Gravel · United Kingdom
Stage 3 of 3 · Great North Trail (Grampian Mountains)← Stage 2
Roybridge to Fort Augustus
A hilly 58 km gravel route from Roybridge, Highland to Fort Augustus, with 789 m of climbing. The first 57 km has no café, shop or water. Mostly unpaved: 70% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 30% as paved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 57.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 789 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 49 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 57 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Roybridge → Fort Augustus
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 789 m
- 58 km
Route description
- Roybridge
- Fort Augustus
Starting from Roybridge, this 57.8 km route descends and climbs gently before reaching a first climb at 20.2 km. This climb is 1.7 km long with a 79 m ascent averaging 4.8% and a maximum gradient of 8.8%, topping out at 337 m. Shortly after, at 25.3 km, a shorter climb of 2.1 km gains 40 m at an average of 1.9%. The main challenge is the final long climb starting at 34.7 km, ascending 427 m over 6.8 km at 6.3% avg, with max gradients hitting 15.6%, reaching the route's highest point at 765 m around 41.5 km.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 765 m, 41.5 km in.
Highlights
- Long climb from km 34.7 to 41.5 reaching 765 m
- 9.7 km on General Wade's Military Road
- Viewpoint at 21.7 km (Cairn)
- Peaks Binnein Shìos (667 m) at 12.9 km and Meallan Odhar near 42 km
Along the route
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 20.2 km | 1.7 km · 79 m · 4.8 % · max 8.8 % | 337 m |
| Unnamed climb | 25.3 km | 2.1 km · 40 m · 1.9 % · max 2.6 % | 308 m |
| Unnamed climb | 34.7 km | 6.8 km · 427 m · 6.3 % · max 15.6 % | 765 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 1.3 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 60% track · 19% minor road · 17% quiet street · 2% major road · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 1.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 12 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- General Wade's Military Road (10 km)
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved: 70% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 30% as paved.
- Gradient
- 26% climbing · 33% descending · 40% flat
- Steep sections
- 4.9 km over 5% · 2 km over 8% · 1.1 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 20.1% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 4.2 km from 42.1 km, dropping 393 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 57 km, from the start. Along the route: 15 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop, 3 water points, 1 petrol station and 1 public toilet.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 56.8 kmCaledonian Canal Centre · café · 60 m off route
- 56.8 kmSpar · convenience store · 150 m off route
- 56.8 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 170 m off route
- 56.8 kmToilets · 180 m off route
- 56.8 kmGreat Glen · petrol station · 150 m off route
- 56.8 kmPharmacy · 160 m off route
Worth a stop
- 21.7 km — Cairn (viewpoint)
- 42 km — Meallan Odhar Beag (peak)
Stay after this ride
- Richmond House Hotel · hotel · 50 m from the finish
- Abbey Cottage B&B · guest house · 70 m from the finish
- Kings Inn B&B · guest house · 80 m from the finish
- Lorien House B&B · guest house · 70 m from the finish
- Monks Retreat B&B · guest house · 210 m from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Caledonian Canal Centre (60 m), Nourish Ness Community Café (70 m), Highland Ice Cream (50 m)
Know before you go
- 56.5 km longest stretch without café, shop or water
- 1.3 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 12 km on roads with posted limits over 80 km/h
- 70% of route on gravel or unpaved surfaces
