Cyclists.com

National Cycle Route 766

Kirkcaldy, Fife, United KingdomRoad

Signed route The waymarked National Cycle Route 766 (Walk Wheel Cycle Trust), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

20 km
Distance
208 m
Elevation gain
Easy
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
Cleared Milldeans Wood
Photo: Scott Cormie · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
208 m
Distance
20 km
050100150m0 km5101520 km135 m · highest, at 20.4 kmStartFinish

Route overview

This moderate distance route with steady climbs suits riders comfortable with short gradients up to 3.3%.

National Cycle Route 766 is a 20.4 km route from Kirkcaldy through Fife with 208 m of climbing.

National Cycle Route 766 starts at Kirkcaldy near a café, convenience stores and drinking water. It immediately passes through Port Brae, Hayfield, and Pathhead within the first 1.3 km. The route climbs gently over 2.7 km from km 1.2 with an average gradient of 2% and a maximum of 3.3%, reaching 93 m elevation. The route continues through Sinclairtown, Smeaton, Gallatown, and reaches Thornton at 7.2 km. From km 2.9 to 7 km, there is a longest stretch without café, shop, or water for 4.1 km. There are several road types on this route: 33% on minor roads, 28% cycle paths, 14% quiet streets, 12% roads with cycle lanes and 9% main roads. The main roads section without cycle lanes totals 1.9 km, with some of these classified as fast roads with speeds over 80 km/h for 2.4 km. Further on, the route passes Coaltown of Balgonie, Pitteuchar, Woodside and Glenrothes, which is near a railway station at 11.4 km. The profile is mixed with flat sections (53%) and climbing (34%). After Markinch at 13.4 km, there is a second climb from km 18.3 for 2 km rising 41 m with a max gradient around 2.9%. The high point of 134 m is near the finish at 20.3 km beneath Cuinin Hill. Several cafés and shops can be found along the route including Debbie's Takeaway bakery at 7.3 km, The Curator café at 13.6 km, and The Plough Inn pub at 17.6 km. Three railway stations offer bailouts at Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes with Thornton, and Markinch.

Highlights

  • Markinch Hill near 14 km
  • Cuinin Hill near 16 km
  • Two climbs with max gradients around 3%
  • Four railway stations accessible along route

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Smeaton 2.2 km
  2. Gallatown 2.4 km
  3. Thornton 7.2 km
  4. Coaltown of Balgonie 9.3 km
  5. Pitteuchar 10.3 km
  6. Woodside 10.9 km
  7. Glenrothes 11.4 km
  8. Markinch 13.4 km
  9. Star 17.5 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—1.2 km2.7 km54 m2 %3.3 %93 m
—18.3 km2 km41 m2.1 %2.9 %134 m

High point 134 m at 20.3 km; low point 14 m. Passes beneath Markinch Hill, Cuinin Hill.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
33% minor road · 28% cycle path · 14% quiet street · 12% road with cycle lane
Main roads
1.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
2.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
8.1 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
34% climbing · 13% descending · 53% flat

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0 kmHavn · café · 40 m off route
  2. 0 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 90 m off route
  3. 0 kmGreener Kirkcaldy Active Travel Hub · bike shop · 320 m off route
  4. 1 kmPathhead Pharmacy · pharmacy · 150 m off route
  5. 1.3 kmMatthew's Foods · supermarket · 30 m off route
  6. 2.8 kmToilets · 240 m off route
  7. 2.8 kmAsda · petrol station · 50 m off route
  8. 7.2 kmSpar · convenience store · on the route
  9. 7.3 kmDebbie's Takeaway · bakery · on the route
  10. 8.8 kmLeslie Bike Shop · bike shop · 40 m off route
  11. 9.6 kmBP · petrol station · 80 m off route
  12. 13.1 kmToilets · 30 m off route
  13. 13.3 kmCo-op Food · convenience store · on the route
  14. 13.5 kmDears Pharmacy · pharmacy · 40 m off route
  15. 13.6 kmThe Curator · café · on the route
  16. 13.8 kmWater point · 240 m off route
  17. 17.6 kmThe Plough Inn · pub · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 0 km — Kirkcaldy (station), 850 m off route
  • 6.7 km — Glenrothes with Thornton (station), 70 m off route
  • 13.1 km — Markinch (station), 30 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 14.1 km — Stob Cross (monument)
  • 20.3 km — Greenside (ruins)

At the start

  • Havn · café · 40 m
  • Merchants House Cafe · café · 90 m
  • Top Up Tap · drinking water · 90 m
  • Day-Today · convenience store · 130 m
  • Istanbul Kebab and Pizza House · fast food · 60 m

Stay after this ride

  • The Steadings · guest house · 1.8 km from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
1 h 27 min
Best months
Jun to Sep — daily highs of 16–18 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch with no café or shop or water for 4.1 km from 2.9 km
  • 1.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane
  • 2.4 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Scott Cormie · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Richard Webb · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: James Allan · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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