Road · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 4 · Border Loop← Stage 1Stage 3 →
Hawick to Peebles
A hilly 100 km road cycling route from Hawick, Scottish Borders to Peebles through Martinshouse, Branxholm Woodfoot and Cappercleuch, with 913 m of climbing. Most of it (57.2 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 73.8 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 39 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 25–64).
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 100.1 km
- Elevation gain
- 913 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 09 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 39 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Hawick → Peebles
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 913 m
- 100 km
Route description
- Hawick
- Martinshouse
- Branxholm Woodfoot
- Cappercleuch
- Talla Linnfoots
- Glenveg
- Hearthstane
- Calzeat
- Stobo
- Peebles
This route starts in Hawick and passes Wilton, Martinshouse, Borthaugh, Branxholm Woodfoot, and Roberton in the first 8 km. The initial climb begins shortly after Wilton, lasting 1.4 km with an average gradient of 3.2%, peaking at 150 m. Further climbing near Roberton rises 158 m over 3.5 km at up to 7.9%. The road includes 57.1 km on main roads, mostly without cycle lanes, and 35.9 km on minor roads, plus some quiet streets and paths. The longest named roads include the B711 (21.6 km), A701 (12.6 km), B709 (10.3 km), and A708 (7 km).
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 448 m, 53.5 km in.
Highlights
- Passing near Hartleap Knowe peak at 30 km
- Climbing peak elevation of 448 m at km 53.5
- Longest named road: B711 for 21.6 km
- Route ends in Peebles with cafes and bike shop
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.3 km | 1.4 km · 46 m · 3.2 % · max 4.7 % | 150 m |
| Unnamed climb | 7.6 km | 3.5 km · 158 m · 4.6 % · max 7.9 % | 327 m |
| Unnamed climb | 25.9 km | 3.3 km · 120 m · 3.7 % · max 5.5 % | 356 m |
| Unnamed climb | 44.2 km | 2.3 km · 75 m · 3.3 % · max 7.7 % | 351 m |
| Unnamed climb | 51 km | 2.4 km · 97 m · 4 % · max 6.4 % | 448 m |
| Unnamed climb | 76.1 km | 1 km · 44 m · 4.3 % · max 6.5 % | 248 m |
| Unnamed climb | 87.8 km | 1.9 km · 77 m · 4 % · max 5 % | 250 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 57% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 73.8 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 58% main road · 36% minor road · 3% quiet street · 1% path · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 57.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 73.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B711 (22 km), A701 (13 km), B709 (10 km), A708 (7 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 20% climbing · 20% descending · 59% flat
- Steep sections
- 3.8 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 7.3% at 10.5 km
- Longest descent
- 3.4 km from 20.4 km, dropping 68 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 39 km, from km 25 to 64. Along the route: 63 cafés and restaurants, 10 shops, 2 water points, 5 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmDamascus Drum · café · 40 m off route
- 0.3 kmHawick Cycles · bike shop · 430 m off route
- 0.4 kmLidl · supermarket · 150 m off route
- 0.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 0.6 kmTeviot Day Service · clinic · 40 m off route
- 25.2 kmTushielaw Inn · pub · 60 m off route
- 64.2 kmWee Crook Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 74.6 kmDrinking water · 40 m off route
- 74.6 kmAlexander Park Toilets · toilets · 40 m off route
- 75.1 kmLaurel Bank · café · 70 m off route
- 75.1 kmBroughton Village Store · convenience store · on the route
- 97.8 kmGlen Road Stores · convenience store · 130 m off route
- 98.3 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 98.5 kmThe Fat Batard · bakery · 270 m off route
- 98.5 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 200 m off route
- 98.5 kmBspoke Cycles · bike shop · 330 m off route
- 98.5 kmBoots · pharmacy · 310 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Heart of Hawick (attraction)
- 30 km — Hartleap Knowe (peak)
- 41.2 km — St Marys Kirk Yard (attraction)
- 77.2 km — Dreva Craig Hillfort (archaeological site)
- 89.8 km — Hunt Hill (peak, 327 m)
Stay after this ride
- Kingsmuir House · guest house · 350 m from the finish
- Dilkusha House · guest house · 290 m from the finish
- Tontine Hotel · hotel · 280 m from the finish
- Park Hotel · hotel · 280 m from the finish
- Green Tree Hotel · hotel · 350 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Damascus Drum (80 m), Espresso Library (90 m), G Harrow & Son Homebakery (140 m)
At the finish
- Bikes and repair
- Bspoke Cycles (330 m)
- Food and coffee
- The Fat Batard (270 m), Costa (330 m), The Bridge Inn (360 m)
Know before you go
- 39 km no café, shop or water between km 25.2 and 64.2
- 57.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 73.8 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- 3.8 km of climbing at gradients over 5%
