Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 766
A hilly 20 km road cycling route from Kirkcaldy, Fife through Pathhead, Sinclairtown and Smeaton, with 208 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 20.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 208 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 27 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Kirkcaldy
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 208 m
- 20 km
Route description
- Kirkcaldy
- Pathhead
- Sinclairtown
- Smeaton
- Thornton
- Coaltown of Balgonie
- Pitteuchar
- Glenrothes
- Markinch
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
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 1.2 km | 2.7 km · 54 m · 2 % · max 3.3 % | 93 m |
| Unnamed climb | 18.3 km | 2 km · 41 m · 2.1 % · max 2.9 % | 134 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 1.9 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 33% minor road · 28% cycle path · 14% quiet street · 12% road with cycle lane · 13% other roads and tracks
- 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: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 34% climbing · 13% descending · 53% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 52 cafés and restaurants, 18 shops, 2 water points, 2 petrol stations, 3 public toilets and 4 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmHavn · café · 40 m off route
- 0 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 90 m off route
- 0 kmGreener Kirkcaldy Active Travel Hub · bike shop · 320 m off route
- 1 kmPathhead Pharmacy · pharmacy · 150 m off route
- 1.3 kmMatthew's Foods · supermarket · 30 m off route
- 2.8 kmToilets · 240 m off route
- 2.8 kmAsda · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 7.2 kmSpar · convenience store · on the route
- 7.3 kmDebbie's Takeaway · bakery · on the route
- 8.8 kmLeslie Bike Shop · bike shop · 40 m off route
- 9.6 kmBP · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 13.1 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 13.3 kmCo-op Food · convenience store · on the route
- 13.5 kmDears Pharmacy · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 13.6 kmThe Curator · café · on the route
- 13.8 kmWater point · 240 m off route
- 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
Worth a stop
- 14.1 km — Stob Cross (monument)
- 20.3 km — Greenside (ruins)
Stay after this ride
- The Steadings · guest house · 1.8 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Water
- Top Up Tap (90 m)
- Food and coffee
- Havn (40 m), Merchants House Cafe (90 m), Istanbul Kebab and Pizza House (60 m)
- Shops
- Day-Today (130 m), Premier (70 m)
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