Cyclists.com

EuroVelo 12 (Scotland section)

Paxton, Scottish Borders, United KingdomRoad

Signed route The waymarked EuroVelo 12 (Scotland section) (EuroVelo EV12), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

102 km
Distance
641 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
愛丁堡, 蘇格蘭, 英倫, 大不列顛及北愛爾蘭聯合王國, 聯合王國, 不列顛, 英國, Edinburgh, Dùn Èideann, Scotland, Alba, UK, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Photo: bryan... · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
641 m
Distance
102 km
050100150200250m0 km255075102 km213 m · highest, at 28.7 kmStartFinish

Route overview

Suitable for cyclists comfortable with 102 km distance and moderate climbing of 641 m.

EuroVelo 12 Scotland section, 102 km from Low Cocklaw to Edinburgh with 641 m climbing.

Starting at Low Cocklaw, the route climbs steadily for 4.8 km with an elevation gain of 140 m, reaching nearby peaks such as Witches Knowe (198 m) and Lamberton Hill (217 m) within the first 6 km. After passing through numerous small settlements including Ayton, Eyemouth, and Pease Bay, the route features a couple more modest climbs around 13 to 15 km and 22 to 23.7 km, with gains of 59 m and 42 m respectively. The highest point of 228 m is near 27.9 km, close to peaks like Meikle Black Law (245 m) and Greenside Hill (235 m).

Highlights

  • Starting climb near Witches Knowe (198 m)
  • Highest point at 228 m near Meikle Black Law
  • Longest descent of 4.4 km after 28.6 km
  • Passes through Edinburgh's New Town and Old Town

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Clappers 2.3 km
  2. Mordington Holdings 3.3 km
  3. Campfield 5.4 km
  4. Ayton Cocklaw 8.2 km
  5. Ayton 9.3 km
  6. Ayton Mains 10.9 km
  7. Biglawburn 12.2 km
  8. Netherbyres 12.6 km
  9. Eyemouth 13.4 km
  10. Highlaws Farm 14.9 km
  11. Alemill 16.7 km
  12. Whitfield 18.5 km
  13. Blackhill 19.7 km
  14. Cairncross 19.7 km
  15. Press Castle 22.3 km
  16. North Grange 23 km
  17. Old Cambus East Mains 29.8 km
  18. Old Cambus 30.4 km
  19. Old Cambus Townhead 31 km
  20. Old Cambus West Mains 31.1 km
  21. Pease Bay 32.6 km
  22. Cove Farm 34.1 km
  23. Cockburnspath 34.3 km
  24. Cove 34.7 km
  25. Castle Dykes 35.3 km
  26. Bilsdean 36.5 km
  27. Thorntonloch 38.7 km
  28. Skateraw 40.3 km
  29. Broxburn 45.2 km
  30. Dunbar 47.5 km
  31. Belhaven 49.2 km
  32. West Barns 50.2 km
  33. East Linton 56.7 km
  34. Nungate 65.3 km
  35. Haddington 66.1 km
  36. Longniddry 74.4 km
  37. Longniddry Village 74.4 km
  38. Port Seton 79.4 km
  39. Cockenzie and Port Seton 79.8 km
  40. Cockenzie 80.2 km
  41. Prestonpans 82 km
  42. Preston 82.1 km
  43. Cuthill 82.6 km
  44. Levenhall 84.6 km
  45. Musselburgh 87.9 km
  46. Fisherrow 88.5 km
  47. Stoneybank 89.7 km
  48. Monktonhall 89.7 km
  49. Newcraighall 91.6 km
  50. Brunstane 92.7 km
  51. Niddrie 94 km
  52. Bingham 94.2 km
  53. Craigmillar 94.9 km
  54. Prestonfield 96.5 km
  55. Dumbiedykes 98 km
  56. Southside 98.2 km
  57. Sciennes 98.4 km
  58. The Grange 98.4 km
  59. Tollcross 99 km
  60. Old Town 99.6 km
  61. Canongate 99.6 km
  62. Edinburgh 99.7 km
  63. New Town 99.8 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—0 km4.8 km140 m2.9 %5.5 %186 m
—13.1 km2.5 km59 m2.4 %3.5 %72 m
—22.1 km1.7 km42 m2.5 %3.2 %178 m

High point 228 m at 27.9 km; low point 2 m. Passes beneath Witches Knowe, Lamberton Hill, Ayton Hill.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
36% minor road · 27% cycle path · 22% main road · 7% quiet street
Main roads
22.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
26.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
28.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
A1107 (8 km), B1348 (5 km), B6355 (4 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
14% climbing · 14% descending · 72% flat
Longest descent
4.4 km from 28.6 km, dropping 181 m

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 19 km, from 14 km to 33 km.

Food, water and shops

  1. 13.4 kmLough's Home Bakery · bakery · 110 m off route
  2. 13.6 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 70 m off route
  3. 32.7 kmCafé · 60 m off route
  4. 47.4 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 130 m off route
  5. 47.7 kmToilets · on the route
  6. 48.3 kmRigg Service Station · petrol station · 250 m off route
  7. 65.9 kmMarket Street Pharmacy · pharmacy · 70 m off route
  8. 66.1 kmTesco · supermarket · 90 m off route
  9. 68.5 kmShell · petrol station · 150 m off route
  10. 76.1 kmThe Picnic Box · kiosk · 40 m off route
  11. 78.7 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
  12. 82 kmToilets · 40 m off route
  13. 82.1 kmWell Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
  14. 87.9 kmAce Bike Co · bike shop · 260 m off route
  15. 88.3 kmCompany Bakery · bakery · 120 m off route
  16. 96.6 kmSpring · 100 m off route
  17. 98.8 kmUplands Roast Coffee · café · on the route
  18. 99.1 kmMackenzie & Co. Chemists · pharmacy · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 47 km — Dunbar (station), 210 m off route
  • 56.8 km — East Linton (station), 640 m off route
  • 74.4 km — Longniddry (station), 50 m off route
  • 82 km — Prestonpans (station), 930 m off route
  • 91.3 km — Newcraighall (station), 30 m off route
  • 99.7 km — Edinburgh Waverley (station), 260 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 22.5 km — Press Castle (castle)
  • 47.2 km — Abbey Church (deconsecrated) (ruins)
  • 54.3 km — Kirklandhill (archaeological site)
  • 65.9 km — Mercat Cross (monument)
  • 83.6 km — Kiln (ruins)
  • 99.2 km — Greyfriars Bobby (attraction)

At the finish

  • Cafe on the Mound · café · 50 m
  • Zebra Coffee Co. · café · 110 m
  • Wash Bar · pub · 60 m
  • The Makar's Rest · bar · 70 m
  • Makars Gourmet Mash Bar Company · fast food · 110 m

Stay after this ride

  • Radisson Collection Royal Mile Edinburgh · hotel · 170 m from the finish
  • Gladstone’s Land Apartments · apartment · 90 m from the finish
  • Fraser Suites Edinburgh · hotel · 180 m from the finish
  • Virgin Hotels Edinburgh · hotel · 220 m from the finish
  • Royal Mile Apartments · hotel · 200 m from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
7 h 18 min
Best months
Jun to Sep — daily highs of 16–18 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • 18.5 km without café, shop or water from km 14.2 to 32.7
  • 22.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 26.4 km on roads with 80 km/h or more speed limit
  • 0.8 km on gravel or unpaved surfaces

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: bryan... · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Barbara Carr · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Peter Wood · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons