Gravel · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 194
A flat 25 km gravel route from Maud, Aberdeenshire through Strichen and Spillarsford, with 79 m of climbing. 98% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane. Mostly unpaved: 95% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 4% as paved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 25.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 79 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 07 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Longest gap 16 km
- Best months
- Jul to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Maud
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 79 m
- 25 km
Route description
- Maud
- Strichen
- Spillarsford
Starting at Maud (0 km), the route heads northeast passing through Strichen at 8.9 km and Spillarsford at 17.5 km before reaching Fraserburgh at 25.3 km. The path lies mostly on the Formatine and Buchan Way. The route is largely flat or gently descending, with a total elevation gain of 79 m and a highest point of 106 m at 6 km. Climbing is minor, with only 0.1 km above 5% gradient.
Almost the entire route (97%) is on cycle paths, but most surfaces (95%) are on gravel or unpaved tracks. The route includes 24.7 km of cycle path, offering ease of navigation away from main roads. There is a longest descent of 3.8 km starting at 13.6 km with a 54 m drop. Facilities include cafés at the start (Platform 5 Café) and end (Tiger Hill Café), with a cafe and convenience store at Strichen. However, there is a long 15.8 km stretch between 8.9 km and 24.7 km without cafés, shops, or water. Toilets are at Maud, and water is available near Fraserburgh.
Why ride this route?
- 98% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Formatine and Buchan Way cycle path
- Strichen Stone Circle near 7.8 km
- Knockmomean peak near 20.7 km
- Long 3.8 km descent from 13.6 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 98% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 97% cycle path · 3% other roads and tracks
- Cycle paths
- 24.7 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Formatine and Buchan Way (24 km)
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved: 95% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 4% as paved.
- Gradient
- 7% climbing · 18% descending · 75% flat
- Longest descent
- 3.8 km from 13.6 km, dropping 54 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 16 km, from km 9 to 25. Along the route: 7 cafés and restaurants, 4 shops, 1 water point, 1 petrol station and 1 public toilet.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmPlatform 5 Cafe & Takeaway · café · 60 m off route
- 0 kmNisa Local · convenience store · 190 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 8.8 kmThe Lodge at Strichen · café · 60 m off route
- 8.9 kmCo-Op · convenience store · 100 m off route
- 9 kmWebsters Pharmacy · pharmacy · 230 m off route
- 24.8 kmLidl · supermarket · 250 m off route
- 24.9 kmPetrol station · 260 m off route
- 25.1 kmTiger Hill Cafe · café · on the route
- 25.1 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · on the route
- 25.3 kmBoots · pharmacy · 740 m off route
Worth a stop
- 7.8 km — Strichen Stone Circle (archaeological site)
- 17.1 km — Knowsie (ruins)
- 20.7 km — Knockmomean (peak)
- 25.3 km — Saltoun Place Fountain (monument)
Stay after this ride
- The Saltoun Inn · hotel · 830 m from the finish
- Findlay's · hotel · 1.8 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Platform 5 Cafe & Takeaway (60 m), Platform 5 (60 m), Station Hotel Maud (100 m)
- Shops
- Nisa Local (190 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Tiger Hill Cafe (250 m)
- Shops
- Lidl (690 m), Tesco (790 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Boots (740 m)
Know before you go
- 15.8 km with no café, shop or water from 8.9 km to 24.7 km
- 95% gravel or unpaved surface
- Only 0.1 km above 5% gradient but includes a 3.8 km descent