Gravel · United Kingdom
EuroVelo 12
A rolling 88 km road cycling route from Stromness, Orkney Islands through Clouston, Hestwall and Quoyloo, with 607 m of climbing. Most of it (54.1 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane, 10.8 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more. There is a 21 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 23–44).
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 88.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 607 m
- Riding time
- 6 h 19 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 21 km
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Stromness
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 607 m
- 88 km
Route description
- Stromness
- Clouston
- Hestwall
- Quoyloo
- Swannay
- Tingwall
- Harray
- Tuskerbister
- Hobbister
Starting near Stromness at km 1.3, the route heads through Clouston, Stenness, Hestwall, Aith, Quoyloo, and Birsay before continuing past Swannay, Evie, Tingwall, and the Norseman Village. It then passes Harray, Bimbister, Tuskerbister, Kirbister, Hobbister, Greenigoe, Foveran, and ends at Kirkwall at 87.7 km. The ride features four main climbs: a 2.6 km section from 20.5 km gaining 80 m at 3.1% average gradient, a 2.9 km climb at 29.8 km gaining 57 m at 2%, a 1.7 km climb at 56.5 km gaining 50 m at 3.1%, and a 2.9 km climb at 78.5 km gaining 62 m at 2.1%.
Highlights
- Peaks near road: Vestra Fiold at 129 m (23.6 km)
- Longest climb 2.9 km at 3.1%
- Route passes archaeological site Thing-Voll Broch (48.4 km)
- Highest point at 107 m near 58.9 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 20.5 km | 2.6 km · 80 m · 3.1 % · max 4.1 % | 86 m |
| Unnamed climb | 29.8 km | 2.9 km · 57 m · 2 % · max 2.4 % | 75 m |
| Unnamed climb | 56.5 km | 1.7 km · 50 m · 3.1 % · max 5.4 % | 66 m |
| Unnamed climb | 78.5 km | 2.9 km · 62 m · 2.1 % · max 3.9 % | 83 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 61% is on main roads without a cycle lane, 10.8 km of it where the limit is 80 km/h or more. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 62% main road · 32% minor road · 5% quiet street · 1% path
- Main roads
- 54.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 10.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- A966 (16 km), B9056 (11 km), A964 (9 km), A965 (8 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 16% climbing · 18% descending · 66% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.8 km over 5%
- Longest descent
- 4.1 km from 59.6 km, dropping 80 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 21 km, from km 23 to 44. Along the route: 47 cafés and restaurants, 11 shops, 5 water points, 5 petrol stations, 16 public toilets and 3 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.1 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 1.1 kmOrkney Cycle Hire · bike rental · on the route
- 1.4 kmW H B Sutherland Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 1.9 kmToilets · on the route
- 2.1 kmNorth End Garage · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 8.6 kmPetrol station · 60 m off route
- 8.7 kmConvenience store · 60 m off route
- 8.7 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 19.9 kmSkara Brae Cafe · café · 240 m off route
- 20.3 kmToilets · on the route
- 22.5 kmIsbister Bros · petrol station · on the route
- 43.7 kmEviedale Bakehouse · bakery · on the route
- 48.5 kmToilets · 240 m off route
- 63.2 kmThe Junction · café · 90 m off route
- 87.4 kmLidl · supermarket · 130 m off route
- 87.6 kmTop Up Tap · drinking water · 140 m off route
- 87.6 kmCycle Orkney · bike shop · 40 m off route
- 87.8 kmToilets · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 1.6 km — Stromness Ferry Terminal (ferry), 80 m off route
- 48.5 km — Tingwall Ferry Office (ferry), 250 m off route
- 87.8 km — Ferry, 270 m off route
Worth a stop
- 1.3 km — Fitzroy Fisheries Barometer (attraction)
- 5.1 km — Deepdale standing stone (Prehistoric) (archaeological site)
- 10.1 km — Watch Stone (Orkney) (archaeological site)
- 13.1 km — Ring of Bookan (archaeological site)
- 29.8 km — Barony Mills (attraction)
- 48.4 km — Thing-Voll Broch (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- Albert Hotel · hotel · 160 m from the finish
- Orkney Hotel · hotel · 290 m from the finish
- Ayre Hotel · hotel · 200 m from the finish
- Peedie Hostel · hostel · 220 m from the finish
- St Ola Hotel · hotel · 250 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Bikes and repair
- Orkney Cycle Hire (930 m)
At the finish
- Bikes and repair
- Cycle Orkney (160 m)
- Food and coffee
- Argo's Bakery (110 m), St Magnus Cafe (130 m), Indian Garden (140 m)
Know before you go
- No café, shop or water for 21 km between 22.5 and 43.7 km
- 54 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 10.8 km on roads with posted limits of 80 km/h or more
- 1 km of gravel or unpaved surface