Mixed · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 7 · EuroVelo 1← Stage 1Stage 3 →
Carrbridge to Blair Atholl
A flat 101 km road cycling route from Carrbridge, Highland to Blair Atholl through Chapleton, Aviemore and Dalnavert, with 392 m of climbing. There is a 30 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 62–92).
At a glance
- Best for
- Flat, steady riding for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 100.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 392 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 11 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 30 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Carrbridge → Blair Atholl
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 392 m
- 101 km
Route description
- Carrbridge
- Chapleton
- Aviemore
- Dalnavert
- Tromie Mills
- Newtonmore
- Crubenbeg
- Clunes
- Pitagowan
- Blair Atholl
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.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 457 m, 71 km in.
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
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (39.7 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 34% main road · 24% cycle path · 21% minor road · 6% quiet street · 15% other roads and tracks
- 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
- Predominantly paved: 91% is mapped as paved, 8% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 7% climbing · 13% descending · 80% flat
- Longest descent
- 3.6 km from 79 km, dropping 69 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 30 km, from km 62 to 92. Along the route: 64 cafés and restaurants, 15 shops, 3 water points, 4 petrol stations, 14 public toilets and 6 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 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)
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
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Carrbridge (890 m)
- Food and coffee
- Cairn Hotel (50 m), Istanbul Kebab House (90 m)
- Shops
- Spar (120 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Blair Atholl (140 m)
- Food and coffee
- Bothy Bar (70 m), Blair Atholl Watermill Tea Room (170 m), Craft Beer Centre (360 m)
- Shops
- Blair Castle Caravan Park Shop (340 m)
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
