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Edinburgh – North Berwick

90 km road cycling loop261 m climbing3½–4½ hoursGPX

Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom · Road

A flat 90 km road cycling loop from Haymarket through Edinburgh, The Grange and North Berwick, with 261 m of climbing.

Route contributed by Richard Chapman · Created from a ride on Sunday 1st May 2022

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At a glance

Best for
Flat, steady riding
Distance
89.9 km
Loop
Elevation gain
261 m
3 m per km
Riding time
3½–4½ hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Moderate
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Mostly paved
94% paved · 4% unpaved · 1% no data
Traffic
Some main roads
33.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 23.5 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more · 21.8 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Regular
869 cafés and restaurants · 131 shops · 12 water points · 6 petrol stations · 32 public toilets · 23 bike shops
Best months
Jun to Sep
Edinburgh climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Haymarket

Map and elevation profile

Elevation profile

Total ascent
261 m
Distance
90 km
020406080100m0 km2040608090 km89 m · highest, at 1.7 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Haymarket
  2. Edinburghkm 2
  3. The Grangekm 3
  4. Prestonpanskm 17
  5. North Berwickkm 39
  6. Aberladykm 59
  7. Pinkiekm 74
  8. Niddriekm 80
  9. Tollcrosskm 86
  10. Haymarketkm 90

Starting at Haymarket in Edinburgh, the route initially passes through the West End and Old Town, reaching a high point of 88 m at 1.6 km. It then descends to a low of 2 m near Cockenzie and Port Seton at 19.9 km. The route follows a mixture of surfaces including 94% paved and 4% gravel or unpaved, with 39% of the ride on main roads and 19% on cycle paths. Notable roads include Tantallon Road for 15.3 km and High Street for 8.1 km.

The ride continues along the coast through Prestonpans, Longniddry, and Gullane before reaching North Berwick at 39.4 km. After passing Canty Bay, the route heads inland past various villages and returns through Musselburgh and Joppa, completing the loop back to Edinburgh. There is one short climb of 2.1 km gaining 42 m near the end, with an average gradient of 2% and a maximum of 4.6%.

Along the route, riders can find cafés and shops in multiple locations, including Cult Coffee Roasters at 2.4 km, Cherish Vintage Tearoom at 31.9 km, and Coastline Prestonpans at 70 km. The longest stretch without cafés, shops, or water is 6.6 km between 46.6 km and 53.2 km. Several bike shops and railway stations are accessible for bailout and support.

Highlights

  • North Berwick at 39.4 km
  • Tantallon Road over 15 km
  • Coastline Prestonpans café at 70 km
  • Short climb near Edinburgh at km 82

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Southside 2.2 km
  2. The Grange 2.7 km
  3. Newington 3.2 km
  4. Bingham 7.3 km
  5. Brunstane 9.1 km
  6. Cuthill 16.6 km
  7. Prestonpans 17.1 km
  8. Cockenzie and Port Seton 19.4 km
  9. Longniddry 23.2 km
  10. Gullane 31.7 km
  11. Dirleton 35.1 km
  12. North Berwick 39.4 km
  13. Canty Bay 43.1 km
  14. Highfield 49.2 km
  15. Kingston 50 km
  16. West Fenton 54.4 km
  17. Aberlady 59.4 km
  18. Port Seton 67.5 km
  19. Cockenzie 68.4 km
  20. Preston 70.2 km
  21. Levenhall 73 km
  22. Pinkie 73.6 km
  23. Musselburgh 74.9 km
  24. Fisherrow 75.5 km
  25. Joppa 77.2 km
  26. Newcraighall 77.8 km
  27. Niddrie 80.1 km
  28. Craigmillar 81.1 km
  29. Prestonfield 82.5 km
  30. Sciennes 84.5 km
  31. Marchmont 85 km
  32. Tollcross 85.7 km
  33. Bruntsfield 86.4 km
  34. Merchiston 86.5 km
  35. Dalry 86.7 km
  36. Fountainbridge 86.8 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideTop on this ride
Unnamed climb81.8 km2.1 km · 42 m · 2 % · max 4.6 %86 m

High point 88 m at 1.6 km; low point 2 m.

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (33.8 km in all) between quieter sections.

Roads
39% main road · 19% cycle path · 12% quiet street · 12% minor road · 18% other roads and tracks
Main roads
33.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
23.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
21.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
Tantallon Road (15 km), High Street (8 km), Innocent Cycle Path (5 km), Haddington Road (3 km)
Surface
Predominantly paved: 94% is mapped as paved, 4% as unpaved or gravel.
Gradient
6% climbing · 5% descending · 89% flat

Food, water and services

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

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 869 cafés and restaurants, 131 shops, 12 water points, 6 petrol stations, 32 public toilets and 23 bike shops.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0.2 kmEvans Cycles · bike shop · 80 m off route
  2. 1.7 kmBristo Square Pharmacy · pharmacy · 70 m off route
  3. 2.4 kmCult Coffee Roasters · café · on the route
  4. 8.7 kmCosta · café · 70 m off route
  5. 11.5 kmToilets · 70 m off route
  6. 14.1 kmLevenhall Arms · pub · 30 m off route
  7. 17.9 kmLidl · supermarket · 90 m off route
  8. 19.9 kmLinks Road Garage · petrol station · 80 m off route
  9. 24.1 kmToilets · on the route
  10. 37.5 kmEsso · petrol station · 50 m off route
  11. 39.5 kmNorth Berwick Pharmacy · pharmacy · 40 m off route
  12. 39.7 kmToilets · on the route
  13. 45 kmTesco · petrol station · 40 m off route
  14. 70 kmCoastline Prestonpans · café · on the route
  15. 74 kmRepair stand · 480 m off route
  16. 79 kmAsda · petrol station · 220 m off route
  17. 85 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 80 m off route
  18. 85.5 kmAvante Pharmacy & Travel Clinic · pharmacy · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 1.5 km — Edinburgh Waverley (station), 490 m off route
  • 9.3 km — Brunstane (station), on the route
  • 38.8 km — North Berwick (station), 170 m off route
  • 63.9 km — Longniddry (station), 900 m off route
  • 73.2 km — Wallyford (station), 800 m off route
  • 86.7 km — Haymarket (station), 480 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 1.6 km — Greyfriars Bobby (attraction)
  • 28.9 km — Luffness House (castle)
  • 35.5 km — Dirleton Castle (castle)
  • 39.1 km — West Links Putting Green (attraction)
  • 49.9 km — Fenton Tower (castle)
  • 59.7 km — Mercat Cross (monument)

Start and access

Starts and finishes at Haymarket. Mapped within a short walk of the start, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start and finish

Bikes and repair
Laid Back Bikes (260 m)
Food and coffee
Main Street Beanery (60 m), Hank's (60 m), Sofia's Lounge (30 m)
Shops
Tesco Express (190 m)

Know before you go

  • 33.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane
  • 23.5 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
  • Longest stretch 6.6 km without café, shop, or water from km 46.6 to 53.2
  • Gravel or unpaved surfaces 4% of route

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

6 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Richard Chapman
Date ridden
Route line
Built from a GPS recording of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Edinburgh (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
Page added
Page last updated

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