Musselburgh to Melrose
- 74 km
- 949 m
- Hard
- Mixed
Elevation profile
- 949 m
- 74 km
Route overview
Riders suited for a long, mixed-surface ride with significant climbing of 949 m.
Stage 1 of 3 of the Capital Trail: 74.1 km from Musselburgh to Melrose with 949 m of climbing, on the signed route.
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.
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 | Length | Gain | Average | Max | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 3.8 km | 1.3 km | 43 m | 3.2 % | 5.3 % | 74 m |
| — | 5.6 km | 1.7 km | 80 m | 4.8 % | 6.9 % | 153 m |
| — | 19.9 km | 2.4 km | 82 m | 3.4 % | 5.8 % | 174 m |
| — | 30.5 km | 5 km | 291 m | 5.8 % | 14.1 % | 499 m |
| — | 38.6 km | 1.8 km | 81 m | 4.4 % | 12.8 % | 449 m |
| — | 55.4 km | 3.4 km | 136 m | 4.1 % | 7.2 % | 295 m |
What this ride is like
- Roads
- 42% track · 20% minor road · 19% path · 7% cycle path
- 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
- 35% paved · 64% gravel or unpaved
- 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
Along the way
Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 39 km, from 17 km to 56 km.
Food, water and shops
- 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)
At the start
- Company Bakery · bakery · 200 m
- Eskview Fry · fast food · 140 m
- Happy House · fast food · 150 m
- La Bella Italia · restaurant · 180 m
- Tesco Extra · supermarket · 360 m
At the finish
- Twelve Triangles · café · 70 m
- Apples For Jam · café · 30 m
- Hardies Bikes · bike shop · 80 m
- Alexander Dalgetty & Sons · bakery · 100 m
- Grease Monkey Cycles Instrastructure · repair stand · 70 m
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
Practical information
- Mixed
- Point to point
- 6 h 10 min
- Jun to Sep — daily highs of 16–18 °C in those months
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