Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 3 · EuroVelo 12Stage 2 →
Lerwick to Ulsta
A hilly 66 km road cycling route from Lerwick, Shetland to Ulsta through Veensgarth, Whiteness and Hellister, with 813 m of climbing. Most of it (55.2 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 1.3 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 20 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 46–66).
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 66.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 813 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 44 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 20 km
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Lerwick → Ulsta
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 813 m
- 66 km
Route description
- Lerwick
- Veensgarth
- Whiteness
- Hellister
- Huxster
- Bixter
- Lower Langaskule
- Aith
- East Burrafirth
- Ulsta
Starting from Lerwick at sea level, the route heads through several places including Veensgarth (7.5 km), Whiteness (12.7 km), and Bixter (26.4 km) before reaching Ulsta at 65.7 km. The ride features seven climbs, the longest being 2.9 km with an average gradient of 3.5%, and the steepest 500 m section reaches 7.1% near km 10.2. Elevation peaks at 132 m around 41.1 km, with the terrain including 31% climbing, 26% descending, and 42% flat sections. The surface is mostly paved (93%) with a small share of gravel or unpaved (1%).
Highlights
- Hill of Tagdale near 3 km
- Climb starting at 18.5 km
- Hill of Hellister near 15.5 km
- Fielnadringa peak near 41 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.2 km | 2.3 km · 99 m · 4.3 % · max 6 % | 105 m |
| Unnamed climb | 4.8 km | 1.7 km · 46 m · 2.8 % · max 4.5 % | 74 m |
| Unnamed climb | 8.6 km | 2.2 km · 92 m · 4.3 % · max 7.8 % | 108 m |
| Unnamed climb | 18.5 km | 2.9 km · 101 m · 3.5 % · max 4.5 % | 105 m |
| Unnamed climb | 26.2 km | 1.1 km · 48 m · 4.4 % · max 6.8 % | 61 m |
| Unnamed climb | 34.7 km | 2.1 km · 75 m · 3.6 % · max 5.4 % | 85 m |
| Unnamed climb | 38.8 km | 2.3 km · 110 m · 4.8 % · max 7.4 % | 132 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 83% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 1.3 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 84% main road · 6% minor road · 2% quiet street · 1% track · 1% other roads and tracks · 6% unmapped
- Main roads
- 55.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 1.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- A971 (18 km), B9071 (17 km), A968 (16 km), A970 (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 93% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved and 7% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 31% climbing · 26% descending · 42% flat
- Steep sections
- 3.2 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 7.1% at 10.2 km
- Longest descent
- 2.1 km from 41.6 km, dropping 116 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 20 km, from km 46 to 66. Along the route: 4 cafés and restaurants, 6 shops, 3 petrol stations, 5 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 370 m off route
- 0 kmFreefield Pharmacy · pharmacy · 750 m off route
- 0.2 kmRepair stand · on the route
- 2.1 kmLerwick Brewery · pub · 40 m off route
- 12.8 kmAnderson Butchers · convenience store · on the route
- 15.9 kmRobertson & Morrison · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 26.6 kmThe Bixter Shop · convenience store · on the route
- 26.6 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 26.6 kmPetrol station · on the route
- 31.2 kmAith Community Toilets · toilets · 210 m off route
- 34.3 kmThe Original Cake Fridge & Tearoom · patisserie · 50 m off route
- 44.6 kmToilets · on the route
- 45.3 kmTagon Stores · convenience store · 70 m off route
- 45.3 kmPetrol station · 70 m off route
- 45.5 kmDA Mad Hoose · café · 30 m off route
- 61 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 65.7 kmYell Eats · fast food · 110 m off route
- 65.7 kmToilets · 100 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Lerwick (ferry), on the route
- 65.7 km — Ulsta (ferry), on the route
Worth a stop
- 1 km — Ward of Lerwick (peak, 83 m)
- 27.6 km — Brecks Hill (peak, 91 m)
- 33.9 km — East Burra Firth, Broch (archaeological site)
- 41 km — Fielnadringa (peak, 198 m)
- 55.8 km — Hill of Swinister (peak, 139 m)
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Lerwick (0 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (370 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Ulsta (10 m)
- Food and coffee
- Yell Eats (110 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 20.2 km from 45.5 km to 65.7 km
- 55.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 1.3 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- 3.2 km with gradients over 5%
