Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 3 · Capital TrailStage 2 →
Musselburgh to Melrose
A hilly 74 km gravel route from Musselburgh, East Lothian to Melrose through Inveresk, Carberry Mains and Springfield Cottages, with 949 m of climbing. There is a 39 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 17–56). Mostly unpaved: 64% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 35% as paved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 74.1 km
- Elevation gain
- 949 m
- Riding time
- 6 h 10 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 39 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Musselburgh → Melrose
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 949 m
- 74 km
Route description
- Musselburgh
- Inveresk
- Carberry Mains
- Springfield Cottages
- Ormiston
- Newton Hall
- Lylestone
- Huntington
- Bluecairn
- Melrose
Starting in Musselburgh, the route passes through Fisherrow, Monktonhall, Inveresk and heads on to Whitecraig before climbing 43 m over 1.3 km starting near 3.8 km. It then climbs 80 m over 1.7 km from 5.6 km, passing Carberry and Crossgatehall. From around 20 km near West Saltoun a 2.4 km climb of 82 m begins. The biggest climb starts near 30.5 km, gaining 291 m over 5 km with a max gradient of 14.1%, reaching 499 m high.
The road surface is mostly unpaved or gravel at 64%, with 35% paved. The route features 42% track, 20% minor road, 19% path plus 7% cycle path and 7% main road, including 5 km on main roads without cycle lanes. It passes numerous small places, with a longest stretch of 39.1 km with no café, shop or water between 17.1 km and 56.2 km. The route passes near peaks such as Lammer Law at 528 m and Crib Law at 509 m. It finishes in Melrose, where there are cafés, bike shops and a supermarket.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 499 m, 35.5 km in.
- A 7.4 km descent dropping 226 m.
Highlights
- Climb near Lammer Law at 35 km, 528 m high
- Peaks near Crib Law and Bell Hill
- Longest descent 7.4 km starting at 42.2 km
- Carberry Tower castle near 5.3 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 3.8 km | 1.3 km · 43 m · 3.2 % · max 5.3 % | 74 m |
| Unnamed climb | 5.6 km | 1.7 km · 80 m · 4.8 % · max 6.9 % | 153 m |
| Unnamed climb | 19.9 km | 2.4 km · 82 m · 3.4 % · max 5.8 % | 174 m |
| Unnamed climb | 30.5 km | 5 km · 291 m · 5.8 % · max 14.1 % | 499 m |
| Unnamed climb | 38.6 km | 1.8 km · 81 m · 4.4 % · max 12.8 % | 449 m |
| Unnamed climb | 55.4 km | 3.4 km · 136 m · 4.1 % · max 7.2 % | 295 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 5.1 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 42% track · 20% minor road · 19% path · 7% cycle path · 13% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 5.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 12.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 5.3 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- A697 (3 km)
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved: 64% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 35% as paved.
- Gradient
- 26% climbing · 30% descending · 44% flat
- Steep sections
- 6.2 km over 5% · 2 km over 8% · 1.4 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 13.6% at 34.9 km
- Longest descent
- 7.4 km from 42.2 km, dropping 226 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 39 km, from km 17 to 56. Along the route: 31 cafés and restaurants, 12 shops, 1 petrol station, 5 public toilets and 3 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmCompany Bakery · bakery · 200 m off route
- 0 kmBoots · pharmacy · 710 m off route
- 1.3 kmToilets · 210 m off route
- 3.3 kmWhitecraig General Store · convenience store · on the route
- 16.5 kmSpar · convenience store · 110 m off route
- 16.5 kmGulf · petrol station · 110 m off route
- 16.9 kmWinton Arms · pub · 230 m off route
- 56.2 kmFirebrick Bakery · bakery · 130 m off route
- 56.2 kmFood & Wines · convenience store · 160 m off route
- 56.2 kmToilets · 210 m off route
- 56.2 kmRepair stand · 80 m off route
- 56.2 kmLauder Pharmacy · pharmacy · 160 m off route
- 72.3 kmTwelve Triangles · café · 30 m off route
- 72.3 kmToilets · on the route
- 72.3 kmHardies Bikes · bike shop · on the route
- 72.4 kmBoots · pharmacy · on the route
- 72.5 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 190 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0.2 km — Musselburgh (station), 780 m off route
- 69.9 km — Tweedbank (station), 1.1 km off route
Worth a stop
- 5.3 km — Carberry Tower (castle)
- 16.5 km — Mercat Cross (monument)
- 22.8 km — Fletcher Monument (monument)
- 33.4 km — Gala Law (peak)
- 37.2 km — Crib Law (peak, 509 m)
- 57 km — Fort (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- The Townhouse · hotel · 20 m from the finish
- Burt's Hotel · hotel · 20 m from the finish
- George and Abbotsford Hotel · hotel · 40 m from the finish
- Station Hotel · hotel · 80 m from the finish
- Fiorlin · guest house · 60 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Musselburgh (850 m)
- Food and coffee
- Company Bakery (200 m), Eskview Fry (140 m), Happy House (150 m)
- Shops
- Tesco Extra (360 m)
At the finish
- Bikes and repair
- Hardies Bikes (80 m), Grease Monkey Cycles Instrastructure (70 m)
- Food and coffee
- Twelve Triangles (70 m), Apples For Jam (30 m), Alexander Dalgetty & Sons (100 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Boots (70 m)
Know before you go
- 39 km with no café, shop or water between 17.1 km and 56.2 km
- 5 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 12.7 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or above
- 64% of route on gravel or unpaved surfaces
