Fort Augustus to Contin

Fort Augustus, Highland, United KingdomGravel

Signed route The waymarked Great North Trail (Northern Highlands) (Cycling UK), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Stage 1 of 2 of the Great North Trail (Northern Highlands). Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

85 km
Distance: 1,252 m
Elevation gain: Hard
Difficulty: Mixed
Surface

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Fort Augustus and Loch Ness. The 'Legend of Loch Ness' awaits its next 'load' of passengers for a cruise on the western end of Loch Ness. This is the cut between the lock flight and Loch Ness. The lan — Photo: Richard Szwejkowski · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent: 1,252 m
Distance: 85 km

Route overview

Riders prepared for 85 km with over 1250 m climbing and mixed paved and unpaved surfaces.

Stage 1 of 2 of the Great North Trail (Northern Highlands): 84.7 km from Fort Augustus to Contin with 1252 m of climbing, on the signed route.

Starting at Fort Augustus, the route immediately begins with a 4.9 km climb gaining 350 m at an average gradient of 7.2%, reaching 370 m elevation. After descending, a second climb begins at 12.4 km, lasting 6.9 km and gaining 426 m at 6.2%, summiting at 549 m around 19.3 km. From there, it descends for 8.9 km with a drop of 433 m to the lowest elevation of 11 m at 78.6 km. The ride passes through places including Blairconard, Tomich at 29.9 km, Struy at 46.6 km, Fairburn at 74.3 km, Marybank at 78.1 km, Kinnahaird at 80.6 km, and ends at Contin at 82.2 km. After Struy, there is a 31.5 km stretch without cafés, shops, or water until Marybank. The surface is 46% paved and 54% gravel or unpaved, mainly on tracks (61%) and minor roads (27%). The road classes include 3 km on main roads and 3.7 km on major roads, with 6.7 km of main roads lacking cycle lanes and 25.7 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Additional climbs occur between 46.9 km and 56.3 km with gradients up to 13.3%. Notable nearby peaks include Beinn Bhreac at 511 m near 17 km and Càrn nan Earb at 663 m near 20.1 km. Facilities at the start include cafés, convenience stores, drinking water, and petrol stations; at the finish, there is a convenience store.

Highlights

Climb from Fort Augustus with 7.2% average gradient
High point at 549 m near 19 km
31.5 km stretch without food or water after Struy
Longest descent 8.9 km dropping 433 m from 20.5 km

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

Tomich 29.9 km
Struy 46.6 km
Fairburn 74.3 km
Marybank 78.1 km
Kinnahaird 80.6 km
Contin 82.2 km

Climbs

Climb	Starts at	Length	Gain	Average	Max	Top
—	0 km	4.9 km	350 m	7.2 %	13.5 %	370 m
—	12.4 km	6.9 km	426 m	6.2 %	13.7 %	549 m
—	46.9 km	3.7 km	167 m	4.5 %	11.5 %	221 m
—	53.3 km	3 km	183 m	6.2 %	13.3 %	384 m

High point 549 m at 19.3 km; low point 11 m. Passes beneath Creag an Iarlain, Cnoc Liath, Meall na Doire.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads: 61% track · 27% minor road · 4% major road · 4% main road
Main roads: 6.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads: 25.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used: Tomich Road (3 km), A835 (3 km)
Surface: 46% paved · 54% gravel or unpaved
Gradient: 22% climbing · 29% descending · 49% flat
Steep sections: 10 km over 5% · 6.3 km over 8% · 3.9 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 12.3% at 14.4 km
Longest descent: 8.9 km from 20.5 km, dropping 433 m