Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 2 · Great North Trail (Scottish Borders)Stage 2 →
Newcastleton to Peebles
A mountainous 85 km gravel route from Newcastleton, Scottish Borders to Peebles through Steele Road, Leysburnfoot and Newmill, with 1,482 m of climbing. The first 33 km has no café, shop or water. Mixed surface: 41% is mapped as paved and 54% as gravel or unpaved and 5% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 85 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,482 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 05 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Surface
- Mixed, much unpaved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 33 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Newcastleton → Peebles
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,482 m
- 85 km
Route description
- Newcastleton
- Steele Road
- Leysburnfoot
- Newmill
- Flex
- Hawick
- Stirches House
- Broadmeadows
- Traquair
- Peebles
This 85km point-to-point route starts at Newcastleton and passes Steele Road at 6.7km, Riccarton Junction and Leysburnfoot near 12.5km, then Shankend at 22.4km. The ride continues through Stobs, Newmill, Colislinn, Flex, and Greenbraehead before reaching Hawick at 34.2km. Beyond Hawick, it goes past Ashkirk, Wollrig, Broadmeadows, and Yarrowford, then Traquair and Kirkhouse before finishing at Peebles at 82.3km.
The climbing totals 1482m with major ascents like the start climb of 1.1km at 5.3% average gradient, and steeper climbs later such as a 5.3km section at 6.3% from 57.4km and a 4.4km climb at 7.4% from 69.6km. The route reaches a maximum elevation near 520m around 75.7km. The profile shows 34% climbing, 29% descending, and 37% flat, with up to 10.9km of sustained gradients over 5%.
Surface varies with 41% paved roads, 54% gravel or unpaved, including 33.1km of track and 15.3km of path, plus some minor roads and quiet streets. Main road sections total 7.6km, all without cycle lanes. Some roads have speed limits over 80km/h for 15.9km. A Sainsbury's supermarket and petrol station lie near 34km for refuelling, as well as several pubs and bakeries near 33.5km, 44.2km and at the finish in Peebles. The longest stretch without cafe, shop or water is 33.4km from the start.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 520 m, 75.7 km in.
- A 5.4 km descent dropping 158 m.
Highlights
- Climb from Newcastleton with 5.3% average gradient
- Pass beneath Shankend Hill (372m) at 21.2km
- Steep 5.3km climb at 6.3% from 57.4km
- Peak elevation around 520m near 75.7km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 1.1 km · 59 m · 5.3 % · max 5.8 % | 454 m |
| Unnamed climb | 7.2 km | 2.3 km · 46 m · 2 % · max 4.3 % | 225 m |
| Unnamed climb | 15.7 km | 1.4 km · 78 m · 5.5 % · max 9 % | 383 m |
| Unnamed climb | 34.1 km | 2.9 km · 136 m · 4.7 % · max 8 % | 239 m |
| Unnamed climb | 37.9 km | 1.5 km · 60 m · 3.9 % · max 4.8 % | 297 m |
| Unnamed climb | 43.9 km | 4.1 km · 157 m · 3.9 % · max 5.7 % | 337 m |
| Unnamed climb | 52.6 km | 2.2 km · 43 m · 2 % · max 3.9 % | 173 m |
| Unnamed climb | 57.4 km | 5.3 km · 329 m · 6.3 % · max 13.7 % | 494 m |
| Unnamed climb | 69.6 km | 4.4 km · 329 m · 7.4 % · max 16.2 % | 508 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 7.6 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 40% track · 19% path · 18% minor road · 13% quiet street · 10% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 7.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 15.9 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B6399 (5 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 41% is mapped as paved and 54% as gravel or unpaved and 5% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 34% climbing · 29% descending · 37% flat
- Steep sections
- 10.9 km over 5% · 3.7 km over 8% · 1.4 km over 10%
- Longest descent
- 5.4 km from 17.6 km, dropping 158 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 33 km, from the start. Along the route: 72 cafés and restaurants, 17 shops, 3 water points, 1 petrol station, 5 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 12.8 kmToilets · 150 m off route
- 33.5 kmG Harrow & Son Homebakery · bakery · 50 m off route
- 33.5 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 34 kmHawick Community Hospital · hospital · 120 m off route
- 34.4 kmSainsbury's · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 34.6 kmSainsbury's · petrol station · 60 m off route
- 34.8 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 200 m off route
- 34.8 kmTeri Bikes · bike shop · 320 m off route
- 44.2 kmSmiddy · pub · on the route
- 67.7 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 81.4 kmGlen Road Stores · convenience store · on the route
- 81.9 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 220 m off route
- 81.9 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 82.3 kmThe Fat Batard · bakery · 240 m off route
- 82.3 kmBspoke Cycles · bike shop · 390 m off route
- 82.3 kmrightmedicine Pharmacy · pharmacy · 210 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 15.9 km — Whitrope Siding (station), on the route
Worth a stop
- 15.9 km — Whitrope Heritage Centre (attraction)
- 26.5 km — Stobs Castle (castle)
- 34.3 km — The Borders Distillery (attraction)
- 56.4 km — Newark Castle (castle)
- 62.6 km — Hare Law (peak, 510 m)
- 75.9 km — Kirkhope Law (peak, 535 m)
Stay after this ride
- Neidpath Inn · hotel · 120 m from the finish
- Lindores Guest House · guest house · 160 m from the finish
- Tontine Hotel · hotel · 180 m from the finish
- Dilkusha House · guest house · 420 m from the finish
- Kingsmuir House · guest house · 740 m from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- The Bridge Inn (120 m), Peebles Chinese Takeaway (60 m), Ozkan's Grill (70 m)
Know before you go
- 33.4 km without café, shop or water from start
- 7.6 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 15.9 km on roads with 80 km/h or more
- 54% gravel or unpaved surface
