Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 3 · National Cycle Route 1: Dundee to Tain (part)Stage 2 →
Portgordon to Inverness
A rolling 106 km road cycling route from Portgordon, Moray to Inverness through Nether Dallachy, Moycroft and Oldmills, with 540 m of climbing. There is a 25 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 67–92).
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 106.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 540 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 35 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 25 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Portgordon → Inverness
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 540 m
- 106 km
Route description
- Portgordon
- Nether Dallachy
- Moycroft
- Oldmills
- Forres
- Kingsteps
- Clava
- Smithton
- Raigmore
- Inverness
Starting near Portgordon, the route progresses inland through Nether Dallachy, Bogmoor, Carsemoor, and Garmouth before reaching Elgin at 23 km. The route climbs 47 m over 1.3 km starting just after 24 km beneath Lady Hill at 29 m height. After Elgin, it continues past North Alves, Kinloss, and Forres, passing Kinloss Abbey ruins near 43 km. There are three climbs: one near 24.4 km, the second of 67 m gain over 1.8 km starting at 72 km, and the last of 45 m gain over 1.6 km at 90.2 km. Longest named road is Lochloy Road at 7.6 km.
Most of the 106.2 km are on minor roads (74%), with 13 km on cycle paths and smaller percentages on quiet streets, paths, main roads (1.6 km), and roads with cycle lanes (1.2 km). Around 96% of the surface is paved, with small sections of unpaved or gravel, and 2 km unmapped. The gradient is mostly flat (80%), with 9% climbing and none over 10%. The route drops to a low of 2 m at 44.8 km and peaks at 177 m at 82.6 km near The Ord. The longest descent lasts 2.6 km dropping 109 m from 95 km.
Shops, cafés, and pubs are available in many villages and towns, including Portgordon, Garmouth, Elgin, Kinloss, Forres, Nairn, and Inverness. However, there is a 25 km stretch without café, shop, or water between 66.8 km and 91.8 km. Bailout points with stations are at Elgin, Forres, Nairn, and Inverness. Water is supplied at km 102.5 in Inverness, and toilets appear throughout the route.
Highlights
- Elgin Cathedral near 23 km
- Kinloss Abbey ruins around 43 km
- Climb near km 72 with 1.8 km length
- Longest descent of 2.6 km from km 95
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 24.4 km | 1.3 km · 47 m · 3.8 % · max 7 % | 69 m |
| Unnamed climb | 72 km | 1.8 km · 67 m · 3.8 % · max 6.9 % | 124 m |
| Unnamed climb | 90.2 km | 1.6 km · 45 m · 2.8 % · max 5 % | 151 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 1.7 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 74% minor road · 13% cycle path · 5% quiet street · 2% path · 5% other roads and tracks · 1% unmapped
- Main roads
- 1.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 36 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 14.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Lochloy Road (8 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 96% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 9% climbing · 11% descending · 80% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.6 km over 5%
- Longest descent
- 2.6 km from 95 km, dropping 109 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 25 km, from km 67 to 92. Along the route: 247 cafés and restaurants, 36 shops, 1 water point, 4 petrol stations, 10 public toilets and 11 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 1.1 kmThe Lampie Hoose Café · café · 80 m off route
- 1.5 kmSpar · convenience store · 30 m off route
- 9.1 kmCafé · 200 m off route
- 22.7 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 23 kmMNMs Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 23 kmBoots · pharmacy · 310 m off route
- 42.8 kmThe Abbey Inn · pub · 50 m off route
- 42.8 kmSpar · convenience store · on the route
- 43 kmSea Park Filling Station · petrol station · on the route
- 47 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 470 m off route
- 56.2 kmOld Mill Inn · restaurant · 240 m off route
- 66.7 kmCafé Nairn · café · 120 m off route
- 66.8 kmBoots · pharmacy · 270 m off route
- 94.5 kmWellside Cafe · café · 120 m off route
- 100.1 kmTesco Customer Toilets · toilets · 120 m off route
- 102 kmHarry Gow Bakery · bakery · on the route
- 102 kmBoots · pharmacy · on the route
- 102.5 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 40 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 22.9 km — Elgin (station), 880 m off route
- 47.2 km — Forres (station), 260 m off route
- 66.9 km — Nairn (station), 530 m off route
- 102.4 km — Inverness (station), 220 m off route
Worth a stop
- 1.3 km — Portgordon Fairy Walk (attraction)
- 22.5 km — Elgin Cathedral (attraction)
- 42.7 km — Kinloss Abbey (ruins)
- 46.9 km — Benromach Distillery (attraction)
- 55.6 km — Rodney's Stone (attraction)
- 86.7 km — Cantraydoune Motte (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- City Hostel · hostel · 200 m from the finish
- Waverly Inn · apartment · 80 m from the finish
- Mercure Inverness · hotel · 80 m from the finish
- River Ness Hotel · hotel · 120 m from the finish
- Inverness Centre Premier Inn · hotel · 120 m from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Perk (90 m), Rendezvous Cafe (130 m), O'Délice (120 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (80 m)
Know before you go
- 25 km stretch with no café, shop or water from 66.8 km to 91.8 km
- 1.7 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 36 km on roads with 80 km/h or higher limits
- 0.6 km above 5% gradient between 24-26 km
