Road · United Kingdom
Go East Lothian Trail
A rolling 42 km gravel loop from North Berwick, East Lothian through Dirleton, Kingston and Stonelaws, with 206 m of climbing. Mixed surface: 60% is mapped as paved and 40% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 41.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 206 m
- Riding time
- 3 h 29 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- North Berwick
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 206 m
- 42 km
Route description
- North Berwick
- Dirleton
- Kingston
- Stonelaws
- Lawhead
- Tyninghame
- Scoughall
- Auldhame
- Castleton
- North Berwick
The Go East Lothian Trail is a 41.7 km loop from North Berwick that passes through Dirleton, Kingston, Highfield, Stonelaws, Newbyth, Lawhead, East Linton, Tyninghame, Scoughall, Seacliff, Auldhame, Halflandbarns, Castleton, and Canty Bay. The route features a mix of surfaces with 60% paved and 40% gravel or unpaved sections. Roads include 27% path, 24% quiet street, 23% minor road, 15% main road, and 12% track, with 6.1 km on main roads without cycle lanes, including 3.2 km along the A198.
Highlights
- Loop route from North Berwick
- Climb up to 74 m over 1.8 km with max 3.5% gradient
- Longest descent of 2.2 km dropping 38 m starting at 18.2 km
- Cafés at 2.6 km (Seriously Dough) and 28.3 km (Tyninghame Smithy)
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 11.4 km | 1.8 km · 43 m · 2.5 % · max 3.5 % | 74 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 6.1 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 27% path · 24% quiet street · 23% minor road · 15% main road · 12% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 6.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 5.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- A198 (3 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 60% is mapped as paved and 40% as gravel or unpaved.
- Gradient
- 11% climbing · 14% descending · 75% flat
- Longest descent
- 2.2 km from 18.2 km, dropping 38 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 40 cafés and restaurants, 4 shops, 1 water point, 1 petrol station and 12 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmTesco · petrol station · 210 m off route
- 2.2 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 2.3 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 80 m off route
- 2.5 kmBoots · pharmacy · 50 m off route
- 2.6 kmSeriously Dough · café · 80 m off route
- 2.6 kmCo-op Food · convenience store · 70 m off route
- 7 kmToilets · on the route
- 9.6 kmAmalfi Ice Cream & Coffee · café · on the route
- 23.4 kmSmeaton Tearoom · café · 110 m off route
- 24.5 kmLinton Pharmacy · pharmacy · 640 m off route
- 28.3 kmTyninghame Smithy · café · on the route
- 36.5 kmToilets · on the route
- 39.4 kmDrift · café · 90 m off route
- 41.1 kmToilets · 70 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 3 km — North Berwick (station), 260 m off route
- 24.5 km — East Linton (station), 750 m off route
Worth a stop
- 1.5 km — Castle Hill (viewpoint)
- 9.4 km — Dirleton Castle (castle)
- 13.1 km — Fenton Tower (castle)
- 29.7 km — St Baldred's Church (ruins)
- 37 km — Auldhame Castle (ruins)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Shops
- Tesco (360 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop, or water is 13.8 km from 9.6 to 23.4 km
- 6.1 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 5.3 km on roads posted 80 km/h or above
- 40% gravel or unpaved surface
