Cyclists.com

Lanark to Biggar via Hyndford Bridge

Lanark, South Lanarkshire, United KingdomRoad

Signed route The waymarked Lanark to Biggar via Hyndford Bridge (local route), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

23 km
Distance
174 m
Elevation gain
Easy
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap

Elevation profile

Total ascent
174 m
Distance
23 km
0100200300m0 km510152023 km275 m · highest, at 11.2 kmStartFinish

Route overview

This ride suits those looking for a moderate 23 km distance with some climbing.

A 23 km ride from Lanark to Biggar with 174 m climbing, passing Hyndford Bridge and Thankerton in South Lanarkshire.

The ride starts at Lanark and heads east passing Hyndford Bridge at 3.7 km and Carmichael at 7.8 km. The highest point on the route is at 275 m at 11.2 km. From 4.1 km, there is a 2 km climb gaining 40 m at an average gradient of 2.1% with a maximum of 3.4%. The route features mostly minor roads making up 78% of the distance, with short sections on main roads (0.6 km), roads with cycle lanes (3 km), cycle paths (0.6 km), and quiet streets (0.5 km). The surfaces are almost entirely paved with just 1% gravel or unpaved. The route passes Fallburn at 14.5 km and Thankerton at 15.6 km before finishing at Biggar at 23.3 km. There is a longest stretch without café, shop, or water for 12.9 km between 1.9 and 14.8 km. At the start in Lanark, facilities include cafés, supermarkets, a bike shop, petrol station, and a railway station. At Biggar, amenities include cafes, restaurants, pubs, and a convenience store. Notable nearby peaks include Castle Hill at the start, Whitecastle Hill and Harleyholm Hill near 7.2 km, and Quothquan Law at 17.1 km.

Highlights

  • Climb starting at 4.1 km
  • Highest point 275 m at 11.2 km
  • Passing Hyndford Bridge at 3.7 km
  • Biggar archaeological site nearby

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Hyndford Bridge 3.7 km
  2. Carmichael 7.8 km
  3. Fallburn 14.5 km
  4. Thankerton 15.6 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
4.1 km2 km40 m2.1 %3.4 %220 m

High point 275 m at 11.2 km; low point 180 m. Passes beneath Castle Hill, Whitecastle Hill, Harleyholm Hill.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
78% minor road · 13% road with cycle lane · 3% main road · 3% cycle path
Fast roads
16.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
3.6 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
A73 (3 km), Devonside Road (3 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
23% climbing · 24% descending · 54% flat
Longest descent
2.6 km from 12.2 km, dropping 50 m

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. 0.1 kmMorrisons · supermarket · on the route
  2. 0.1 kmToilets · on the route
  3. 0.2 kmLife Styles · café · 100 m off route
  4. 0.8 kmLockhart Hospital · hospital · 110 m off route
  5. 1.4 kmBike shop · on the route
  6. 1.4 kmLanark Loch Garage · petrol station · on the route
  7. 14.8 kmTinto Hill Tearoom · café · on the route
  8. 23.2 kmLondis · convenience store · 150 m off route
  9. 23.2 kmBP · petrol station · 140 m off route
  10. 23.3 kmCross Keys · pub · on the route
  11. 23.3 kmGraeme Pharmacy · pharmacy · 430 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 0 kmLanark (station), 150 m off route

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

Worth a stop

  • 0.1 kmRuins of Church of St Kentigern's (ruins)
  • 7.2 kmHarleyholm Hill (peak)
  • 23.3 kmBiggar Motte (archaeological site)

At the start

  • Lanark · station · 150 m
  • Morrisons · supermarket · 110 m
  • Life Styles · café · 200 m
  • Lidl · supermarket · 130 m
  • Bake N' Butty · café · 180 m

At the finish

  • Cross Keys · pub · 30 m
  • The Oriental · restaurant · 40 m
  • Zest sandwich bar · café · 270 m
  • Londis · convenience store · 180 m
  • The Barony · restaurant · 180 m

Stay after this ride

  • The Kirkstyle Hotel · hotel · 260 m from the finish
  • Biggar Caravan Park · campsite · 1.1 km from the finish
  • Cormiston Farm · guest house · 2.9 km from the finish
  • Cornhill House Hotel · hotel · 3.1 km from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
1 h 40 min
Best months
Jun to Aug — daily highs of 16–17 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water for 12.9 km from 1.9 to 14.8 km
  • 16.6 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
  • 0.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane
  • 1% gravel or unpaved surface

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

2 photographs from the road

Photo: John Walton · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Adam Black · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Alan O'Dowd · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons