Road · United Kingdom
Innerleithen Blue Route
A rolling 70 km road cycling loop from Innerleithen, Scottish Borders through Walkerburn, West Bold and Peel, with 524 m of climbing. Most of it (55 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 61.9 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 33 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 34–67).
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 70 km
- Elevation gain
- 524 m
- Riding time
- 5 h
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 33 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Innerleithen
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 524 m
- 70 km
Route description
- Innerleithen
- Walkerburn
- West Bold
- Peel
- Caddonfoot
- Selkirk
- Ettrickbridge
- Kirkhouse
- Traquair Mill
- Innerleithen
This 70km loop starts and finishes in Innerleithen, passing through Walkerburn, West Bold, Glenbenna, Peel, Caddonfoot, Fairnilee, Selkirk, Ettrickbridge, Newhall, Kirkhouse, Traquair Mill and Traquair. The route is 99% paved and includes 79% main roads such as the B709, B7009, A707 and A708, with 55km on main roads without cycle lanes and 61.9km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
Climbing totals 524m, spread across three main climbs: 1.7km gaining 41m averaging 2.5% from km 17; 3.8km gaining 139m averaging 3.6% from km 45.5; and 4.5km gaining 125m averaging 2.8% from km 55.6. The highest point on the ride is 373m at 49.6km. The longest descent is 5.9km dropping 190m from km 60.8.
Facilities for food and drink are found near the start at Innerleithen, and in Selkirk at 21.5-23.8km, with a pub around 34 km. After km 34.1 there is no café, shop or water for almost 33 km until near the finish. Toilets and bike shops are mainly located at the start and near Selkirk. Peaks near the route include Elibank Craig at 8.5 km and Hartleap Knowe near 50 km, with Traquair House castle near 67.7 km.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 373 m, 49.6 km in.
- A 5.9 km descent dropping 190 m.
Highlights
- Peaks Elibank Craig and Hartleap Knowe near the route
- Traquair House castle at 67.7 km
- Three main climbs between km 17 and km 60
- Longest descent of 5.9 km starting at km 60.8
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 17 km | 1.7 km · 41 m · 2.5 % · max 4.1 % | 161 m |
| Unnamed climb | 45.5 km | 3.8 km · 139 m · 3.6 % · max 5.5 % | 363 m |
| Unnamed climb | 55.6 km | 4.5 km · 125 m · 2.8 % · max 3.7 % | 356 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 79% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 61.9 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 79% main road · 16% minor road · 3% quiet street · 1% path · 1% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 55 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 61.9 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B709 (23 km), B7009 (17 km), A707 (9 km), A708 (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 21% climbing · 21% descending · 58% flat
- Longest descent
- 5.9 km from 60.8 km, dropping 190 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 33 km, from km 34 to 67. Along the route: 12 cafés and restaurants, 5 shops, 2 water points, 3 public toilets and 4 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmLoulabelles · café · 50 m off route
- 0 kmDaymart · convenience store · 30 m off route
- 0 kmInnerleithen Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 0.1 kmThe Bike Shop · bike shop · on the route
- 1 kmDrinking water · 110 m off route
- 1 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 21.5 kmThe Andrew Lang Unit · clinic · 750 m off route
- 21.7 kmA & Z Stores · convenience store · 150 m off route
- 21.7 kmScott's Cycle Services · bike shop · 490 m off route
- 23.8 kmThe Waterwheel Cafe · café · 40 m off route
- 34.1 kmCross Keys · pub · on the route
- 66.9 kmDrinking water · 70 m off route
- 69.1 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 69.2 kmNo1 Peebles Road · café · on the route
- 69.2 kmToilets · 90 m off route
Worth a stop
- 8.5 km — Elibank Craig (peak, 295 m)
- 50 km — Hartleap Knowe (peak)
- 67.7 km — Traquair House (castle)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Tweed Valley Bikes (80 m), The Bike Shop (90 m)
- Food and coffee
- Loulabelles (50 m), No1 Peebles Road (220 m), Out Out (30 m)
- Shops
- Daymart (30 m)
Know before you go
- 55 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 61.9 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limits or more
- Longest café, shop and waterless stretch is 32.8 km after km 34.1
- Around 0.6 km of unpaved or track surfaces
