Road · United Kingdom
Selkirk Green Route
A rolling 11 km road cycling loop from Selkirk, Scottish Borders, with 68 m of climbing. Most of it (11.3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 10.2 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
- 11.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 68 m
- Riding time
- 49 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Selkirk
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 68 m
- 11 km
Route description
- Selkirk
- Selkirk
Starting near Selkirk, this 11.4 km loop climbs gently to its highest point of 159 m at 4.1 km before descending back towards the start at 119 m elevation. The profile rises mostly in the first half, gaining 77% of the elevation early on. The route is fully paved and almost entirely on main roads, including the B7009 for 4.9 km and the A708 for 3.3 km.
Cyclists ride 11.3 km on main roads without dedicated cycle lanes and over 10 km along roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. The route features mostly flat terrain (66%) with some descents (20%) and climbing (14%), including about 0.3 km over 5% gradient, and brief steeper sections up to 12.2% in places. The longest descent lasts 1.1 km, dropping 48 m towards the end.
Facilities are sparse on the route with a stretch of 9.6 km between 0.2 and 9.8 km without cafés, shops, or drinking water. At the start and finish in Selkirk, there are bike shops like Scott's Cycle Services, food options such as Fillin Station fast food, and pharmacies. The Waterwheel Cafe lies just off the route at 9.8 km. Howden Hill lies near the route at 1.8 km and Harehead Hill near 7.7 km.
Why ride this route?
- The shortest of the 4 rides from Selkirk.
Highlights
- Loop route from Selkirk
- Highest point 159 m at 4.1 km
- Howden Hill near 1.8 km
- Longest descent 1.1 km dropping 48 m
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 99% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 10.2 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 99% main road · 1% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 11.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 10.2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B7009 (5 km), A708 (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 100% of the route is mapped as paved.
- Gradient
- 14% climbing · 20% descending · 66% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 2 cafés and restaurants, 1 water point and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.2 kmFillin Station · fast food · 260 m off route
- 0.2 kmDrinking water · 200 m off route
- 0.2 kmScott's Cycle Services · bike shop · 290 m off route
- 0.3 kmLindsay & Gilmour · pharmacy · 480 m off route
- 9.8 kmThe Waterwheel Cafe · café · on the route
Worth a stop
- 1.8 km — Howden Hill (peak)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Scott's Cycle Services (510 m)
- Food and coffee
- Fillin Station (480 m)
Know before you go
- 9.6 km without café, shop, or water from 0.2 to 9.8 km
- 11.3 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 10.2 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- Short steep sections up to 12.2% gradient
