Mixed · United Kingdom
Stage 4 of 7 · EuroVelo 12 from Edinburgh← Stage 3Stage 5 →
Stonehaven to Newmachar
A rolling 63 km road cycling route from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire to Newmachar through Broomhill, Chapelton of Elsick and Schoolhill, with 492 m of climbing. The first 22 km has no café, shop or water.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 63.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 492 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 32 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 22 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Stonehaven → Newmachar
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 492 m
- 63 km
Route description
- Stonehaven
- Broomhill
- Chapelton of Elsick
- Schoolhill
- Footdee
- Aberdeen
- Old Aberdeen
- Middlefield
- Aryburn
- Newmachar
Starting in Stonehaven, the route heads north along a diverse mixture of surfaces, with 88% paved and 10% gravel or unpaved. It climbs steadily in the first 3 km gaining 107 m at an average gradient of 3.6%, reaching a height of 113 m. The road profile includes a second shorter climb near 16 km, gaining 40 m over 1.5 km at 2.7% average gradient. The highest point on the route is 154 m at 9.7 km near Cookney.
The ride traverses a variety of road types including 52% minor road, 17% path, 9% quiet street, and 9% main roads, with 5.9 km on cycle paths or lanes. Almost 6 km of main roads are without cycle lanes, and 23 km are on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. The longest descent spans 2.3 km, dropping 50 m starting from 21.3 km.
Facilities include a café and supermarket near the start in Stonehaven and another café and supermarket around 23 km near Portlethen. The longest stretch without a café, shop, or water is 22 km from 0.7 km to 22.8 km. Train stations for bailout points exist at Stonehaven (0.4 km), Portlethen (24.3 km), Aberdeen (41.5 km), and Dyce (52.3 km). Toilets, shops, and water points are present at various intervals along the route.
Highlights
- Climb near Stonehaven (3 km, 107 m gain, max 6.9%)
- High point near Cookney at 154 m
- Peak Wedderhill near 14.5 km
- Longest descent of 2.3 km starting near 21.3 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0.5 km | 3 km · 107 m · 3.6 % · max 6.9 % | 113 m |
| Unnamed climb | 15.8 km | 1.5 km · 40 m · 2.7 % · max 3.7 % | 120 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 5.9 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 52% minor road · 17% path · 9% quiet street · 9% main road · 13% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 5.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 23.2 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 5.9 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B979 (4 km), Coast Road (3 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 88% is mapped as paved, 10% as unpaved or gravel and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 19% climbing · 18% descending · 64% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.5 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 6.4% at 1.8 km
- Longest descent
- 2.3 km from 21.3 km, dropping 50 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 22 km, from the start. Along the route: 382 cafés and restaurants, 86 shops, 5 water points, 12 petrol stations, 13 public toilets and 12 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmToilets · 120 m off route
- 0 kmBike Remedy · bike shop · 150 m off route
- 0 kmBoots · pharmacy · 80 m off route
- 0.1 kmWaterfront Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 0.7 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 160 m off route
- 23.1 kmAsda · supermarket · 230 m off route
- 24.4 kmCharles Michie's Pharmacy · pharmacy · 90 m off route
- 31.8 kmThe Snooty Fox · pub · 310 m off route
- 38 kmGreyhope Bay Centre · café · 50 m off route
- 39.9 kmTaylor's Self Service · supermarket · on the route
- 42.2 kmToilets · 100 m off route
- 42.6 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 150 m off route
- 43.3 kmMorrisons Petrol Station · petrol station · 100 m off route
- 44.6 kmbeCyCle · bike shop · 60 m off route
- 47.1 kmCrown Bar · pub · 140 m off route
- 51.1 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 52.3 kmBP · petrol station · 60 m off route
- 53.4 kmToilets · 250 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0.4 km — Stonehaven (station), 950 m off route
- 24.3 km — Portlethen (station), 90 m off route
- 41.5 km — Aberdeen (station), 240 m off route
- 52.3 km — Dyce (station), 870 m off route
Worth a stop
- 14.5 km — Wedderhill (peak, 144 m)
- 34.5 km — Doonies Hill (peak, 68 m)
- 38.1 km — Torry Battery (ruins)
- 42.2 km — Education, Salvation and Damnation (viewpoint)
- 46.9 km — 50 ABD (archaeological site)
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Waterfront Cafe (110 m), J G Ross Craft Baker (90 m), Goodfellow & Steven Bakery (90 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (80 m)
At the finish
- Pharmacy and medical
- Newmachar Pharmacy (610 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water 22.1 km from 0.7 km
- 5.9 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 23.2 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- 10% of route gravel or unpaved
