Gravel · United Kingdom
Stage 3 of 4 · Border Loop← Stage 2Stage 4 →
Peebles to Melrose
A hilly 68 km road cycling route from Peebles, Scottish Borders to Melrose through Cardrona, Old Howford and Traquair, with 564 m of climbing. Most of it (37 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 40.4 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 34 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 14–48).
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 67.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 564 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 49 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 34 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Peebles → Melrose
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 564 m
- 68 km
Route description
- Peebles
- Cardrona
- Old Howford
- Traquair
- Heriot
- Watherston
- Wooplaw
- Bridgend
- Darnick
- Melrose
This 67.5 km point-to-point ride starts in Peebles and heads southeast through several villages and towns including Cardrona, Old Howford, Traquair, and Innerleithen. The route includes 37 km on main roads without cycle lanes, mostly along the B709 for 23.4 km and B7062 for 11.2 km, with minor roads and some quiet streets and cycle paths making up the rest. Surface is predominantly paved (99%) with only 1% unpaved.
The ride has two main climbs: a 5.8 km ascent from 19.3 km gaining 158 m at an average gradient of 2.7%, reaching 376 m at 25.1 km; and a steeper 3.3 km climb from 48.3 km rising 178 m at 5.4% average, with a maximum of 11% gradient. The highest point on the ride is 376 m, and the lowest 88 m near the finish. The longest descent is 3.8 km starting at about 25.2 km, dropping 74 m.
Facilities at the start in Peebles include cafés, bike shops, and drinking water, while at the finish in Melrose there are cafés, bike shops, a supermarket, and toilets. There is a long 34.2 km stretch with no café, shop, or water between 14 km and 48.2 km, but bailout points are available at Stow (48.2 km) and Tweedbank (64 km).
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 376 m, 25.1 km in.
Highlights
- Climb from 19.3 km gaining 158 m
- Climb from 48.3 km with max 11% gradient
- Passes Traquair and Innerleithen
- Ends in Melrose with facilities
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 19.3 km | 5.8 km · 158 m · 2.7 % · max 4.7 % | 376 m |
| Unnamed climb | 48.3 km | 3.3 km · 178 m · 5.4 % · max 11 % | 360 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 55% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 40.4 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 55% main road · 39% minor road · 2% quiet street · 2% cycle path · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 37 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 40.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 2.1 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B709 (23 km), B7062 (11 km), Langshaw Road (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 20% climbing · 25% descending · 55% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.4 km over 5% · 1.1 km over 8% · 0.8 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 11.3% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 3.8 km from 25.2 km, dropping 74 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 34 km, from km 14 to 48. Along the route: 57 cafés and restaurants, 15 shops, 3 water points, 2 petrol stations, 10 public toilets and 9 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmThe Fat Batard · bakery · 270 m off route
- 0 kmKeyStore · convenience store · 340 m off route
- 0 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 200 m off route
- 0 kmBoots · pharmacy · 310 m off route
- 1.3 kmFall Line Cycles Ltd · bike shop · 40 m off route
- 4.9 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 13.5 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 80 m off route
- 13.6 kmNo1 Peebles Road · café · on the route
- 13.6 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 13.9 kmThe Bike Shop · bike shop · on the route
- 48.5 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 48.6 kmCloudhouse Gallery & Café · café · on the route
- 62.4 kmDS Dalgleish · petrol station · on the route
- 62.6 kmMario's Langlee Chippy · fast food · 390 m off route
- 66.7 kmWater point · 140 m off route
- 67.1 kmTwelve Triangles · café · 30 m off route
- 67.1 kmToilets · on the route
- 67.1 kmHardies Bikes · bike shop · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 48.2 km — Stow (station), 50 m off route
- 64 km — Tweedbank (station), 60 m off route
Worth a stop
- 5.9 km — Cardrona Standing Stone (archaeological site)
- 12.1 km — Traquair House (castle)
- 21.8 km — Hillside Knowe (peak, 335 m)
- 39.2 km — Hodge Cairn Hillfort (archaeological site)
- 44.3 km — Pirn Knowe (peak)
- 57.7 km — Langshaw Tower (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- Dunfermline House · guest house · 100 m from the finish
- The Townhouse · hotel · 50 m from the finish
- Fiorlin · guest house · 50 m from the finish
- Braidwood · guest house · 120 m from the finish
- Burt's Hotel · hotel · 70 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Water
- Top Up Tap (200 m)
- Bikes and repair
- Bspoke Cycles (330 m)
- Food and coffee
- The Fat Batard (270 m), Costa (330 m), The Milkman (310 m)
At the finish
- Bikes and repair
- Hardies Bikes (40 m)
- Food and coffee
- Twelve Triangles (30 m), Abbey Fine Wines Bottle Shop & Cafe bar (20 m), Alexander Dalgetty & Sons (150 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (250 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Boots (40 m)
Know before you go
- 37 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 40.4 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
- Long 34.2 km without café, shop or water from 14 to 48.2 km
- Gravel or unpaved surface for 1% of route
