Road · United Kingdom
Cavers and Stobs
A hilly 26 km road cycling loop from Cavers, Scottish Borders through Cavers Mains, East Middle and Stobs, with 255 m of climbing. The first 26 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 25.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 255 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 51 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- None mapped
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Cavers
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 255 m
- 26 km
Route description
- Cavers
- Cavers Mains
- East Middle
- Whitriggs
- Hawthornside
- Stobs
- Newmill
- Flex
- Greenbraehead
- Cavers
This 25.8 km loop starts and ends at Cavers in the Scottish Borders, passing through thirteen places including Cavers Garden Farm, Stobs, and Kinninghall. The route has 255 m of elevation gain and includes three main climbs: a 2.5 km climb from Whitriggs averaging 2.8% to 228 m, a 1.7 km climb after Hawthornside averaging 2.4% to 281 m, and a steeper 1.3 km climb near Greenbraehead averaging 4.7% which peaks at 196 m.
The route is mostly on paved surfaces (99%) with 1% gravel or unpaved. The roads are predominantly minor roads (17 km, 66%) with 8.3 km on main roads, including 6.6 km on the B6399. The entire 8.3 km of main roads lack cycle lanes, and 19.5 km of the route are on fast roads with posted speed limits of 80 km/h or more. There are no cafes, shops, water, toilets, or bike shops along the route, making this a self-sufficient ride.
The terrain features significant climbs and descents, including a longest descent of 4.2 km dropping 98 m starting from km 14. The profile varies with 28% climbing, 29% descending, and 42% flat sections. Peaks near the road include Peat Law at 343 m, White Hill at 299 m, and Haits Hill at 279 m, all near the middle to later stages of the route.
Highlights
- Climb from Whitriggs to 228 m at 6.3 km
- Peak of Peat Law near 12.7 km
- Climb near Greenbraehead with max 7.7% gradient
- Longest descent 4.2 km from 14 km dropping 98 m
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 3.8 km | 2.5 km · 70 m · 2.8 % · max 4.1 % | 228 m |
| Unnamed climb | 8.4 km | 1.7 km · 41 m · 2.4 % · max 3.9 % | 281 m |
| Unnamed climb | 20.4 km | 1.3 km · 61 m · 4.7 % · max 7.7 % | 196 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (8.3 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 66% minor road · 32% main road · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 8.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 19.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B6399 (7 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 28% climbing · 29% descending · 42% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.7 km over 5% · 0.3 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 11.9% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 4.2 km from 14 km, dropping 98 m
Food, water and services
No café, shop or water point is mapped along the route - carry everything you need.
Worth a stop
- 12.7 km — Peat Law (peak, 343 m)
- 16.3 km — Denholm Hill (archaeological site)
- 23.2 km — Site of Cocklaw Castle (archaeological site)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch with no café, shop, or water is 25.7 km
- 8.3 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 19.5 km on fast roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
