Gravel · United Kingdom
Stage 4 of 4 · Border Loop← Stage 3
Melrose to Paxton
A hilly 110 km road cycling route from Melrose, Scottish Borders to Paxton through Newstead, Redpath and Coldside, with 969 m of climbing. There is a 25 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 21–47).
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 110.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 969 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 52 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 25 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Melrose → Paxton
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 969 m
- 110 km
Route description
- Melrose
- Newstead
- Redpath
- Coldside
- Caldra
- Oatleycleugh
- Howpark
- Biglawburn
- Foulden Newton
- Paxton
The route starts in Melrose and begins with a 2.1 km climb gaining 57 m at an average gradient of 2.8%, reaching 155 m elevation. Riding mostly on minor and main roads, the route passes through several small places including Newstead, Dryburgh, and Bemersyde with hills like Bass Hill near 5.9 km and Brotherstone Hill around 13 km. There are scattered cafes and shops near the start and at some villages, but a long 25.4 km stretch from 21.2 km to 46.6 km without amenities requires preparation.
Climbing continues intermittently with notable climbs at 5.7 km (2.6 km length, 93 m gain) and at 52.5 km with a 6% average gradient over 1.7 km including a maximum of 11%. Other climbs include sections around 69.6 km and 90.5 km. The route reaches its highest point at 233 m near 72.6 km before descending to a low of 3 m at 89 km and finishing at Paxton. The surface is predominantly paved (98%) with only 1% gravel or unpaved, and road types include 63% minor roads, 30% main roads, 3% quiet streets, and small sections of cycle paths and tracks. There are stretches on main roads without cycle lanes and some sections on roads posted 80 km/h or more.
Why ride this route?
- A 5.3 km descent dropping 87 m.
Highlights
- Bass Hill at 5.9 km
- Brotherstone Hill near 13 km
- Highest point 233 m at 72.6 km
- Scott's View near 9.1 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 2.1 km · 57 m · 2.8 % · max 4 % | 155 m |
| Unnamed climb | 5.7 km | 2.6 km · 93 m · 3.6 % · max 5.8 % | 169 m |
| Unnamed climb | 26.2 km | 2.1 km · 51 m · 2.4 % · max 4.7 % | 200 m |
| Unnamed climb | 52.5 km | 1.7 km · 100 m · 6 % · max 11 % | 230 m |
| Unnamed climb | 58.7 km | 1.9 km · 52 m · 2.8 % · max 4.5 % | 203 m |
| Unnamed climb | 69.6 km | 2.8 km · 109 m · 3.9 % · max 7.1 % | 228 m |
| Unnamed climb | 90.5 km | 2 km · 49 m · 2.5 % · max 4.2 % | 66 m |
| Unnamed climb | 93.7 km | 2.8 km · 84 m · 3 % · max 4.8 % | 127 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (32.4 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 63% minor road · 30% main road · 3% quiet street · 2% path · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 32.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 47 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 1.9 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B6355 (7 km), B6356 (4 km), Howpark Road (4 km), A1107 (4 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 23% climbing · 23% descending · 54% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.9 km over 5% · 0.8 km over 8% · 0.4 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 10.1% at 54.5 km
- Longest descent
- 5.3 km from 76 km, dropping 87 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 25 km, from km 21 to 47. Along the route: 45 cafés and restaurants, 9 shops, 1 water point, 4 petrol stations, 8 public toilets and 3 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmTwelve Triangles · café · 30 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · on the route
- 0 kmBoots · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 3.7 kmPetrol station · 110 m off route
- 4.3 kmDryburgh Arms · pub · on the route
- 6.1 kmToilets · 290 m off route
- 21.2 kmToilets · 290 m off route
- 46.6 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 46.7 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 120 m off route
- 46.7 kmGeorge Romanes · pharmacy · 70 m off route
- 46.8 kmAitchisons · petrol station · 200 m off route
- 70.1 kmCedar Cafe · café · on the route
- 70.1 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 88.6 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 88.6 kmNorthburn Garage · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 88.9 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 89.2 kmGeorge Romanes Pharmacy · pharmacy · 110 m off route
- 103.6 kmThe Cross Inn · pub · 170 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Mercat Cross (monument)
- 5.9 km — Bass Hill (peak)
- 9.1 km — Scott's View (viewpoint)
- 28.4 km — Hume Castle (castle)
- 32.4 km — Green Law (peak)
- 46.7 km — Mercat Cross (monument)
Start and access
At the start
- Bikes and repair
- Hardies Bikes (40 m), Grease Monkey Cycles Instrastructure (80 m)
- Food and coffee
- Twelve Triangles (30 m), Abbey Fine Wines Bottle Shop & Cafe bar (20 m), Ship Inn (60 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- The Chain Bridge Honey Farm Bus Café (340 m)
Know before you go
- 25 km without café, shop or water from 21.2 km to 46.6 km
- 32 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 47 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- Short gravel or unpaved sections totaling 1%
