Cyclists.com

Denholm and Lillisleaf

Denholm, Scottish Borders, United KingdomRoad

Signed route The waymarked Denholm and Lillisleaf (Scottish Borders Council red), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

42 km
Distance
395 m
Elevation gain
Moderate
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
From south
Photo: WeeHolly · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
395 m
Distance
42 km
050100150200250300m0 km10203042 km249 m · highest, at 35.1 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route overview

Suitable for riders comfortable with moderate climbs and a long ride of nearly 42 km.

41.7 km loop in the Scottish Borders from Denholm with 395 m climbing mainly on main roads.

Starting in Denholm, the route heads through Hassendean, Newlands, Cotfield, and Lilliesleaf, climbing 69 m over 3.1 km early on with an average gradient of 2.3% and max 3.4%. It proceeds past several small places including Bewlie, Belses, and Ancrum. The second main climb starts near Jedburgh around 31.6 km, gaining 169 m over 3.3 km with an average of 5.1% and a maximum gradient of 8.6%, reaching the highest point of 250 m near 35.1 km.

Highlights

  • Loop ride from Denholm
  • Climb of 169 m near Jedburgh
  • Highest point at 250 m
  • Passing Lilliesleaf and Ancrum

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Hassendean 3.3 km
  2. Newlands 4.7 km
  3. Cotfield 6.5 km
  4. Harelaw 6.9 km
  5. West Middles 8.4 km
  6. Lilliesleaf 8.9 km
  7. Chapel Farm 10.5 km
  8. Bewlie Mains 11.3 km
  9. Bewlie 12.4 km
  10. Old Belses 13.6 km
  11. Belses 14.1 km
  12. New Belses 14.2 km
  13. Pinnacle 15.7 km
  14. Ashieburn 17.4 km
  15. Furlongs 19.5 km
  16. Ancrum 20 km
  17. Harestanes 21.4 km
  18. Woodside 22 km
  19. Nisbetmill 23.6 km
  20. Nisbet 24.9 km
  21. Crailing 26.2 km
  22. Palace Farm Cottages 26.7 km
  23. Mounthooly 27.7 km
  24. Bonjedward House 29.9 km
  25. Woodend 30.4 km
  26. Jedburgh 32.1 km
  27. Castlewood Farm 32.9 km
  28. Larkhall 33.8 km
  29. Spittal on Rule 39.2 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—1.7 km3.1 km69 m2.3 %3.4 %164 m
—31.6 km3.3 km169 m5.1 %8.6 %248 m

High point 250 m at 35.1 km; low point 50 m. Passes beneath Crow Hill, Mire Hill, Wood Head.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
86% main road · 8% minor road · 4% quiet street
Main roads
35.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
34.2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
B6400 (15 km), B6359 (7 km), B6358 (6 km), A698 (4 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
24% climbing · 26% descending · 51% flat
Steep sections
2.1 km over 5% · 0.5 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 8.4% at 32.4 km
Longest descent
3.6 km from 35.2 km, dropping 166 m

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0.1 kmThomas B. Oliver · petrol station · on the route
  2. 8.7 kmJammy Coo · café · on the route
  3. 21.8 kmBirdhouse Tearoom · café · 130 m off route
  4. 27.7 kmCaddy Mann Restaurant · restaurant · 50 m off route
  5. 30.4 kmDrinking water · 160 m off route
  6. 31 kmEsso · petrol station · 190 m off route
  7. 32 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 60 m off route
  8. 32.1 kmMichelle's Little Cake Shop and Cafe · café · on the route
  9. 32.1 kmToilets · 160 m off route
  10. 32.1 kmBoots · pharmacy · on the route
  11. 32.3 kmRepair stand · 200 m off route
  12. 41.5 kmCream Puff Cafe · café · on the route
  13. 41.5 kmThe Auld Bakery · convenience store · 160 m off route
  14. 41.5 kmToilets · 200 m off route

Worth a stop

  • 0 km — Leyden's Monument (monument)
  • 16 km — Old Pinnacle Dovecote (ruins)
  • 20 km — Ancrum Market Cross (monument)
  • 24.9 km — Nisbet Church (ruins)
  • 32.1 km — Mercat Cross (site of) (monument)

At the start and finish

  • Cream Puff Cafe · café · 30 m
  • The Fox and Hounds Inn · pub · 50 m
  • Cross Keys Restaurant · restaurant · 120 m
  • The Auld Bakery · convenience store · 160 m
  • Denholm Meet · restaurant · 180 m

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Loop
Riding time
2 h 59 min
Best months
Jun to Sep — daily highs of 16–19 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • 35.8 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 34.2 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water is 10.7 km from 9.3 to 20 km
  • Gravel or unpaved section 1% of route

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: WeeHolly · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Richard Webb · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: David Purchase · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

More rides from Denholm