Road · United Kingdom
EuroVelo 12
A hilly 53 km road cycling route from Scatness, Shetland through Grutness, Toab and Spiggie, with 548 m of climbing. Most of it (28.7 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 10.8 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 33 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 16–49).
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 52.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 548 m
- Riding time
- 3 h 46 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 33 km
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Scatness
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 548 m
- 53 km
Route description
- Scatness
- Grutness
- Toab
- Spiggie
- Vanlop
- Skibhoull
- Aithsetter
- Quarff
Starting near Grutness, the route passes through Sumburgh and Scatness before continuing to Toab and Dunrossness. Early climbs include a 1.4 km ascent gaining 66 m at 4.6% average gradient and a 1.5 km climb at 3.3%. The ride then proceeds via Symblisetter, Spiggie, and Scousburgh, passing several climbs including one of 2.6 km length with a 72 m gain at 2.7% and another 1.1 km at 4.3% gradient. The surface is mostly paved (99%) with a small 1% unpaved section, and the roads are mainly main roads (55%) without cycle lanes, including 10.8 km of 80 km/h or more roads. Notable roads include the A970 for 20.8 km and the B9122 for 6.4 km. The longest stretch without cafés, shops or water is 32.9 km from 16.1 km to 49 km. There are several bailout points including ferries at 1.9 km, 28.6 km and Lerwick at 52.1 km. The route finishes in Lerwick, which offers cafés, supermarkets and a ferry station.
The profile varies with 24% climbing, 28% descending and 48% flat sections, with climbing mostly in the first half. The highest point is 104 m at 47.1 km. The steepest 500 m section is at 38.6 km with a 6.5% gradient. The longest descent is 2.2 km starting at 47.7 km with a drop of 91 m. Peaks near the route include The Compass at 101 m near the start, Gallow Hill at 62 m around 8 km, and Hill of Sand at 100 m near 45 km.
Highlights
- Peaks near route: The Compass, Gallow Hill, Hill of Sand
- Climbs up to 66 m gain at 4.6%
- Longest stretch without café or shop: 32.9 km
- Major roads: A970 for 20.8 km and B9122 for 6.4 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 4.7 km | 1.4 km · 66 m · 4.6 % · max 6.8 % | 71 m |
| Unnamed climb | 15.4 km | 1.5 km · 49 m · 3.3 % · max 5.7 % | 51 m |
| Unnamed climb | 19.3 km | 2.6 km · 72 m · 2.7 % · max 4.5 % | 100 m |
| Unnamed climb | 24.7 km | 1.1 km · 46 m · 4.3 % · max 6.7 % | 93 m |
| Unnamed climb | 34.7 km | 1.2 km · 48 m · 4 % · max 6.1 % | 51 m |
| Unnamed climb | 37.6 km | 1.3 km · 55 m · 4.3 % · max 6.7 % | 76 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 54% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 10.8 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 · 40% minor road · 4% quiet street · 1% track
- Main roads
- 28.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 10.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- A970 (21 km), B9122 (6 km), Spiggie Lane (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 24% climbing · 28% descending · 48% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.6 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.5% at 38.6 km
- Longest descent
- 2.2 km from 47.7 km, dropping 91 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 33 km, from km 16 to 49. Along the route: 37 cafés and restaurants, 9 shops, 3 petrol stations, 6 public toilets and 4 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 1.9 kmToilets · 190 m off route
- 2.5 kmSumburgh Hotel Lounge Bar · restaurant · 160 m off route
- 9.9 kmDa Craft Shed · convenience store · 80 m off route
- 9.9 kmPetrol station · 40 m off route
- 16.1 kmSpiggie Hotel · pub · on the route
- 49.5 kmSound Service Station · petrol station · on the route
- 51 kmShetland Community Bike Project · bike shop · 310 m off route
- 51.2 kmFreefield Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 51.4 kmThe Olive Tree Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 51.4 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 51.7 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 40 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 1.9 km — Ferry, 190 m off route
- 28.6 km — Ferry, 450 m off route
- 52.1 km — Lerwick (ferry), 100 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — End section 3/ beginning section 4 (viewpoint)
- 4.3 km — Old Scatness Broch (archaeological site)
- 8.1 km — Gallow Hill (peak, 62 m)
- 16.9 km — Scousburgh Broch (archaeological site)
- 29.9 km — Mousa Sound Viewpoint (viewpoint)
- 34.5 km — Burn of Aith Broch (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- The Shetland Hotel · hotel · 160 m from the finish
- Islesburgh House Hostel · hostel · 1.3 km from the finish
- Arisdale B&B · guest house · 1.4 km from the finish
- The Lerwick Hotel · hotel · 1.5 km from the finish
- Fort Charlotte Guesthouse · guest house · 1.3 km from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Lerwick (160 m)
- Food and coffee
- The Olive Tree Cafe (720 m), Skipidock Inn (680 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (480 m), Scoop Wholefoods (630 m)
Know before you go
- 32.9 km stretch without café, shop or water from 16.1 km
- 28.7 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 10.8 km of roads with speed 80 km/h or more
- Gravel/unpaved for 1% of route