Mixed · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 1: Innerleithen to Edinburgh
A flat 37 km road cycling route from National Cycle Route 1: Innerleithen, Midlothian to Edinburgh through Middleton, Carrington and Bonnyrigg, with 93 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Easy, flat rides
- Distance
- 36.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 93 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 36 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- National Cycle Route 1: Innerleithen → Edinburgh
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 93 m
- 37 km
Route description
- National Cycle Route 1: Innerleithen
- Middleton
- Carrington
- Bonnyrigg
- Woodburn
- Monktonhall
- Newcraighall
- Craigmillar
- Sciennes
- Edinburgh
This 36.5 km point-to-point route starts at Innerleithen and ends in Edinburgh, passing through 32 named places including North Middleton at 2 km, Newtongrange at 13.1 km, Bonnyrigg at 14.4 km, Dalkeith at 18.4 km, Musselburgh at 25.2 km, and Craigmillar at 31.5 km. The highest point is at the start at 268 m and the lowest point is at 24.6 km at 17 m, with a total elevation gain of 93 m, primarily in the first half. The profile is mostly flat with some gentle descents and very short steep gradients.
Surface is 99% paved, with minor gravel/unpaved sections. The route comprises 39% cycle path, 36% minor road, 11% quiet street, 8% main road, 3% road with cycle lane, and 3% path. There are 2.8 km on main roads without cycle lanes and 10.9 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. The longest named roads are not specified.
For amenities, there are cafés, shops, bike repair stands and shops, water, toilets, petrol stations and many bailout points including train stations at Eskbank (16 km), Newcraighall (27.5 km), and Edinburgh Waverley (36 km). Food and drink options include Starbucks near 15.6 km, Mercat Grill at 22.9 km, and Costa at 29 km. The longest stretch with no café, shop or water is 13.5 km from the start to 13.5 km.
Highlights
- Beneath Hurcheon Hill at 2.5 km
- Beneath Arthur's Seat at 33 km
- Cycle path makes up 39% of route
- Train stations at Eskbank and Edinburgh Waverley
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 2.8 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 39% cycle path · 36% minor road · 11% quiet street · 8% main road · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 2.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 10.9 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 15.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 5% climbing · 23% descending · 71% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 517 cafés and restaurants, 68 shops, 6 water points, 2 petrol stations, 10 public toilets and 17 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 14.3 kmConvenience store · 50 m off route
- 15.3 kmMidlothian Community Hospital · hospital · 190 m off route
- 15.6 kmStarbucks · café · 50 m off route
- 15.6 kmTesco · petrol station · 170 m off route
- 16.1 kmRepair stand · on the route
- 19.7 kmAldi · supermarket · 50 m off route
- 22.9 kmMercat Grill · pub · on the route
- 26.2 kmRepair stand · 90 m off route
- 29 kmCosta · café · 70 m off route
- 29.1 kmAsda · supermarket · 230 m off route
- 33 kmWells o' Wearie · spring · 60 m off route
- 34.6 kmToilets · on the route
- 35.1 kmUplands Roast Coffee · café · on the route
- 35.5 kmPremier · convenience store · on the route
- 35.5 kmMackenzie & Co. Chemists · pharmacy · on the route
- 35.7 kmWee Spoke Hub · bike shop · 210 m off route
- 36 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 180 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 16 km — Eskbank (station), on the route
- 27.5 km — Newcraighall (station), 40 m off route
- 36 km — Edinburgh Waverley (station), 310 m off route
Worth a stop
- 3.7 km — Eperston Lime Works (archaeological site)
- 32.2 km — The Physic Garden (attraction)
- 35.6 km — Greyfriars Bobby (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- Radisson Collection Royal Mile Edinburgh · hotel · 40 m from the finish
- Gladstone’s Land Apartments · apartment · 70 m from the finish
- Royal Mile Apartments · hotel · 70 m from the finish
- Virgin Hotels Edinburgh · hotel · 110 m from the finish
- Fraser Suites Edinburgh · hotel · 80 m from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Deacon's House Cafe (40 m), Blank Street Coffee (90 m), Deacon Brodie's Tavern (20 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 13.5 km
- 2.8 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 10.9 km on roads 80 km/h or more
- Short steep gradients over 10% for 0.1 km
