Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 2 · National Cycle Route 76Stage 2 →
Kirkcaldy to Stirling
A rolling 76 km road cycling route from Kirkcaldy, Fife to Stirling through Linktown, Burntisland and Jamestown, with 343 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 75.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 343 m
- Riding time
- 5 h 25 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Kirkcaldy → Stirling
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 343 m
- 76 km
Route description
- Kirkcaldy
- Linktown
- Burntisland
- Jamestown
- Charlestown
- Newmills
- Blairburn
- Alloa
- Causewayhead
- Stirling
The ride starts in Kirkcaldy at Port Brae and quickly passes through Linktown and Seafield. A sustained climb begins at 1.9 km lasting 3.5 km with 97 m ascent to reach the highest point at 105 m around 5.3 km. The route continues past coastal towns including Kinghorn, Burntisland, and Aberdour, then through Dalgety Bay and Inverkeithing. The surface is mostly paved (89%) with 9% gravel or unpaved.
There is a long stretch from 35 km to 42.2 km with no café, shop, or water for 7.2 km after Charlestown. Various road types are used, including 24.7 km of cycle path, 17.5 km of minor roads, and 16.6 km of quiet streets. Main roads account for 4.6 km, with 5.4 km on main roads lacking cycle lanes, and 7.6 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. The route passes near peaks Grangehill (115 m at 9.7 km) and The Binn (193 m at 11.1 km).
Along the route are multiple cafés, shops, water taps, and toilets with the closest places spaced along the way. Stations at Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn, Aberdour, Inverkeithing, Alloa, and Stirling provide bailout options. The ride finishes in Stirling at 72.8 km with cafés and bike shops nearby.
Highlights
- Climb from Linktown with 97 m gain over 3.5 km
- Cycle path for 24.7 km of the route
- Near peaks Grangehill (115 m) and The Binn (193 m)
- Bailout stations at Kirkcaldy, Kinghorn, Aberdour, Inverkeithing, Alloa, Stirling
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 1.9 km | 3.5 km · 97 m · 2.8 % · max 4.9 % | 105 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
- 34% cycle path · 24% minor road · 23% quiet street · 6% main road · 13% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 5.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 7.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 25.9 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 89% is mapped as paved, 9% as unpaved or gravel and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 12% climbing · 14% descending · 74% flat
- Longest descent
- 2.3 km from 6 km, dropping 62 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 217 cafés and restaurants, 64 shops, 6 water points, 4 petrol stations, 17 public toilets and 12 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.1 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 30 m off route
- 1 kmThe Food Warehouse · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 1.7 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 7.8 kmThe Auld Hoose · pub · 40 m off route
- 11.4 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 11.8 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 16.4 kmDave's Bike Shed · bike shop · 190 m off route
- 17.1 kmAberdour Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 25.9 kmScotmid · supermarket · on the route
- 26 kmStarosta Cafe · café · 40 m off route
- 26.6 kmWater tap · 80 m off route
- 33.7 kmSundial Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 45.6 kmBessie's Cafe · café · 100 m off route
- 45.6 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 57.6 kmToni's Bakery · bakery · 80 m off route
- 60.4 kmTesco Customer Toilets · toilets · 110 m off route
- 60.4 kmTesco · petrol station · 280 m off route
- 70.1 kmRecyke-a-bike · bike shop · 80 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0.4 km — Kirkcaldy (station), 740 m off route
- 7.9 km — Kinghorn (station), 100 m off route
- 16.9 km — Aberdour (station), 50 m off route
- 25.7 km — Inverkeithing (station), 410 m off route
- 60.4 km — Alloa (station), 610 m off route
- 72.8 km — Stirling (station), 150 m off route
Worth a stop
- 12.2 km — Mercat Cross (site of) (monument)
- 16.7 km — Aberdour Castle (ruins)
- 19.9 km — St Bridget's Kirk (ruins)
- 25.9 km — Mercat Cross (monument)
- 32.6 km — Rosyth Old Kirk (ruins)
- 45.6 km — Hanging Gardens Viewpoint (viewpoint)
Stay after this ride
- Premier Inn · hotel · 170 m from the finish
- Forth Guest House · hotel · 330 m from the finish
- William Wallace Hotel · hostel · 350 m from the finish
- Travelodge · hotel · 490 m from the finish
- Golden Lion · hotel · 390 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Water
- Top Up Tap (80 m)
- Food and coffee
- Havn (40 m), Merchants House Cafe (70 m), Istanbul Kebab and Pizza House (50 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Stirling (150 m)
- Bikes and repair
- Active Travel Hub (240 m)
- Food and coffee
- Toast (130 m), The Coffee House (220 m), Nando's (180 m)
- Shops
- Timorous Beastue (180 m)
Know before you go
- 7.2 km with no café, shop or water between km 35 and 42.2
- 5.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 7.6 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- 9% gravel or unpaved surface