Road · United Kingdom
Innerleithen Purple Route
A rolling 86 km road cycling loop from Innerleithen, Scottish Borders through Traquair, Kirkhouse and Meggethead, with 690 m of climbing. Most of it (52.4 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 70 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 40 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 2–42).
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 86.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 690 m
- Riding time
- 6 h 10 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 40 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Innerleithen
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 690 m
- 86 km
Route description
- Innerleithen
- Traquair
- Kirkhouse
- Meggethead
- Tweedsmuir
- Hearthstane
- Merlindale
- Lyne Station
- Peebles
- Innerleithen
The route starts in Innerleithen and quickly passes Traquair and Traquair Mill within the first 3 km. An early climb begins just before 3 km, lasting 6.1 km with 192 m gain, averaging 3.2%, reaching 356 m. After descending and passing Newhall, the ride reaches Cappercleuch at 20.5 km where a shorter climb of 2.3 km, 75 m gain, averaging 3.3%, starts at 22.2 km.
Further on, at 29 km, another climbing section of 2.4 km with 97 m gain at 4% average takes the route passed Meggethead and Talla Linnfoots, nearing the highest point of 448 m at about 31 km. The return leg includes a 2.2 km climb at 3.5% average beginning around 63 km near Lyne Station. The lowest point is near the start at 141 m.
The surface is almost entirely paved. The route mainly uses main roads (61%) including the B709, B712, A701 and B7062, with 52.4 km on main roads all without cycle lanes, and high-speed limit roads (70 km/h+). There is 1.6% gravel or unpaved sections. Cafés and shops are sparse between 2.3 and 42.1 km. Starting and finishing in Innerleithen provides shops, bike shops, cafés, and toilets nearby.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 448 m, 31.4 km in.
Highlights
- Climb reaching 448 m near km 31.4
- Passing Traquair at 2.2 km
- Longest descent of 4.3 km from 9.2 km
- Peebles at 74.3 km with shops and bakery nearby
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 2.9 km | 6.1 km · 192 m · 3.2 % · max 5.6 % | 356 m |
| Unnamed climb | 22.2 km | 2.3 km · 75 m · 3.3 % · max 8.1 % | 351 m |
| Unnamed climb | 29 km | 2.4 km · 97 m · 4 % · max 6.4 % | 448 m |
| Unnamed climb | 63.3 km | 2.2 km · 78 m · 3.5 % · max 4.6 % | 251 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 61% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 70 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 61% main road · 34% minor road · 2% quiet street · 1% path · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 52.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 70 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B709 (13 km), B712 (11 km), A701 (11 km), B7062 (11 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 19% climbing · 18% descending · 62% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.6 km over 5% · 0.4 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 9.3% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 4.3 km from 9.2 km, dropping 118 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 40 km, from km 2 to 42. Along the route: 33 cafés and restaurants, 7 shops, 2 water points, 6 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmNo1 Peebles Road · café · on the route
- 0 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 0 kmTweed Valley Bikes · bike shop · 140 m off route
- 0 kmInnerleithen Pharmacy · pharmacy · 230 m off route
- 0.1 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 2.3 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
- 42.1 kmWee Crook Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 73.7 kmGlen Road Stores · convenience store · 110 m off route
- 74.1 kmThe Fat Batard · bakery · 280 m off route
- 74.1 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 74.3 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 200 m off route
- 74.3 kmBoots · pharmacy · 310 m off route
- 75.5 kmFall Line Cycles Ltd · bike shop · 100 m off route
- 79.1 kmToilets · 110 m off route
Worth a stop
- 1.5 km — Traquair House (castle)
- 19.1 km — St Marys Kirk Yard (attraction)
- 53.7 km — Tinnis Castle (remains of) (archaeological site)
- 80.2 km — Cardrona Standing Stone (archaeological site)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Tweed Valley Bikes (140 m)
- Food and coffee
- No1 Peebles Road (10 m), DurtyBrewing (100 m), Caldwells Home Made Ice Cream (60 m)
- Shops
- The Co-operative Food (110 m), The Allotment (80 m)
Know before you go
- No café, shop or water between 2.3 km and 42.1 km (39.8 km)
- 52.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 70 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- 1.6 km gravel or unpaved sections
