Road · United Kingdom
Tweed Cycleway
A rolling 117 km road cycling route from Biggar, South Lanarkshire through Hartree Square, Kirkton and Walkerburn, with 762 m of climbing. There is a 24 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 75–99).
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 117.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 762 m
- Riding time
- 8 h 23 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 24 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Biggar
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 762 m
- 117 km
Route description
- Biggar
- Hartree Square
- Kirkton
- Walkerburn
- Boleside
- Melrose
- Bemersyde
- Greatridgehall
- Muserig
Starting just after Biggar at 0.2 km, the route passes through several places within the first 35 km including Hartree Square, Kilbucho Mains, Broughton, Stobo, Lyne Station and Peebles. The ride includes several climbs: a 1 km climb from 12.7 km gaining 43 m at 4.4%, a 1.5 km climb from 24 km gaining 45 m at 2.9%, and a longer 1.9 km climb from 77.5 km gaining 75 m at 3.9%. The highest point is at 26.3 km at 251 m, near Hunt Hill. The surface is mostly paved (96%) with minor sections of gravel and unmapped surfaces. The roads vary between minor roads (51%), main roads (36%), quiet streets and paths. Main roads without cycle lanes account for 42 km, with 54 km of roads posted at 80 km/h or more.
Why ride this route?
- A 5.9 km descent dropping 111 m.
Highlights
- Highest point near Hunt Hill at 251 m
- Biggar start with cafés and shops
- Scott's View viewpoint at 80.7 km
- Longest climb 1.9 km at 3.9% from 77.5 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 12.7 km | 1 km · 43 m · 4.4 % · max 6.7 % | 247 m |
| Unnamed climb | 24 km | 1.5 km · 45 m · 2.9 % · max 5 % | 221 m |
| Unnamed climb | 77.5 km | 1.9 km · 75 m · 3.9 % · max 6.6 % | 175 m |
| Unnamed climb | 101.6 km | 2.1 km · 63 m · 3.1 % · max 5.3 % | 99 m |
| Unnamed climb | 104.2 km | 2.6 km · 50 m · 1.9 % · max 2.8 % | 153 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (42.4 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 51% minor road · 36% main road · 4% quiet street · 3% path · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 42.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 54 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 3.9 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B7062 (11 km), B712 (5 km), B6356 (5 km), B6396 (4 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 96% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 12% climbing · 19% descending · 69% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.4 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 13.7% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 5.9 km from 110.1 km, dropping 111 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 24 km, from km 75 to 99. Along the route: 91 cafés and restaurants, 19 shops, 8 water points, 3 petrol stations, 13 public toilets and 7 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.2 kmToilets · 100 m off route
- 0.4 kmAroma · café · on the route
- 0.4 kmGraeme Pharmacy · pharmacy · 100 m off route
- 11.2 kmDrinking water · 70 m off route
- 11.6 kmLaurel Bank · café · 100 m off route
- 34.3 kmGlen Road Stores · convenience store · 130 m off route
- 34.9 kmThe Fat Batard · bakery · 270 m off route
- 34.9 kmBoots · pharmacy · 310 m off route
- 39.8 kmToilets · 110 m off route
- 48.3 kmDrinking water · 160 m off route
- 68.1 kmWater tap · 50 m off route
- 72.1 kmBP MFG Tweedbank Service Station · petrol station · 170 m off route
- 74.4 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 74.7 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 74.8 kmBoots · pharmacy · 70 m off route
- 99.4 kmLady Bennett's Well · spring · 120 m off route
- 99.9 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 120 m off route
- 100.2 kmSimon Porteous Cycles · bike shop · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 71.7 km — Tweedbank (station), 80 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.5 km — Biggar Motte (archaeological site)
- 40.8 km — Cardrona Standing Stone (archaeological site)
- 74.2 km — Angus Douglas-Hamilton (monument)
- 77.5 km — Trimontium viewing platform (viewpoint)
- 80.7 km — Scott's View (viewpoint)
- 90.1 km — Site of Free Church (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- Coldstream Holiday Park · campsite · 2.3 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- The Coffee Spot (160 m), Aroma (350 m), Townhead Fish & Chips (130 m)
- Shops
- Brownlie's (320 m)
Know before you go
- 24.4 km without café, shop or water from 74.8 to 99.2 km
- 42 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 54 km of roads with posted limits of 80 km/h or more
