Road · United Kingdom
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Dalgety Bay to Newport-on-Tay
A hilly 85 km road cycling route from Dalgety Bay, Fife to Newport-on-Tay through Inverkeithing, Abbeyview and Townhill, with 700 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 85.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 700 m
- Riding time
- 6 h 06 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 20 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Dalgety Bay → Newport-on-Tay
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 700 m
- 85 km
Route description
- Dalgety Bay
- Inverkeithing
- Abbeyview
- Townhill
- Wester Balgedie
- Lumquhat Mill
- Logie
- Hazelton Walls
- Bottomcraig
- Newport-on-Tay
Starting at Dalgety Bay, the route passes through several towns including Inverkeithing at 4.1 km and Dunfermline around 12.3 km. The road surface is mostly paved (97%) with some gravel and unpaved sections (2%). The route uses a mix of minor roads (55%), main roads (23%), cycle paths (9%), paths (6%), quiet streets (5%), and tracks (1%). Notable climbs begin near km 5 with gentle gradients averaging 2.8% and continue with varied climbs up to 4 km and 95 m elevation gain later between km 68.7 and 72.7. The highest point on the route is 286 m at km 20.3 beneath the Heights of Craigencrow.
Highlights
- Climb to 286 m beneath Heights of Craigencrow
- Passing through Dunfermline at 12.3 km
- Longest descent of 4.5 km dropping 92 m from km 42.6
- Approach to Newport-on-Tay near Wormit Hill
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 5 km | 2.4 km · 66 m · 2.8 % · max 5.5 % | 78 m |
| Unnamed climb | 10.3 km | 1.4 km · 46 m · 3.3 % · max 5.1 % | 126 m |
| Unnamed climb | 15.7 km | 2.6 km · 62 m · 2.4 % · max 3.4 % | 219 m |
| Unnamed climb | 18.5 km | 1.8 km · 66 m · 3.6 % · max 6.3 % | 286 m |
| Unnamed climb | 68.7 km | 4 km · 95 m · 2.4 % · max 4.5 % | 163 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (19 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 55% minor road · 23% main road · 9% cycle path · 6% path · 7% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 19 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 43 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 8.1 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Dryside Road (8 km), B936 (6 km), C498 (3 km), B946 (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 22% climbing · 16% descending · 61% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.8 km over 5%
- Longest descent
- 4.5 km from 42.6 km, dropping 92 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 20 km, from km 61 to 81. Along the route: 61 cafés and restaurants, 21 shops, 1 water point, 1 petrol station, 2 public toilets and 3 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 3.9 kmRyan's Bike Surgery · bike shop · 340 m off route
- 4.1 kmGallagher's Bar · pub · 30 m off route
- 4.1 kmScotmid · supermarket · 180 m off route
- 4.6 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 9.2 kmRepair stand · 540 m off route
- 9.3 kmCo-op Food · convenience store · 40 m off route
- 28.8 kmUnorthodox Roasters · café · on the route
- 28.8 kmKinross Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 29 kmKinross Church Centre Public Toilet · toilets · 50 m off route
- 36.8 kmLoch Leven Cycles · bike shop · 430 m off route
- 37 kmBalgedie Toll Tavern · pub · on the route
- 45.8 kmBankwell · spring · 90 m off route
- 51.8 kmKeyStore · convenience store · on the route
- 52 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 140 m off route
- 60.2 kmCafe De Kathy · café · on the route
- 60.2 kmCo-op Food · convenience store · on the route
- 60.8 kmGulf · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 83.6 kmFig & Fromage · café · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 4.6 km — Inverkeithing (station), 50 m off route
- 10.9 km — Dunfermline Queen Margaret (station), 130 m off route
- 28.5 km — Ferry, 400 m off route
Worth a stop
- 4.2 km — St Heriot's Well (archaeological site)
- 23.8 km — Cleish Mill (archaeological site)
- 28.8 km — Site of mill (archaeological site)
- 32.1 km — Burleigh Castle (castle)
- 51.9 km — Mercat Cross (site of) (monument)
- 61.2 km — Lindores Abbey Distillery (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- The Old Boat House · guest house · 1.6 km from the finish
- Premier Inn · hotel · 2.6 km from the finish
- Four Points Flex by Sheraton · hotel · 2.7 km from the finish
- Apex Hotel · hotel · 2.7 km from the finish
- Malmaison · hotel · 2.8 km from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Fig & Fromage (20 m), Kitch n Bake (170 m), Newport Hotel (40 m)
- Shops
- Spar (10 m), Scotmid (80 m)
Know before you go
- 19.8 km without café, shop or water from km 60.8 to 80.6
- 19 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 43 km on roads with 80 km/h or more speed limit
- 0.8 km over 5% gradient with max 5.1% at 20.2 km
