Road · United Kingdom
Yetholm Blue Route
A rolling 9 km road cycling loop from Duncanshaugh, Scottish Borders through Primsidemill, Primside and Cherrytrees, with 67 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 8.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 67 m
- Riding time
- 37 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start and finish
- Duncanshaugh
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 67 m
- 9 km
Route description
- Duncanshaugh
- Primsidemill
- Primside
- Cherrytrees
- Duncanshaugh
The Yetholm Blue Route is an 8.7 km loop beginning and finishing in Town Yetholm. It passes through Duncanshaugh at 0.6 km, Primsidemill at 1.4 km, Primside at 2.6 km, Cherrytrees at 6.7 km, and Kirk Yetholm at 8.1 km before returning to the start. The highest point of the route is 133 m at 4.5 km, with the lowest at 102 m near 7.9 km. The route has 67 m of climbing, mostly in the first half, and features a mix of flat, climbing, and descending sections including short steep parts reaching up to 7.7% gradient.
Highlights
- Yetholm Law peak at 232 m nearby
- Thirlestane Hill peak at 237 m nearby
- The Plough Hotel pub at start and finish
- Thirlestane Tower archaeological site near 5.4 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (3.3 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 58% minor road · 38% main road · 4% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 3.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 4.9 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 28% climbing · 21% descending · 52% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 2 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop, 1 water point and 1 public toilet.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 5.4 kmSpring · 190 m off route
- 8.5 kmThe Plough Hotel · pub · on the route
- 8.5 kmYetholm Village Shop · convenience store · 50 m off route
- 8.5 kmToilets · 30 m off route
Worth a stop
- 5.4 km — Thirlestane Tower (Site of) (archaeological site)
Start and access
At the start and finish
- Food and coffee
- The Plough Hotel (280 m)
- Shops
- Yetholm Village Shop (290 m)
Know before you go
- 5.4 km longest stretch without café, shop or water
- 3.3 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 4.9 km on roads with posted limits of 80 km/h or more
- 0.2 km gravel or unpaved surface