Carrbridge to Blair Atholl
- 101 km
- 392 m
- Hard
- Paved
Elevation profile
- 392 m
- 101 km
Route overview
Riders suited to a 100 km ride with moderate climbing (392 m) on mixed surfaces.
Stage 2 of 7 of the EuroVelo 1: 100.5 km from Carrbridge to Blair Atholl with 392 m of climbing, on the signed route.
Starting in Carrbridge at 131 m elevation, the route heads through Chapelton and Boat of Garten, reaching Aviemore at 15.6 km and continuing past Inverdruie and Dalnavert. It crosses near Ord Bàn (428 m) and Torr Alvie (358 m) around 20-21 km, then moves on to Feshiebridge and Insh, reaching Kingussie and Newtonmore before 45 km. The route climbs steadily to its highest point at 457 m near 71 km before descending towards Blair Atholl. The surface is mainly paved (91%) with some gravel or unpaved sections (8%). The road types include 33.6 km on main roads, 23.9 km on cycle paths, and smaller proportions on minor roads, tracks, and quiet streets. Notable named roads are B970 for 21.1 km and U2387 for 7.8 km. There are 39.7 km on main roads without cycle lanes and 52.5 km on roads with posted limits of 80 km/h or more. Places to refuel or stop include cafés at 0.5 km near Carrbridge, the Osprey Cafe at 6.9 km, the Folk Park Coffee Shop at 43.2 km, and the Apiary at 61.7 km. Shops and bike shops are available at Carrbridge, Boat of Garten, Aviemore, Kingussie, and Dalwhinnie. The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 30 km from 62.2 km to 92.2 km. There are bailout stations at Carrbridge, Boat of Garten, Aviemore, Kingussie, Dalwhinnie, and Blair Atholl.
Highlights
- Peaks near the road: Ord Bàn and Torr Alvie
- Highest point at 457 m near 71 km
- Longest descent of 3.6 km starting at 79 km
- Main road section including B970 for 21.1 km
Along the route
Places passed
What this ride is like
- Roads
- 34% main road · 24% cycle path · 21% minor road · 6% quiet street
- Main roads
- 39.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 52.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 25.6 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B970 (21 km), U2387 (8 km), B8079 (5 km), B9153 (4 km)
- Surface
- Paved throughout
- Gradient
- 7% climbing · 13% descending · 80% flat
- Longest descent
- 3.6 km from 79 km, dropping 69 m
Along the way
Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 30 km, from 62 km to 92 km.
Food, water and shops
- 0 kmSpar · convenience store · 120 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 0.5 kmCafé · 80 m off route
- 7.3 kmBoat of Garten Post Office and village shop · convenience store · on the route
- 7.3 kmCairngorm Bike & Hike · bike shop · 90 m off route
- 15.9 kmBoots · pharmacy · 150 m off route
- 16 kmTesco · supermarket · 150 m off route
- 16 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 16.4 kmBP · petrol station · 60 m off route
- 40.1 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 40 m off route
- 43.2 kmThe Folk Park Coffee Shop · café · on the route
- 43.3 kmToilets · on the route
- 44.4 kmStrathspey Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 47.7 kmRalia Cafe · café · 40 m off route
- 61.7 kmThe Apiary · café · 150 m off route
- 62.2 kmConvenience store · 60 m off route
- 94.3 kmCafé · 80 m off route
- 99.3 kmConvenience store · 70 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Carrbridge (station), 890 m off route
- 7.3 km — Boat of Garten (station), 120 m off route
- 16.4 km — Aviemore (station), 160 m off route
- 39.8 km — Kingussie (station), 60 m off route
- 61.7 km — Dalwhinnie (station), 310 m off route
- 99.2 km — Blair Atholl (station), 70 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.7 km — Bamboozeleum (attraction)
- 14.7 km — Cairngorm Brewery (attraction)
- 17.8 km — TreeZone (attraction)
- 43.1 km — Lochanhully House (attraction)
- 61.1 km — Dalwhinnie Distillery (attraction)
- 79.2 km — The Wade Stone (monument)
At the start
- Cairn Hotel · bar · 50 m
- Istanbul Kebab House · fast food · 90 m
- Spar · convenience store · 120 m
- Carrbridge · station · 890 m
At the finish
- Blair Atholl · station · 140 m
- Bothy Bar · pub · 70 m
- Blair Atholl Watermill Tea Room · café · 170 m
- Blair Castle Caravan Park Shop · convenience store · 340 m
- Craft Beer Centre · fast food · 360 m
Stay after this ride
- Atholl Arms Hotel · hotel · 60 m from the finish
- Blair Castle Caravan Park · campsite · 470 m from the finish
- Bridge of Tilt Hotel · hotel · 580 m from the finish
- The Firs · guest house · 600 m from the finish
- Ptarmigan house · guest house · 690 m from the finish
Practical information
- Paved
- Point to point
- 7 h 11 min
- Jun to Aug — daily highs of 16–17 °C in those months
Know before you go
- 30 km longest stretch without café, shop or water after 62.2 km
- 39.7 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 52.5 km on fast roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- 8% gravel or unpaved surface