Road · United Kingdom
Selkirk Yellow Route
A hilly 27 km road cycling route from Selkirk, Scottish Borders through Ettrickbridge, Yarrow and Yarrowford, with 270 m of climbing. Most of it (19.4 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 23.5 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 27.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 270 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 57 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Selkirk
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 270 m
- 27 km
Route description
- Selkirk
- Ettrickbridge
- Yarrow
- Yarrowford
- Broadmeadows
Starting near Selkirk at 115 m, the route heads through Ettrickbridge at 12.4 km, reaching a summit of 356 m after a 2.8 km climb averaging 5.8% gradient from 13.6 to 16.4 km. This climb accounts for most of the 270 m total elevation gain. After cresting, the road descends over 2.3 km dropping 151 m towards Yarrow at 18.7 km. The route continues through Yarrowford and Broadmeadows before finishing at Selkirk.
Almost all the road surface is paved (99%), with 71% on main roads including 10 km on the A708 and 6.4 km on the B7009. There are 19.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes, and 23.5 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or higher. Minor roads comprise 19% and quiet streets 9% of the distance. Amenities near Selkirk include a bike shop, convenience store and drinking water within about 250 m of the start. Cafés and pubs are available off the route near 2.1 km and 12.5 km respectively. A long 14.9 km stretch from 12.5 km onwards lacks cafés, shops or water. Peaks near the road include Harehead Hill, Rough Knowe (481 m), Tinnis Top and Black Andrew.
Why ride this route?
- The longest of the 4 rides from Selkirk.
- Tops out at 356 m, 16.3 km in.
Highlights
- Climb to 356 m summit with 5.8% average gradient
- Passes Rough Knowe peak (481 m) at 17 km
- Route crosses Yarrow and Yarrowford villages
- Close to Tinnis Top peak at 22.1 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 13.6 km | 2.8 km · 159 m · 5.8 % · max 7.9 % | 356 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 71% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 23.5 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 71% main road · 19% minor road · 9% quiet street · 1% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 19.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 23.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- A708 (10 km), B7009 (6 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 20% climbing · 14% descending · 67% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.1 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 8.6% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 2.3 km from 16.4 km, dropping 151 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 3 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop, 1 water point and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmA & Z Stores · convenience store · 240 m off route
- 0 kmScott's Cycle Services · bike shop · 240 m off route
- 0.1 kmDrinking water · 100 m off route
- 0.3 kmLindsay & Gilmour · pharmacy · 630 m off route
- 2.1 kmThe Waterwheel Cafe · café · on the route
- 12.5 kmCross Keys · pub · on the route
Worth a stop
- 22.1 km — Tinnis Top (peak)
- 26.6 km — Newark Castle (castle)
Stay after this ride
- Philipburn Hotel · hotel · 3.4 km from the finish
- The Glen Hotel · hotel · 4.0 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Bikes and repair
- Scott's Cycle Services (240 m)
- Food and coffee
- Fillin Station (210 m)
- Shops
- A & Z Stores (240 m)
Know before you go
- Long 14.9 km stretch without café, shop or water after 12.5 km
- 19.4 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 23.5 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
