again at 139.1 km and 144.9 km with moderate gradients around 2.5-3.7%. The highest point at 56 km is 276 m. After the climbs, the route descends generally towards the finish at Barassie near Troon at 199.5 km with a low point of 3 m at about 200 km. The route is mostly paved (95%) with minor gravel and unmapped sections. About half (102 km) is on main roads, largely without cycle lanes, and around 95 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. There are sections on minor roads, quiet streets, cycle paths (8 km total), and tracks, with some named roads such as the A71 and B6461. The longest descent is 4.5 km starting near 175 km. Food and drink options are limited between 1.1 km and 49.5 km with a 48 km stretch without cafes or shops, but plentiful thereafter including several cafes and restaurants from km 49.9 onwards. There are also multiple bike shops and petrol stations along the route. Bailout points with stations are found near the start at Berwick-upon-Tweed, at Lanark (136 km), and near the finish at Barassie.
Highlights
- Climbs near Earlston with 155 m gain
- Peaks near the route: Harcarse Hill and Elwart Law
- Named roads: A71 and B6461
- Long 48 km stretch without café or shop after Berwick-upon-Tweed
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | Length | Gain | Average | Max | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowdenknowes Mains climb | 49.8 km | 5 km | 155 m | 3.1 % | 7.8 % | 262 m |
| — | 57.5 km | 1.6 km | 52 m | 3.3 % | 5 % | 243 m |
| — | 64.4 km | 2.3 km | 61 m | 2.6 % | 4.8 % | 237 m |
| — | 139.1 km | 2.7 km | 66 m | 2.5 % | 5.3 % | 169 m |
| — | 144.9 km | 1.4 km | 50 m | 3.7 % | 5.3 % | 179 m |
Cowdenknowes Mains climb · starts at 49.8 km
What this ride is like
- Roads
- 51% main road · 29% minor road · 8% quiet street · 4% cycle path
- Main roads
- 102.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 94.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 10.7 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- A71 (18 km), B6461 (15 km), B7086 (13 km), A72 (12 km)
- Surface
- Paved throughout
- Gradient
- 13% climbing · 12% descending · 74% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.9 km over 5%
- Longest descent
- 4.5 km from 175.3 km, dropping 95 m
Along the way
Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 48 km, from 1 km to 50 km.
Food, water and shops
- 0 kmToilets · 210 m off route
- 49.9 kmDragonfly Café · café · 70 m off route
- 50.2 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 78.7 kmWalkerburn Convenience Stores · convenience store · on the route
- 79 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 81.7 kmTweed Valley Bikes · bike shop · 400 m off route
- 92 kmKeyStore · convenience store · 40 m off route
- 92 kmBP · petrol station · 180 m off route
- 92.3 kmToilets · 140 m off route
- 109.8 kmBroughton Village Store · convenience store · on the route
- 117.3 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 200 m off route
- 117.3 kmGraeme Pharmacy · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 134.8 kmInn on the Loch · restaurant · on the route
- 134.8 kmBike shop · 150 m off route
- 136 kmLidl · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 146.5 kmJET · petrol station · 160 m off route
- 155.2 kmRepair stand · 150 m off route
- 186.6 kmCampbell's Fuel Oils · petrol station · 110 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 1.1 km — Berwick-upon-Tweed (station), 190 m off route
- 136 km — Lanark (station), 270 m off route
- 142 km — Clyde Valley Station (station), 1.2 km off route
- 199.7 km — Barassie (station), 170 m off route
Worth a stop
- 73.9 km — Tweed Valley Forest Park Thornilee (viewpoint)
- 86.8 km — Cardrona Standing Stone (archaeological site)
- 93.8 km — Neidpath Castle (castle)
- 117.7 km — Biggar Motte (archaeological site)
- 136 km — Ruins of Church of St Kentigern's (ruins)
- 176.2 km — Newmilns Tower (castle)
At the start
- The Pilot Inn · pub · 550 m
- Berwick-upon-Tweed · station · 940 m
- Costa · café · 970 m
- The Castle · pub · 870 m
- Ozkan's Grill · fast food · 840 m
At the finish
- Barassie · station · 510 m
- Barassie Chippy · fast food · 260 m
- Barassie Stores · convenience store · 260 m
- Cafè 141 · café · 980 m
- Meadowgreen Surgery · clinic · 940 m
Stay after this ride
- The Bank by Coorie Doon Stays · apartment · 1.7 km from the finish
- The Anchorage Hotel · hotel · 1.8 km from the finish
- Old Loans Inn · hotel · 2.1 km from the finish
- Highghrove House Hotel · hotel · 2.5 km from the finish
- South Beach Hotel · hotel · 2.2 km from the finish
Practical information
- Paved
- Point to point
- 10–14 hours riding
- July
- Jun to Sep — daily highs of 16–18 °C in those months
Know before you go
- 48 km without café, shop or water from 1.1 km to 49.5 km
- 102 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 94.5 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- 0.9 km with gradient over 5%