Road · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 3 · Great North Trail (Grampian Mountains)← Stage 1Stage 3 →
Killin to the end of the Great North Trail (Grampian Mountains)
A hilly 100 km gravel route from Killin, Stirling to the end of the Great North Trail through Botaurnie, Kenknock and Pubil, with 1,331 m of climbing. There is a 63 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 34–97). Mixed surface: 49% is mapped as paved and 51% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 99.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,331 m
- Riding time
- 8 h 19 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Surface
- Mixed, much unpaved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 63 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Killin → the end of the Great North Trail
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,331 m
- 100 km
Route description
- Killin
- Botaurnie
- Kenknock
- Pubil
- Cashlie
- Gallin
- Bridge of Balgie
- Kerrowmore
- Innerwick
- the end of the Great North Trail
The route starts at Killin (km 0) and passes through Botaurnie, Kenknock, Pubil, Cashlie, Gallin, Bridge of Balgie, Kerrowmore, Innerwick, and ends near Bridge of Gaur at 99.8 km. It includes five main climbs: the first between 11.6 km and 15.2 km rises 293 m at an average gradient of 8.1%, the second climb between 34.9 km and 38.3 km gains 261 m at 7.8%, and three shorter climbs follow, the longest being 7.3 km from 65.7 km with 278 m of elevation gain. The highest point on the route is 547 m at 75.8 km. Terrain is mixed with 49% paved and 51% gravel or unpaved surfaces. Road types include 43.4 km of track, 27 km of minor roads, 18.8 km of quiet streets, and 7.6 km on main roads, all without cycle lanes. The route traverses sections of Glen Lochay Road and B846 totaling over 14 km.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 547 m, 75.8 km in.
Highlights
- Climb from 11.6 km gaining 293 m at 8.1% avg gradient
- Highest point 547 m at 75.8 km
- Passes near Meall na Lice (582 m) at 79.1 km
- Longest descent 4.1 km starting at 40.7 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 11.6 km | 3.6 km · 293 m · 8.1 % · max 11.5 % | 488 m |
| Unnamed climb | 34.9 km | 3.4 km · 261 m · 7.8 % · max 14 % | 468 m |
| Unnamed climb | 50.3 km | 1.7 km · 58 m · 3.4 % · max 8 % | 369 m |
| Unnamed climb | 63.4 km | 1.9 km · 41 m · 2.2 % · max 4.3 % | 271 m |
| Unnamed climb | 65.7 km | 7.3 km · 278 m · 3.8 % · max 8 % | 546 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 7.6 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 45% track · 28% minor road · 19% quiet street · 8% main road
- Main roads
- 7.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 17.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Glen Lochay Road (9 km), B846 (6 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 49% is mapped as paved and 51% as gravel or unpaved.
- Gradient
- 23% climbing · 25% descending · 52% flat
- Steep sections
- 8.4 km over 5% · 3.6 km over 8% · 2.9 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 12.5% at 37.5 km
- Longest descent
- 4.1 km from 40.7 km, dropping 160 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 63 km, from km 34 to 97. Along the route: 3 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops, 1 water point, 3 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmKula Coffee Shop · café · on the route
- 0 kmDavidsons Chemists · pharmacy · 260 m off route
- 0.2 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 0.2 kmDrinking water · 180 m off route
- 0.2 kmToilets · 180 m off route
- 0.2 kmKillin Outdoor Centre and Mountain Shop · bike rental · on the route
- 34.3 kmGlenlyon tea room and Post Office · café · 40 m off route
- 35.7 kmToilets · 120 m off route
- 79.9 kmToilets · 150 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 80.3 km — Corrour (station), 1.2 km off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Fingal's Stone (archaeological site)
- 5.6 km — cup and ring marks (archaeological site)
- 20.4 km — Sìthean Camaslaidh (archaeological site)
- 31.7 km — Meggernie Castle (castle)
- 40.1 km — Reamains of a Hut (ruins)
- 74.4 km — Corrour Old Lodge (ruins)
Start and access
At the start
- Bikes and repair
- Killin Outdoor Centre and Mountain Shop (140 m)
- Food and coffee
- Kula Coffee Shop (70 m), Secret Pizza (60 m)
- Shops
- The Co-operative Food (230 m), MacGregor's Market (130 m)
Know before you go
- 62.9 km longest stretch without café, shop, or water after km 34.3
- 7.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 17.7 km on roads with 80 km/h or higher speed limits
- 51% of route on gravel or unpaved surface