Road · United Kingdom
Selkirk Orange Route
A rolling 15 km road cycling loop from Selkirk, Scottish Borders through Fairnilee, The Rink and Lindean, with 98 m of climbing. Most of it (10.1 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 8.4 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
- 14.6 km
- Elevation gain
- 98 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 03 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
- 98 m
- 15 km
Route description
- Selkirk
- Fairnilee
- The Rink
- Lindean
- Lindean Hall
- Lindean Smithy
- Lindean Mill
- Bridgeheugh
- Selkirk
The Selkirk Orange Route is a 14.6 km loop starting and finishing in Selkirk. It climbs gradually through the first half, gaining 74% of the total 98 m elevation by 7.3 km, reaching the highest point at 161 m around 4.1 km. The lowest point is at 102 m near 10 km. The longest descent of 1.3 km drops 40 m from 4.2 km.
The route passes through Fairnilee at 6.4 km, then The Rink at 9.1 km, before visiting several places in Lindean between 10.8 and 11.8 km, including Lindean Hall, Lindean Smithy, and Lindean Mill. The final section returns to Selkirk at 14.6 km. The surface is 99% paved with a short 1% gravel or unpaved section. Road types include 9.8 km on main roads, 2.4 km on minor roads, 1.4 km on cycle paths, and 0.5 km on paths. The main roads ridden include 6.1 km on the A707 and 3.3 km on the B7060.
Cyclists should note 10.1 km on main roads have no cycle lane, and 8.4 km are on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. The longest stretch without access to a café, shop, or drinking water is 13.1 km from 1.1 km to 14.2 km. Facilities including a bike shop, convenience store, and fast food outlet are available at the start and finish in Selkirk. Rink Hill, near 8.6 km on the route, is worth a stop.
Highlights
- Loop route from Selkirk
- Passes Fairnilee and The Rink
- Lindean Hall, Smithy and Mill area
- Near Rink Hill peak at 8.6 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 69% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 8.4 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 67% main road · 16% minor road · 10% cycle path · 3% path · 4% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 10.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 8.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 1.4 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- A707 (6 km), B7060 (3 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 19% climbing · 20% descending · 61% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 1 café or restaurant, 1 shop, 1 water point and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 1.1 kmA & Z Stores · convenience store · 90 m off route
- 13.8 kmThe Andrew Lang Unit · clinic · 500 m off route
- 14.2 kmFillin Station · fast food · 190 m off route
- 14.2 kmScott's Cycle Services · bike shop · 210 m off route
- 14.3 kmDrinking water · 100 m off route
Worth a stop
- 8.6 km — Rink Hill (peak)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Bikes and repair
- Scott's Cycle Services (390 m)
- Food and coffee
- Fillin Station (350 m)
- Shops
- A & Z Stores (450 m)
Know before you go
- 13.1 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 1.1 to 14.2 km
- 10.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 8.4 km on fast roads with limits 80 km/h or more
- Short steep section at route start up to 7.7% gradient
