Road · United Kingdom
Oxnam and Crailing
A hilly 28 km road cycling loop from Crailing, Scottish Borders through Baittens, West Ulston and Hartrigge, with 419 m of climbing. There is a 22 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 6–28).
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 28 km
- Elevation gain
- 419 m
- Riding time
- 2 h
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 22 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Crailing
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 419 m
- 28 km
Route description
- Crailing
- Baittens
- West Ulston
- Hartrigge
- Howden
- Newbigging Birks
- Oxnam Cottage
- Oxnam Neuk
- Cappuck
- Crailing
This 28 km route starts and finishes in Crailing, passing through places including Baittens, Ulston, Jedburgh, Dolphinston, and Oxnam. The first half contains 82% of the climbing with several climbs: 2.6 km at 4.4% average starting near 0.9 km, 2 km at 4.2% from 5.8 km, and others up to 2.4 km long. The highest point is 223 m at 14.5 km near Dolphinston. The route is mostly on minor roads (92%) with some quiet streets and 0.6 km on main roads. The surface is 98% paved with 2% gravel or unpaved.
There are no cafes or shops for the long stretch from 6.3 km to 27.8 km, so the best place to refuel is around Jedburgh at 5-6 km. Facilities there include a café (Border Meringues), a supermarket (Co-op Food), toilets, a bike repair stand, and a petrol station. Points of interest near the route include a chapel ruin near the start, a monument at 5.9 km, the Capon Tree at 9 km, and the Cappuck Roman fort at 23.3 km. Peaks near the road include Galla Knowe at 20.6 km and Trumpeters Knowe at 25 km.
The profile shows 37% of the route climbing, 34% descending, and 30% flat with a longest descent of 3.3 km dropping 75 m starting at 16.5 km. The steepest 500 m segment is 6.4% gradient at 6.2 km. The route has 9.8 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more and 2.8 km of steep climbing over 5%.
Highlights
- Peaks near route: Galla Knowe and Trumpeters Knowe
- Climb starting at 0.9 km, 2.6 km at 4.4% average gradient
- Route passes through Jedburgh with shops and café at 5.9 km
- Cappuck Roman fort archaeological site at 23.3 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.9 km | 2.6 km · 112 m · 4.4 % · max 5.7 % | 177 m |
| Unnamed climb | 5.8 km | 2 km · 86 m · 4.2 % · max 7.1 % | 164 m |
| Unnamed climb | 8.5 km | 1.9 km · 53 m · 2.8 % · max 4.8 % | 188 m |
| Unnamed climb | 12.1 km | 2.4 km · 92 m · 3.8 % · max 6.5 % | 223 m |
| Unnamed climb | 23.8 km | 1.6 km · 61 m · 3.7 % · max 6 % | 161 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map.
- Roads
- 92% minor road · 4% quiet street · 2% main road · 2% other roads and tracks
- Fast roads
- 9.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 37% climbing · 34% descending · 30% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.8 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.4% at 6.2 km
- Longest descent
- 3.3 km from 16.5 km, dropping 75 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 22 km, from km 6 to 28. Along the route: 18 cafés and restaurants, 4 shops, 1 petrol station, 1 public toilet and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 5 kmToilets · 290 m off route
- 5.2 kmBorder Meringues · café · 150 m off route
- 5.2 kmEsso · petrol station · 190 m off route
- 5.9 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 270 m off route
- 5.9 kmJedburgh Pharmacy · pharmacy · 320 m off route
- 6.3 kmRepair stand · 420 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.5 km — Chapel (ruins)
- 5.9 km — Loupin’- on stane (monument)
- 9 km — Capon Tree (attraction)
- 23.3 km — Cappuck Roman fort (archaeological site)
Know before you go
- No café, shop or water for 21.5 km from 6.3 km to 27.8 km
- 9.8 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- 0.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
