Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 3 · EuroVelo 12 from InvernessStage 2 →
Inverness to Tain
A rolling 60 km road cycling route from Inverness, Highland to Tain through Longman, Craigton and Charleston, with 446 m of climbing. There is a 20 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 40–60).
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 60.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 446 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 19 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 20 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Inverness → Tain
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 446 m
- 60 km
Route description
- Inverness
- Longman
- Craigton
- Charleston
- Tore
- Maryburgh
- Dingwall
- Alness
- Scotsburn
- Tain
The route starts at Inverness and runs northeast to Tain, passing several settlements including Merkinch, North Kessock, Tore, Conon Bridge, Dingwall, Evanton, and Alness. The road surface is mostly paved (98%) with a variety of road classes: 65% on minor roads, 19% on cycle paths, plus short sections on quiet streets, main, and major roads. The longest stretch on named roads is Scotsburn Road for 5 km. There are 5.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes. The route climbs 446 m in total, with two main ascents: a 2.2 km climb starting at km 12.9 averaging 2.4% to 148 m, and a 2.9 km climb beginning at km 23.4 averaging 3.6% to 109 m. The highest point is 148 m at 15.1 km, and the lowest 1 m at 3.8 km. The profile is mostly flat (58%) with 22% climbing and 20% descending.
Facilities include cafés and shops near the start in Inverness, then cafes at 4.7 km, 22.9 km, 33.1 km, 39.5 km, and a bakery at the finish in Tain. The longest stretch without café, shop, or water is 20 km from 39.5 km to 59.5 km. Water points are available near km 0, 10.9, and 26.6. There are railway stations at Inverness (0.2 km), Dingwall (22.7 km), Alness (39.5 km), and Tain (59.7 km). Several petrol stations and bike shops are accessible near the route. Toilets are found at Inverness, 4.9 km, 22.7 km, and near Tain. The longest descent is 5 km starting at 55.3 km with a drop of 102 m.
Why ride this route?
- A 5 km descent dropping 102 m.
Highlights
- Climb to 148 m at km 15
- Longest named road: Scotsburn Road, 5 km
- Railway stations at Inverness, Dingwall, Alness, Tain
- 20 km stretch without café, shop or water after Alness
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 12.9 km | 2.2 km · 53 m · 2.4 % · max 3.3 % | 148 m |
| Unnamed climb | 23.4 km | 2.9 km · 104 m · 3.6 % · max 5.7 % | 109 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 5.4 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 65% minor road · 19% cycle path · 5% quiet street · 5% main road · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 5.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 33.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 11.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Scotsburn Road (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 22% climbing · 20% descending · 58% flat
- Longest descent
- 5 km from 55.3 km, dropping 102 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 20 km, from km 40 to 60. Along the route: 192 cafés and restaurants, 26 shops, 3 water points, 4 petrol stations, 9 public toilets and 8 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 240 m off route
- 0 kmSuperdrug · pharmacy · 160 m off route
- 0.2 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 0.2 kmToilets · 130 m off route
- 4.7 kmWhite Cottage Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 10.9 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 12 kmTore Service Station · petrol station · 70 m off route
- 22.9 kmCustallo Coffee Shop · café · on the route
- 22.9 kmDingwall Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 23.1 kmDryburgh Cycles · bike shop · 30 m off route
- 26.6 kmWater point · on the route
- 33.1 kmCornerstone · café · on the route
- 36.1 kmSkiach Services · petrol station · 140 m off route
- 39.4 kmAlness Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 39.5 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 120 m off route
- 59.6 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 59.7 kmHarry Gow Bakery · bakery · on the route
- 59.7 kmTesco · petrol station · 280 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0.2 km — Inverness (station), 370 m off route
- 22.7 km — Dingwall (station), 70 m off route
- 39.5 km — Alness (station), 440 m off route
- 59.7 km — Tain (station), 330 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Inverness Castle (castle)
- 4.9 km — The Old Ticket Office (attraction)
- 23.1 km — Dingwall Thing Site (archaeological site)
- 38.2 km — Alness Old Parish Church (ruin) (ruins)
- 49.3 km — Scotsburn House, Broch (archaeological site)
- 59.7 km — Mercat Cross (monument)
Stay after this ride
- The Royal Hotel Tain · hotel · 30 m from the finish
- St. Duthus Hotel · hotel · 170 m from the finish
- Mansfield Castle Hotel · hotel · 620 m from the finish
- Heatherdale · guest house · 410 m from the finish
- The Springfield Guest House · guest house · 630 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Xoko Bakehouse and Coffee Bar (50 m), Rendezvous Cafe (120 m), O'Délice (140 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Harry Gow Bakery (40 m), William Grant Bakery (20 m), Pipers Coffee House (190 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (50 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Well Pharmacy (60 m)
Know before you go
- 20 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 39.5 km
- 5.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 33.7 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- 0.6 km gravel or unpaved