Road · United Kingdom
Traquair House
A rolling 11 km road cycling route from Peebles, Scottish Borders through Cardrona and Old Howford, with 71 m of climbing. Most of it (10.2 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 8.8 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 11 km
- Elevation gain
- 71 m
- Riding time
- 47 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Peebles
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 71 m
- 11 km
Route description
- Peebles
- Cardrona
- Old Howford
Starting close to Peebles at 0.2 km, the route follows mostly the B7062 main road for 10.8 km, passing through Cardrona (6.6 km), Old Howford (8.7 km), and Innerleithen (10.2 km) before reaching Traquair at 11 km. The surface is fully paved, with 93% on main roads and 5% on roads with cycle lanes. Almost 9 km are on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more.
The profile rises initially to 192 m at 4.4 km, then descends to 147 m around 9 km, with moderate climbing overall (71 m total). A steepest 500 m section has an 11.3% gradient near the start. The longest continuous descent is 1.5 km from 4.5 km. Facilities include cafés, pubs, shops, and water near Peebles at the start; after 3.5 km there is a longest stretch of 7.5 km without cafés, shops, or water. A bakery and a pub lie near the start, and the Garden Cafe is near the finish.
Points of interest include the Cardrona Standing Stone archaeological site 52 m off-route at 6.1 km and the nearby peak Tor Hill at 269 m situated 2.5 km from the road. Toilet facilities are available at Peebles and also close to 5.1 km. A bike shop is 1.5 km from the start at Fall Line Cycles Ltd.
Why ride this route?
- The shortest of the 7 rides from Peebles.
Highlights
- Cardrona Standing Stone archaeological site
- Tor Hill peak at 269 m near the route
- Garden Cafe near Traquair finish
- Peebles town facilities at start
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 93% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 8.8 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 93% main road · 5% road with cycle lane · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 10.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 8.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B7062 (11 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 100% of the route is mapped as paved.
- Gradient
- 24% climbing · 17% descending · 59% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 26 cafés and restaurants, 4 shops, 1 water point, 4 public toilets and 3 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 0.1 kmThe Fat Batard · bakery · 250 m off route
- 0.1 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 180 m off route
- 0.1 kmrightmedicine Pharmacy · pharmacy · 300 m off route
- 0.2 kmKeyStore · convenience store · 340 m off route
- 1.5 kmFall Line Cycles Ltd · bike shop · 40 m off route
- 5.1 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 11 kmGarden Cafe · café · 370 m off route
Worth a stop
- 6.1 km — Cardrona Standing Stone (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- Traquair House · guest house · 570 m from the finish
- Traquair Arms Hotel · hotel · 1.4 km from the finish
- Cleikum Mill Lodge · apartment · 1.5 km from the finish
- Glede Knowe Guest House · guest house · 1.7 km from the finish
- Studio @ Pirn Haugh · apartment · 1.6 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Water
- Top Up Tap (210 m)
- Food and coffee
- The Fat Batard (270 m), The Bridge Inn (210 m), Costa (350 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Garden Cafe (370 m)
Know before you go
- 7.5 km without café, shop or water from 3.5 km to 11 km
- 10.2 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 8.8 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- Steepest 500 m section at 11.3% gradient near start
