Road · United Kingdom
Kelso Yellow Route
A rolling 36 km road cycling loop from Kelso, Scottish Borders through Roxburgh Barns, Over Roxburgh and Pirnie, with 281 m of climbing. The first 35 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 35.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 281 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 33 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 35 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Kelso
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 281 m
- 36 km
Route description
- Kelso
- Roxburgh Barns
- Over Roxburgh
- Pirnie
- Fairnington
- Nisbet
- Old Ormiston
- Eckford Mill
- Bowmont Forest Sawmill
- Kelso
Starting from Kelso, the route heads out through Roxburgh Barns, Kersmains, and Roxburgh before reaching Pirnie and Fairnington. After Woodside and Nisbetmill, it continues past Nisbet and East Nisbet. The route includes one significant climb of 2.7 km beginning near Eckford Mill and rising 99 m with an average gradient of 3.7%, peaking around km 28.2 near Graham's Law at 158 m height.
The route is 97% paved with a small 3% gravel or unpaved section, covering 25.7 km on minor roads, 7.7 km on main roads (all without cycle lanes), 0.7 km on track, and 0.6 km on cycle path. The profile is gently rolling with 24% climbing, 22% descending and 55% flat. Longest descent of 3.6 km starts around km 32.1 dropping 103 m. The route passes archaeological sites such as Roxburgh Train Station and Ormiston Castle nearby.
Kelso provides multiple facilities at the start and finish including several cafés, bakeries, supermarkets, a bakery and a bike shop. There is a very long stretch of 34.7 km without cafés, shops or water, so riders should prepare accordingly.
Highlights
- Kelso start and finish with cafés and shops
- 2.7 km climb near Eckford Mill
- Near Peniel Heugh 235 m and Graham's Law 176 m
- Archaeological sites at Roxburgh and Ormiston Castle
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 24.9 km | 2.7 km · 99 m · 3.7 % · max 4.9 % | 156 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (7.7 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 72% minor road · 22% main road · 2% track · 2% cycle path · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 7.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 18.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 24% climbing · 22% descending · 55% flat
- Longest descent
- 3.6 km from 32.1 km, dropping 103 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 35 km, from the start. Along the route: 21 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops, 1 petrol station and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmMaxwell Motors · petrol station · 300 m off route
- 0.1 kmSimon Porteous Cycles · bike shop · 260 m off route
- 0.3 kmSeasons · café · 250 m off route
- 0.3 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 250 m off route
- 0.3 kmBoots · pharmacy · 250 m off route
- 35 kmThe Topiary Restarant · café · 360 m off route
- 35.7 kmLidl · supermarket · 240 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.3 km — Junction Pool Viewpoint (viewpoint)
- 5.8 km — Roxburgh Train Station (archaeological site)
- 18.4 km — Nisbet Church (ruins)
- 22.8 km — Ormiston Castle (site of) (archaeological site)
- 34 km — Tumulus (archaeological site)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Simon Porteous Cycles (310 m)
- Food and coffee
- Seasons (430 m), Granny Jean's Home Bakery (430 m), The Dessert Diva (400 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (440 m)
Know before you go
- 7.7 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 18.8 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- 34.7 km longest stretch without café, shop or water