Gravel · From the map · United Kingdom
Edinburgh to St Andrews
- 105 km
- 833 m
- Hard
- Paved
Elevation profile
- 833 m
- 105 km
Route overview
Riders comfortable with a 100 km distance and moderate climbing.
Stage 1 of 7 of the EuroVelo 12 from Edinburgh: 105.0 km from Edinburgh to St Andrews with 833 m of climbing, on the signed route.
The route begins in Edinburgh's Old Town and quickly passes through central districts including Tollcross, New Town, Stockbridge, and Haymarket. Within the first 15 km, nearly 15 km are on cycle paths and lanes, while 12 km are on main roads. Early on, pavement is the predominant surface, with minor roads becoming more significant after 15 km. The ride crosses towns like South Queensferry at 16 km and Inverkeithing at 21 km, with several bailout stations nearby including Haymarket and Dalmeny. Climbing is spread out with six climbs identified, ranging from 47 m to 129 m gain. Notable sections of climbs occur from 22 km to 37 km, and again between 71 km and 95 km with moderate gradients up to 7.7%. The highest point is at 285 m near 38 km. After Dunfermline (km 29.6), there is a 15.6 km stretch with no café, shop or water available until past Kinross (beyond 45.5 km). The route continues on mainly minor roads (48% of distance) and includes some quiet streets and paths. It finishes in St Andrews at 102.1 km where cafés and pubs are available.
Highlights
- Climbs between 22 km and 95 km
- Longest descent of 5 km from 98.7 km
- 15.6 km longest stretch without café/shop/water
- Cycle paths and lanes for 18.5 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | Length | Gain | Average | Max | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 22.2 km | 2.5 km | 64 m | 2.6 % | 5 % | 78 m |
| — | 27.5 km | 1.5 km | 47 m | 3.1 % | 5.1 % | 127 m |
| — | 32.7 km | 4.7 km | 129 m | 2.7 % | 6.8 % | 282 m |
| — | 51.8 km | 2.4 km | 61 m | 2.6 % | 3.6 % | 169 m |
| — | 71.7 km | 3 km | 100 m | 3.4 % | 7.7 % | 153 m |
| — | 92.5 km | 3 km | 97 m | 3.2 % | 6.9 % | 108 m |
What this ride is like
- Roads
- 48% minor road · 15% cycle path · 12% main road · 10% quiet street
- Main roads
- 13.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 41.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 18.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Dryside Road (8 km), B939 (6 km), C498 (4 km), B936 (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved throughout
- Gradient
- 20% climbing · 17% descending · 63% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.9 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 7.2% at 75.7 km
- Longest descent
- 5 km from 98.7 km, dropping 76 m
Along the way
Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 16 km, from 30 km to 46 km.
Food, water and shops
- 0.3 kmBlank Street Coffee · café · on the route
- 1.2 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 210 m off route
- 1.9 kmBoots · pharmacy · 150 m off route
- 4.5 kmSainsbury's · petrol station · 60 m off route
- 6.8 kmTesco · supermarket · 100 m off route
- 16.2 kmShell · petrol station · 210 m off route
- 20.7 kmWater tap · 80 m off route
- 21.2 kmRyan's Bike Surgery · bike shop · 50 m off route
- 21.3 kmLindsay & Gilmour Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 29.9 kmCare Pharmacy · pharmacy · 300 m off route
- 46.2 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 52.8 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 66.2 kmPillars of Hercules · café · 80 m off route
- 68.2 kmFalkland Convenience Store · convenience store · on the route
- 68.5 kmLomond Pharmacy · pharmacy · 50 m off route
- 87.2 kmToilets · on the route
- 89.7 km2 Wheel Care · bike shop · 60 m off route
- 101.9 kmSweatpea Café · café · 100 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 2.2 km — Haymarket (station), 120 m off route
- 15 km — Dalmeny (station), 320 m off route
- 21.9 km — Inverkeithing (station), 90 m off route
- 28.1 km — Dunfermline Queen Margaret (station), 160 m off route
- 46.3 km — Ferry, 40 m off route
Worth a stop
- 1.6 km — Robert Viscount Melville (monument)
- 16.4 km — Forth Bridges Viewpoint (viewpoint)
- 21.3 km — Mercat Cross (monument)
- 50.9 km — Orwell Parish Church (ruins)
- 68.2 km — Falkland Palace (castle)
- 80.4 km — Cults Lime Works (ruins)
At the start
- Cafe on the Mound · café · 50 m
- Blank Street Coffee · café · 260 m
- Wash Bar · pub · 60 m
- The Makar's Rest · bar · 70 m
- The Jolly Judge · pub · 80 m
At the finish
- Sweatpea Café · café · 160 m
- Rector's Cafe · café · 180 m
- Molly Malones · pub · 100 m
- The Newport Bakery · bakery · 180 m
- Thai Pop Up · fast food · 120 m
Stay after this ride
- St Andrews Tourist Hostel · hostel · 190 m from the finish
- No. 5 · guest house · 270 m from the finish
- The Dunvegan Hotel · hotel · 270 m from the finish
- The Kithmore Hotel · hotel · 280 m from the finish
- Waldon House · guest house · 330 m from the finish
Practical information
- Paved
- Point to point
- 7 h 30 min
- Jun to Sep — daily highs of 16–18 °C in those months
Know before you go
- 15.6 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 29.9 km
- 13.3 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 41.7 km on roads with speed limits over 80 km/h
- 8% of route is gravel or unpaved
