Gravel · From the map · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 197
- 20 km
- 32 m
- Easy
- Gravel
Elevation profile
- 32 m
- 20 km
Route overview
This mostly flat 20 km route suits riders comfortable on long gravel cycle paths.
National Cycle Route 197 runs 20 km from Maud through Aberdeenshire on mostly gravel cycle paths.
The route starts in Maud at 65 m elevation and heads through Old Deer at 5 km, Mintlaw at 7.6 km, and Longside at 11.5 km. It descends gently to its low point of 21 m at 13 km before reaching Waterside, Upper Grange, and finishing near Coplandhill at 19.7 km. The route is mostly flat with only small sections of climbing and descending, the steepest gradient is about 3.8% over 500 m at the start. The surface is predominantly gravel or unpaved, making up 93% of the route, with 7% paved. Almost the entire ride is on cycle paths, mostly on the Formatine and Buchan Way for 19.3 km. Riders can find cafés, shops and toilets at the start in Maud and at intervals in Mintlaw and the finish, but should note there is an 11.7 km stretch from 7.6 km without café, shop or water. Facilities include the Platform 5 Café near the start, Murdoch Allen bakery in Mintlaw, and shops like Nisa Local in Maud and Co-Op in Mintlaw. There are petrol stations in Mintlaw and close to the finish. Toilets are available at the start. This is a point-to-point route ending near several rural settlements.
Highlights
- Route follows Formatine and Buchan Way for 19.3 km
- Passes through Old Deer, Mintlaw, Longside
- Longest flat section at 96% of route
- Close to North Lodge ruins at 6.1 km
Along the route
Places passed
What this ride is like
- Roads
- 99% cycle path
- Cycle paths
- 19.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Formatine and Buchan Way (19 km)
- Surface
- 7% paved · 93% gravel or unpaved
- Gradient
- 3% climbing · 1% descending · 96% flat
Along the way
Food, water and shops
- 0 kmPlatform 5 Cafe & Takeaway · café · 90 m off route
- 0 kmNisa Local · convenience store · 220 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 6.6 kmCo-Op Mintlaw · convenience store · 150 m off route
- 7.6 kmMurdoch Allen · bakery · 160 m off route
- 7.6 kmEsso · petrol station · 220 m off route
- 7.6 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 180 m off route
- 19.3 kmAsda · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 19.7 kmGrange Inn · pub · 270 m off route
Worth a stop
- 6.1 km — North Lodge (ruins)
At the start
- Platform 5 Cafe & Takeaway · café · 90 m
- Platform 5 · café · 90 m
- Station Hotel Maud · pub · 120 m
- Nisa Local · convenience store · 220 m
At the finish
- Asda · supermarket · 460 m
- Grange Inn · pub · 270 m
Stay after this ride
- Clerkhill Inn · hotel · 1.0 km from the finish
- Waterside Inn · hotel · 1.6 km from the finish
- Alexanders Guest House · guest house · 2.4 km from the finish
- The Harbour Spring · hotel · 2.5 km from the finish
Practical information
- Gravel
- Point to point
- 1 h 38 min
- Jul to Aug — daily highs of 17 °C in those months
Know before you go
- 11.7 km stretch with no café, shop or water from 7.6 km to 19.3 km
- 93% gravel or unpaved surface
- 19.3 km on cycle path, no cycle lane indicated
- Steepest 500 m at 3.8% gradient at start