Road · United Kingdom
Kelso Red Route
A rolling 16 km road cycling loop from Burnfoot, Scottish Borders through Linton, Linton Downs and Bankhead, with 115 m of climbing. Most of it (8.3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 9.7 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 15.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 115 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 08 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Burnfoot
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 115 m
- 16 km
Route description
- Burnfoot
- Linton
- Linton Downs
- Bankhead
- Cherrytrees
- Kirk Yetholm
- Town Yetholm
- Primsidemill
- Primside
- Burnfoot
This 15.9 km loop starts and finishes at Linton, passing Burnfoot early at 0.2 km, then Linton Mill and Linton itself before heading through Linton Downs and Bankhead. The main climb begins at 1.9 km, lasting 1.8 km with a gain of 64 m at an average gradient of 3.6%, reaching a top height of 169 m. The highest point on the route is at 4.9 km at 172 m.
The surface is mostly paved (97%) with a short 3% track section. The ride uses a mixture of main roads (52%) and minor roads (45%), with 8.3 km on main roads all without cycle lanes. Also, 9.7 km are on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. The longest named road is the B6401 which is used for 5 km.
There is a long 10.3 km stretch without a café, shop, or water from the start. At 10.3 km near Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm, there is a pub (The Plough Hotel) and a convenience store (Yetholm Village Shop), along with public toilets close by. The route passes near hills including Thirlestane Hill at 7.8 km, Yetholm Law at 11.6 km, and Highside at 13.9 km. Two archaeological sites lie nearby at 0.9 and 7.6 km.
Highlights
- Climb from 1.9 to 3.7 km gaining 64 m
- Highest point 172 m at 4.9 km
- Longest stretch without café or shop is 10.3 km
- Passes near Thirlestane Hill (237 m) and Yetholm Law (232 m)
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 1.9 km | 1.8 km · 64 m · 3.6 % · max 4.9 % | 169 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 52% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 9.7 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 52% main road · 45% minor road · 3% track
- Main roads
- 8.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 9.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B6401 (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 21% climbing · 23% descending · 55% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 2 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop and 1 public toilet.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 10.3 kmThe Plough Hotel · pub · on the route
- 10.3 kmYetholm Village Shop · convenience store · 50 m off route
- 10.4 kmToilets · 30 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.9 km — Site of Linton Tower (archaeological site)
- 7.6 km — Thirlestane Tower (Site of) (archaeological site)
Know before you go
- 8.3 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 9.7 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- Long 10.3 km stretch without café, shop, or water
- Short steep 500 m section at 6.1% gradient
