Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 79
A flat 77 km mixed-surface cycling route from Boat of Garten, Highland through Nethy Bridge, Grantown-on-Spey and Aberlour, with 303 m of climbing. There is a 34 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 18–52). Mixed surface: 46% is mapped as paved and 45% as gravel or unpaved and 9% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Flat, steady riding
- Distance
- 76.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 303 m
- Riding time
- 5 h 29 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed, much unpaved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 34 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Boat of Garten
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 303 m
- 77 km
Route description
- Boat of Garten
- Nethy Bridge
- Grantown-on-Spey
- Aberlour
- Rothes
- Easter Whitewreath
- Longmorn
- Ashgrove
- Newmill
This 76.8 km point-to-point ride starts at Boat of Garten, reaching its highest point at 254 m around km 5.2 near Nethy Bridge, passed at 8.4 km. It descends gradually, with the lowest elevation at 10 m near the end around km 76.4. The route features a notable climb from 24.8 km to 27 km, gaining 74 m at an average gradient of 3.3% with a max of 4.9%, reaching 249 m elevation.
The road surface is mixed, with 46% paved, 45% gravel or unpaved, and the rest unmapped. The route includes 21.4 km of paths, 19.8 km on main roads (20.2 km of which lack cycle lanes), 9.1 km on tracks, 8.2 km on cycle paths or lanes, and minor roads and quiet streets make up the remainder. The longest sustained steep gradient over 500m is 14.3% at the route start.
Cyclists pass through many places including Grantown-on-Spey (18.1 km), Aberlour (52.2 km), and Elgin (75.1 km). The longest stretch without cafés, shops, or water is 33.9 km from km 18.1 to 52. Notable amenities include cafés in Nethy Bridge (8.4 km), Grantown-on-Spey (18.1 km), and Craigellachie (55.4 km). Bailout stations are at Boat of Garten, Broomhill, and Elgin. Several peaks, including Tom na Laimh at 290 m near km 28.4, are near the route.
Highlights
- Nethy Bridge at 8.4 km
- Grantown-on-Spey at 18.1 km
- Climb of 74 m at 24.8–27 km
- Tom na Laimh peak near 28.4 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 24.8 km | 2.2 km · 74 m · 3.3 % · max 4.9 % | 249 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (20.2 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 28% path · 26% main road · 12% track · 11% cycle path · 16% other roads and tracks · 7% unmapped
- Main roads
- 20.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 19.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 8.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B9102 (18 km), C1130 (4 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 46% is mapped as paved and 45% as gravel or unpaved and 9% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 11% climbing · 13% descending · 76% flat
- Longest descent
- 3.6 km from 67.6 km, dropping 70 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 34 km, from km 18 to 52. Along the route: 40 cafés and restaurants, 9 shops, 2 petrol stations, 6 public toilets and 4 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 3.2 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 8.4 kmNethy House Café & Rooms · café · on the route
- 8.4 kmPremier · convenience store · 80 m off route
- 8.4 kmToilets · 120 m off route
- 15.4 kmRepair stand · 140 m off route
- 17.9 kmGrantown Service Station · petrol station · 190 m off route
- 18.1 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 18.4 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 18.7 kmIan Charles Hospital · hospital · 100 m off route
- 51.9 kmRepair stand · on the route
- 52.1 kmAberlour Pharmacy · pharmacy · 90 m off route
- 52.2 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 140 m off route
- 55.4 kmThe Patch · café · on the route
- 59.6 kmIrene's Tearoom · café · 170 m off route
- 59.8 kmCostcutter · supermarket · 180 m off route
- 74.2 kmBoots · pharmacy · 280 m off route
- 75.3 kmLondis · convenience store · 70 m off route
- 75.3 kmPinefield Service Station · petrol station · 50 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Boat of Garten (station), 930 m off route
- 10.2 km — Broomhill (station), 920 m off route
- 75 km — Elgin (station), 890 m off route
Worth a stop
- 3.2 km — RSPB Loch Garten (attraction)
- 16.2 km — Grantown East (attraction)
- 28.4 km — Tom na Laimh (peak, 290 m)
- 46.7 km — Sun - Solar System Walk on the Speyside Way (attraction)
- 53.6 km — Aberlour House, Column (monument)
- 59.8 km — Rothes Castle (ruins)
Stay after this ride
- The Lodge Elgin · guest house · 1.5 km from the finish
- Kilmorie House · guest house · 1.5 km from the finish
- Laichmoray Hotel · hotel · 1.7 km from the finish
- The Royal Hotel Elgin · hotel · 1.7 km from the finish
- The milton · hotel · 1.8 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Boat of Garten (930 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Costa Drive Thru (250 m), McDonald's (270 m), KFC (230 m)
- Shops
- Londis (820 m)
Know before you go
- 33.9 km without café, shop or water from 18.1 to 52 km
- 20.2 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 19.6 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
- 45% gravel or unpaved surface
