Road · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 7 · EuroVelo 12 from Edinburgh← Stage 1Stage 3 →
St Andrews to Arbroath
A flat 59 km road cycling route from St Andrews, Fife to Arbroath through Guardbridge, Tayport and Waterfront, with 46 m of climbing. 52% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane. Mixed surface: 79% is mapped as paved and 19% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 58.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 46 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 12 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- St Andrews → Arbroath
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 46 m
- 59 km
Route description
- St Andrews
- Guardbridge
- Tayport
- Waterfront
- City Centre
- Craigie
- Monifieth
- Panbride
- Elliot
- Arbroath
This 58.8 km route starts in St Andrews and heads through Guardbridge at 6.2 km and Leuchars at 8.8 km. It continues past Tayport, Newport-on-Tay and reaches the waterfront area near Dundee around 29 km. The route climbs gently to a high point of 31 m by 26.6 km, near Hare Law and Tullo Braes. Most of the terrain is flat with 96% flat sections, only 1% is climbing and 2% descending, with no sustained steep gradients over 5%.
The surface is 79% paved and about 19% gravel or unpaved. The road types include 51% cycle paths, 18% quiet streets, 11% minor roads, and 11% tracks, with minor sections on major and main roads. There are 2 km on main roads without cycle lanes, and 2.6 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits. Key places passed in order include Broughty Ferry, Carnoustie, East Haven, and finally Arbroath at 57.9 km.
There are cafés and shops available in many towns along the way, including Herb's café in St Andrews and Whippy Dippy Doughnuts near Arbroath. The longest stretch without café, shop or water is 7.2 km between km 14.7 and 21.9. There are also public toilets and bike shops along the route. Railway stations and bail out points are available at Leuchars, Dundee, Barry Links and Arbroath. The route is mostly suitable for a moderate ride.</s>
Why ride this route?
- 52% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- St Andrews start
- Cycle path through Dundee Waterfront
- Broughty Castle near Broughty Ferry
- Arbroath Mini Lighthouse near Elliot
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 52% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 51% cycle path · 18% quiet street · 11% minor road · 11% track · 9% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 2.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 30.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 79% is mapped as paved and 19% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 1% climbing · 2% descending · 96% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 278 cafés and restaurants, 49 shops, 2 water points, 4 petrol stations, 18 public toilets and 7 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmCyclepath · bike shop · 580 m off route
- 0 kmShell · petrol station · 180 m off route
- 0.8 kmHerb's · café · 50 m off route
- 8.9 kmJK foods · convenience store · 170 m off route
- 8.9 kmPharmacy · 170 m off route
- 14.7 kmSalt & Pine · café · 70 m off route
- 23.3 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 120 m off route
- 23.5 kmToilets · on the route
- 29.6 kmElectric Bikes Scotland · bike shop · on the route
- 31.7 kmLinda's Cafe · café · 70 m off route
- 35.4 kmRepair stand · 300 m off route
- 35.9 kmWindmill Public Toilet · toilets · on the route
- 39.4 kmBay Diner · café · 50 m off route
- 46.9 kmMadisons · café · 90 m off route
- 50.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 56.4 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · on the route
- 57.2 kmWhippy Dippy Doughnuts · café · 100 m off route
- 57.9 kmBalkan · supermarket · 70 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 7.9 km — Leuchars (station), 440 m off route
- 29.1 km — Dundee (station), 580 m off route
- 38 km — Balmossie (station), 40 m off route
- 44.2 km — Barry Links (station), on the route
- 57.6 km — Arbroath (station), 440 m off route
Worth a stop
- 12.6 km — Polish Camp (WWII) (ruins)
- 29.5 km — Starboard Bouy (attraction)
- 35.6 km — Broughty Castle (castle)
- 50.4 km — Easthaven Picnic Area (picnic site)
- 54.8 km — Arbroath Mini Lighthouse (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- Harbour Nights · guest house · 250 m from the finish
- The Townhouse Hotel · hotel · 170 m from the finish
- Osborne Guest House · guest house · 590 m from the finish
- Maulesbank Guest House · guest house · 530 m from the finish
- Brucefield Boutique B & B · guest house · 1.1 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Rector's Cafe (180 m), Sweatpea Café (160 m), Molly Malones (100 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Azzurro (30 m), The Harbour Fish and Chips (170 m), Commercial Inn (90 m)
- Shops
- Balkan (70 m), Shop Africana (80 m), Harbour Stores (10 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water is 7.2 km from km 14.7 to 21.9
- 2 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 2.6 km on roads with 80 km/h speed limits
- 19% gravel or unpaved surfaces
