Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 4 · Border LoopStage 2 →
Ladykirk to Hawick
A hilly 105 km road cycling route from Ladykirk, Scottish Borders to Hawick through Upsettlington, Eccles Newton and Sydenham Farm, with 969 m of climbing. There is a 43 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 43–86).
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 104.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 969 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 28 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 43 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Ladykirk → Hawick
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 969 m
- 105 km
Route description
- Ladykirk
- Upsettlington
- Eccles Newton
- Sydenham Farm
- Duncanshaugh
- Heavyside
- Towford
- Mervinslaw
- Hawthornside
- Hawick
This 104.5 km route starts at Ladykirk near Norham, then passes through numerous small settlements including Kelso and Kirk Yetholm before finishing in Hawick. The ride is predominantly on paved surfaces (97%), with minor gravel sections (2%) and includes a mix of road types: 62% minor roads, 31% main roads, plus some quiet streets and tracks. Key climbs include a 5.5 km segment starting at 31 km climbing 143 m, and six more smaller hills spread through the latter part of the route. The highest point is reached at 79.2 km, at 302 m elevation.
The route features long stretches without amenities: from 43.3 km to 86.1 km there is no café, shop, or water for 42.8 km. However, a few stops near the town of Kelso offer shops, cycle shops, and cafés just off route around the 29-30 km mark. Toilets can be found near Kelso, Yetholm, and Hawick. The climb profiles include moderate average gradients mostly under 4%, with maximum gradients up to 7.4%. Some sections lie nearby hills and peaks such as Hirsel Law (96 m at 10.6 km), Ednam Hill (86 m at 25.7 km), and Yetholm Law (232 m at 44.3 km).
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 302 m, 79.2 km in.
Highlights
- Corbet Tower castle near 50 km
- Thirlestane Tower archaeological site near 41 km
- Hirsel Law peak at 10.6 km
- Yetholm Law peak at 44.3 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 31 km | 5.5 km · 143 m · 2.6 % · max 7.4 % | 186 m |
| Unnamed climb | 54.6 km | 2.1 km · 46 m · 2.2 % · max 3.4 % | 188 m |
| Unnamed climb | 59.7 km | 1.6 km · 41 m · 2.6 % · max 6.3 % | 241 m |
| Unnamed climb | 68.2 km | 2.9 km · 57 m · 2 % · max 2.8 % | 198 m |
| Unnamed climb | 73.7 km | 5.2 km · 163 m · 3.1 % · max 4.9 % | 301 m |
| Unnamed climb | 85.9 km | 2 km · 83 m · 4.1 % · max 6.2 % | 236 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (32.6 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 62% minor road · 31% main road · 3% quiet street · 1% track · 2% other roads and tracks · 1% unmapped
- Main roads
- 32.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 59.1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B6399 (8 km), A6088 (6 km), B6352 (5 km), B6401 (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 25% climbing · 18% descending · 57% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.3 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6% at 62.1 km
- Longest descent
- 4 km from 95.7 km, dropping 95 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 43 km, from km 43 to 86. Along the route: 62 cafés and restaurants, 9 shops, 1 water point, 2 petrol stations, 3 public toilets and 4 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 29.1 kmCaroline's Coffee Shop · café · on the route
- 29.2 kmToilets · on the route
- 29.3 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 150 m off route
- 29.3 kmBoots · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 29.4 kmSimon Porteous Cycles · bike shop · on the route
- 30.2 kmMaxwell Motors · petrol station · on the route
- 41.3 kmSpring · 70 m off route
- 43.3 kmThe Plough Hotel · pub · on the route
- 43.3 kmYetholm Village Shop · convenience store · 50 m off route
- 43.3 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 86.1 kmHorse and Hound · pub · 30 m off route
- 101.9 kmToilets · 150 m off route
- 102.1 kmDamascus Drum · café · 80 m off route
- 102.1 kmHawick Market · convenience store · 150 m off route
- 102.1 kmHawick Cycles · bike shop · 450 m off route
- 102.1 kmDelooze Hearing · clinic · 130 m off route
Worth a stop
- 18.8 km — St Mary's Convent (ruins)
- 26.7 km — Thomson Monument (viewpoint)
- 30.1 km — Bridgend Park Viewpoint (viewpoint)
- 40.9 km — Thirlestane Tower (Site of) (archaeological site)
- 50.2 km — Corbet Tower (castle)
- 95.7 km — Denholm Hill (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- Log Burner Apartment · apartment · 110 m from the finish
- Teviotside Guest House · guest house · 660 m from the finish
- Balcary House Hotel · hotel · 770 m from the finish
- Old Mansfield Bar · apartment · 980 m from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Damascus Drum (80 m), Espresso Library (90 m), G Harrow & Son Homebakery (140 m)
Know before you go
- 42.8 km without café, shop or water from 43.3 km to 86.1 km
- 32.6 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 59.1 km on roads with posted limits 80 km/h or more
- 2% gravel or unpaved surface
