Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 1: Berwick-Upon-Tweed to Innerleithen
A rolling 34 km road cycling route from National Cycle Route 1: Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Scottish Borders to Innerleithen through Eildon, Melrose and Darnick, with 256 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 33.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 256 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 24 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 18 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- National Cycle Route 1: Berwick-Upon-Tweed → Innerleithen
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 256 m
- 34 km
Route description
- National Cycle Route 1: Berwick-Upon-Tweed
- Eildon
- Melrose
- Darnick
- Bridgend
- Boleside
- Fairnilee
- Caddonfoot
- Glenbenna
- Innerleithen
The route starts at Holmes Farm near Newtown St Boswells and travels through several places including Melrose, Tweedbank, and Walkerburn before finishing at Innerleithen. The profile features two main climbs: the first from km 1 to 2.2 rises 47 m at an average gradient of 4.1%, and another climb from km 12.9 to 14.3 with a gain of 41 m at 3% average gradient. The highest point is at 182 m near km 23.8, and the lowest is 89 m near km 5.2. Around 21% of the route is climbing, 18% descending, and 60% flat, with only 0.4 km over 5% gradient and 0.1 km over 8%.
Most surfaces (89%) are paved, with 10% gravel or unpaved, and 1% unmapped. Road types include 15.2 km minor roads, 6.6 km main roads, 5.4 km cycle paths, 3.1 km tracks, 1.9 km quiet streets, and 1.1 km paths. Main roads without cycle lanes total 6.8 km, and 14.5 km is on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. The longest named road covered is the B7060 for 3.2 km.
Services at the start include the Dryburgh Arms pub and a Co-op Food store. Food and drink options along the route include the Twelve Triangles bakery near Melrose and Ochiltree's restaurant near Newstead. There is a long 18.4 km stretch without café, shop, or water from km 11.6 to 30. Water points are available at km 5.3, 11.6, and 32.4. Bicycle shops are at Melrose and Innerleithen, and petrol stations near km 1.2 and 7.5. A railway station for bailout is near Tweedbank at km 8.1.
Highlights
- Start near Newtown St Boswells
- Passes Melrose and Tweedbank
- Climbs with max gradient 5.3%
- Finish at Innerleithen with cafes and bike shop
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 1 km | 1.2 km · 47 m · 4.1 % · max 5.3 % | 158 m |
| Unnamed climb | 12.9 km | 1.4 km · 41 m · 3 % · max 4.2 % | 142 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (6.8 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 45% minor road · 20% main road · 16% cycle path · 9% track · 10% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 6.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 14.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 5.4 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B7060 (3 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 89% is mapped as paved, 10% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 21% climbing · 18% descending · 60% flat
- Longest descent
- 2.2 km from 2.9 km, dropping 61 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 18 km, from km 12 to 30. Along the route: 36 cafés and restaurants, 11 shops, 3 water points, 3 petrol stations, 5 public toilets and 6 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.6 kmDryburgh Arms · pub · on the route
- 1.2 kmPetrol station · 100 m off route
- 5 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 5 kmHardies Bikes · bike shop · 80 m off route
- 5 kmBoots · pharmacy · on the route
- 5.1 kmTwelve Triangles · bakery · on the route
- 5.2 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 5.3 kmWater point · 140 m off route
- 7.5 kmBP MFG Tweedbank Service Station · petrol station · 170 m off route
- 10.1 kmOchiltree's · restaurant · 340 m off route
- 11.6 kmWater tap · 40 m off route
- 30.3 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 32.4 kmDrinking water · 30 m off route
- 33.5 kmLoulabelles · café · 60 m off route
- 33.5 kmDaymart · convenience store · 60 m off route
- 33.5 kmThe Bike Shop · bike shop · on the route
- 33.5 kmInnerleithen Pharmacy · pharmacy · 80 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 8.1 km — Tweedbank (station), 50 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Scottish Borders Donkey Sanctuary (attraction)
- 5 km — Mercat Cross (monument)
- 10.2 km — Home of Sir Walter Scott (attraction)
- 14.3 km — Rink Hill (peak)
Stay after this ride
- Caddon View · hotel · 160 m from the finish
- Studio @ Pirn Haugh · apartment · 500 m from the finish
- Cleikum Mill Lodge · apartment · 300 m from the finish
- Tweedside Caravan Park · campsite · 660 m from the finish
- Traquair Arms Hotel · hotel · 350 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Dryburgh Arms (560 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (640 m)
At the finish
- Bikes and repair
- The Bike Shop (20 m)
- Food and coffee
- Loulabelles (60 m), Out Out (80 m), The Sitooterie (150 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Innerleithen Pharmacy (90 m)
Know before you go
- 18.4 km without café, shop or water between 11.6 km and 30 km
- 6.8 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 14.5 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- About 10% gravel or unpaved surfaces
