Road · United Kingdom
Kelso Green Route
A hilly 14 km road cycling route from Kelso, Scottish Borders through Easter Softlaw, Middle Softlaw and Bowmont Forest Sawmill, with 180 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 14.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 180 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 01 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Kelso
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 180 m
- 14 km
Route description
- Kelso
- Easter Softlaw
- Middle Softlaw
- Bowmont Forest Sawmill
- Grahamslaw
- Eckford Mill
- Kirkbank
The route starts in Kelso at 31 m elevation and climbs steadily for 3.2 km gaining 90 m at an average gradient of 2.8%, reaching 128 m near Wooden Mill and Easter Softlaw. It then follows a varied profile with some descending and flat sections, passing places like Bowmont Forest Sawmill and Grahamslaw beneath Graham's Law peak (176 m) at 8.8 km. The highest point on the route is 158 m at 7.4 km.
Most of the route is on paved surfaces, with 94% paved and 6% gravel or unpaved. It mainly uses minor roads (10.2 km, 72%) with some main roads (2.2 km, 15%) without cycle lanes and also includes track (0.8 km) and cycle path (0.6 km). There is a second climb of 1.3 km starting near Old Ormiston, gaining 41 m at 3.2% average. Longest descent is 2.6 km from 8.1 km with 97 m drop.
There are few facilities along the route: no café, shop or water for 13.5 km from 0.7 km. At the start in Kelso there is a supermarket (Lidl), a café (The Topiary Restaurant), a pub (The Waggon Inn) and a bike shop (Simon Porteous Cycles). Archaeological sites at 1.6 km (Tumulus) and 12.9 km (Ormiston Castle site) make worthwhile stops.
Highlights
- Climb from 0.6 km over 3.2 km
- Graham's Law peak at 8.8 km
- Archaeological site at 1.6 km (Tumulus)
- Archaeological site near finish at 12.9 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.6 km | 3.2 km · 90 m · 2.8 % · max 5.4 % | 128 m |
| Unnamed climb | 12.9 km | 1.3 km · 41 m · 3.2 % · max 3.5 % | 91 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 2.2 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 72% minor road · 15% main road · 6% track · 4% cycle path · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 2.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 8.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 94% is mapped as paved, 6% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 41% climbing · 25% descending · 35% flat
- Longest descent
- 2.6 km from 8.1 km, dropping 97 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 2 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmLidl · supermarket · 240 m off route
- 0 kmSimon Porteous Cycles · bike shop · 600 m off route
- 0 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 480 m off route
- 0.7 kmThe Topiary Restarant · café · 360 m off route
Worth a stop
- 1.6 km — Tumulus (archaeological site)
- 12.9 km — Ormiston Castle (site of) (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- SCHLOSS Roxburghe · hotel · 2.0 km from the finish
- Goldilands B&B · guest house · 3.1 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Bikes and repair
- Simon Porteous Cycles (600 m)
- Food and coffee
- The Topiary Restarant (380 m), The Waggon Inn (360 m)
- Shops
- Lidl (240 m)
Know before you go
- 13.5 km with no café, shop or water after 0.7 km
- 2.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 8.3 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- 6% gravel or unpaved surface