Gravel · United Kingdom
Stage 3 of 6 · Scotland Trail← Stage 2Stage 4 →
Fort Augustus to Kingussie
A mountainous 57 km gravel route from Fort Augustus, Highland to Kingussie through Crathie, Dalchully and Gergask, with 928 m of climbing. The first 39 km has no café, shop or water. Mixed surface: 65% is mapped as paved and 35% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 56.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 928 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 44 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 39 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Fort Augustus → Kingussie
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 928 m
- 57 km
Route description
- Fort Augustus
- Crathie
- Dalchully
- Gergask
- Laggan
- Balgowan
- Newtonmore
- Kingussie
Starting from Fort Augustus at 20 m elevation, the route immediately begins climbing at 2.5 km with a 5.2 km ascent gaining 288 m at an average gradient of 5.6%, reaching 344 m height. After a descent, a harder climb of 4.4 km starts at 11.5 km, gaining 398 m at 9% average gradient to the highest point of 765 m at 15.9 km. This steep section has a maximum gradient of 11.7% measured over 500 m.
The route surface is 65% paved and 35% gravel or unpaved. Road types include 33% track, 32% minor roads, 24% major roads, 5% cycle path, and small shares of paths, quiet streets, and main roads. Notably, it includes 13.6 km of the A86 and 12.9 km along General Wade's Military Road. There are 14.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes, and 30.6 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
Facilities are limited for a long distance: there is no café, shop or water for 39 km from 0.4 to 39.4 km. At the start in Fort Augustus there are several cafés, a convenience store, petrol station and drinking water. The first café and toilets after the start are at the 39.4 km mark in Laggan. Further cafés, shops, and petrol stations appear near Newtonmore from 51 km onward. Kingussie at 56.3 km has bike shops, a station, cafés and shops for refuelling or bail out.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 765 m, 15.9 km in.
- A 6.7 km descent dropping 423 m.
Highlights
- Two sustained climbs reaching up to 765 m altitude
- A86 and General Wade's Military Road sections
- Long stretch without café, shop or water for 39 km
- Peaks near route: Meallan Odhar, Dùn-da-Lamh, Creag Bheag Uvie
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 2.5 km | 5.2 km · 288 m · 5.6 % · max 11.6 % | 344 m |
| Unnamed climb | 11.5 km | 4.4 km · 398 m · 9 % · max 11.7 % | 765 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (14.5 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 33% track · 32% minor road · 24% major road · 5% cycle path · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 14.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 30.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 2.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- A86 (14 km), General Wade's Military Road (13 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 65% is mapped as paved and 35% as gravel or unpaved.
- Gradient
- 26% climbing · 24% descending · 50% flat
- Steep sections
- 7.1 km over 5% · 5.3 km over 8% · 3.7 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 11.7% at 15.2 km
- Longest descent
- 6.7 km from 16.4 km, dropping 423 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 39 km, from the start. Along the route: 36 cafés and restaurants, 6 shops, 4 water points, 2 petrol stations, 8 public toilets and 3 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmToilets · 130 m off route
- 0 kmPharmacy · 110 m off route
- 0.1 kmCaledonian Canal Centre · café · on the route
- 0.1 kmSpar · convenience store · 110 m off route
- 0.1 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 120 m off route
- 0.1 kmGreat Glen · petrol station · 100 m off route
- 39.4 kmLaggan Coffee Bothy & Gallery · café · on the route
- 39.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 51.3 kmEsso · petrol station · 90 m off route
- 51.7 kmThe Wild Flour · café · 40 m off route
- 51.9 kmStrathspey Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 52.2 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 50 m off route
- 53.1 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 56.3 kmSugar Bowl · café · 160 m off route
- 56.3 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · on the route
- 56.3 kmThe Spin Project · bike shop · 80 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 56.2 km — Kingussie (station), 200 m off route
Worth a stop
- 15.5 km — Meallan Odhar Beag (peak)
- 35.5 km — St Michael's Chapel (ruins)
- 39.4 km — North abutment of Kirk Laggan Bridge (ruins)
- 45.5 km — Creag Bheag Uvie (peak, 394 m)
- 53 km — Leanach Church (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- Osprey Hotel · hotel · 20 m from the finish
- Duke of Gordon Hotel · hotel · 30 m from the finish
- Avondale House · guest house · 110 m from the finish
- The Crossing · guest house · 160 m from the finish
- Kingussie camping & aire Croila Croft · campsite · 310 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Caledonian Canal Centre (50 m), Nourish Ness Community Café (50 m), Highland Ice Cream (50 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Kingussie (210 m)
- Bikes and repair
- The Spin Project (80 m)
- Food and coffee
- Ghillies Rest (50 m), Sugar Bowl (160 m), Railway café (230 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (130 m)
Know before you go
- 39 km without café, shop or water between 0.4 km and 39.4 km
- 14.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 30.6 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limits
- 35% gravel or unpaved surface
