Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 7 · EuroVelo 1Stage 2 →
Elgin to Carrbridge
A rolling 104 km road cycling route from Elgin, Moray to Carrbridge through Morriston, Coltfield and Broom of Moy, with 775 m of climbing. There is a 45 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 44–89).
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 104.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 775 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 27 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 45 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Elgin → Carrbridge
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 775 m
- 104 km
Route description
- Elgin
- Morriston
- Coltfield
- Broom of Moy
- Brodie
- Nairn
- Firhall
- Daviot
- Tomatin
- Carrbridge
Starting in Elgin, the route passes nearby Lady Hill early on and includes a gentle climb of 48 m over 1.3 km beginning just past 1 km. The ride continues through towns such as Kinloss and Forres, passing Kinloss Abbey ruins around 19 km. The road surface is mostly paved (96%) with 70% on minor roads. There are sections on main roads (13%) and some cycle paths (6%). Notable climbs include a 73 m ascent over 1.7 km around km 49, followed by others up to 94 m gain in lengths between 2.2 and 3.3 km further on. The highest point is 403 m at km 93, near The Ord peak to the side of the road at 51 km. The route highlights relatively flat sections (72%) interspersed with moderate climbs, with no steep ramps above 8% sustained.
The route offers food and drink stops early at Elgin and around Kinloss and Forres, then no café, shop, or water for 45 km between km 44 and 89. There are bailouts at stations in Elgin, Forres, Nairn and the finish at Carrbridge. The final stretch includes downhill for 3.1 km from km 98 to the finish, descending 59 m. Carrbridge amenities include a bar, fast food and a convenience store near the station. Road types are mainly minor roads but include 13.3 km on main roads without cycle lanes and many fast roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or above for 57.7 km.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 403 m, 93 km in.
Highlights
- Kinloss Abbey near 19 km
- Clava archaeological site at 67.8 km
- Peak near The Ord at 51 km
- Strathdearn War Memorial at 89 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 1.1 km | 1.3 km · 48 m · 3.8 % · max 6.7 % | 69 m |
| Unnamed climb | 49.1 km | 1.7 km · 73 m · 4.3 % · max 6.4 % | 129 m |
| Unnamed climb | 67.6 km | 2.2 km · 69 m · 3.1 % · max 4.7 % | 173 m |
| Unnamed climb | 74.2 km | 3.1 km · 93 m · 3 % · max 6.8 % | 288 m |
| Unnamed climb | 89.1 km | 3.3 km · 94 m · 2.8 % · max 6.5 % | 397 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 13.3 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 70% minor road · 13% main road · 6% cycle path · 6% quiet street · 5% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 13.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 57.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 7.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B9154 (9 km), Lochloy Road (8 km), A938 (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 96% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved and 3% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 17% climbing · 11% descending · 72% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.1 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.1% at 51.4 km
- Longest descent
- 3.1 km from 98.5 km, dropping 59 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 45 km, from km 44 to 89. Along the route: 46 cafés and restaurants, 9 shops, 2 petrol stations, 3 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmMNMs Cafe · café · 250 m off route
- 0 kmHighland Bikes · bike shop · 410 m off route
- 0 kmBaird's Pharmacy · pharmacy · 430 m off route
- 0.4 kmTesco Extra · supermarket · 180 m off route
- 19.6 kmThe Abbey Inn · pub · 40 m off route
- 19.6 kmRepair stand · on the route
- 19.8 kmSea Park Filling Station · petrol station · 70 m off route
- 23.9 kmMosset Tavern · pub · 350 m off route
- 23.9 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 470 m off route
- 43.5 kmCafé Nairn · café · 110 m off route
- 43.5 kmScotmid · supermarket · 100 m off route
- 43.6 kmToilets · 300 m off route
- 43.7 kmBoots · pharmacy · 270 m off route
- 75.7 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 95.7 kmThe Cycle Works · bike shop · 40 m off route
- 101.9 kmPace · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 102 kmSpar · convenience store · on the route
- 102.1 kmCairn Hotel · bar · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Elgin (station), 1.1 km off route
- 24.1 km — Forres (station), 260 m off route
- 44 km — Nairn (station), 520 m off route
- 101.2 km — Carrbridge (station), 710 m off route
Worth a stop
- 19.3 km — Kinloss Abbey (ruins)
- 23.7 km — Benromach Distillery (attraction)
- 32.5 km — Rodney's Stone (attraction)
- 63.8 km — Cantraydoune Motte (archaeological site)
- 67.8 km — Balnuaran of Clava SW (archaeological site)
- 89.1 km — Strathdearn War Memorial (monument)
Stay after this ride
- Cairn Hotel · hotel · 40 m from the finish
- Carrbridge Hotel · hotel · 170 m from the finish
- Fairwinds · hotel · 200 m from the finish
- Dalrachney Lodge · hotel · 260 m from the finish
- Melon Patch B&B · guest house · 640 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- MNMs Cafe (250 m), Walkers Shortbread (370 m), Norahs (390 m)
- Shops
- Tesco Extra (380 m), Aldi (270 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Carrbridge (880 m)
- Food and coffee
- Cairn Hotel (50 m), Istanbul Kebab House (90 m)
- Shops
- Spar (120 m)
Know before you go
- 45 km longest stretch with no café, shop or water from 43.7 km
- 13.3 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 57.7 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- 1% gravel or unpaved surface
