Gravel · United Kingdom
Stage 4 of 5 · Highland Trail (part)← Stage 3Stage 5 →
Ullapool to Contin
A hilly 100 km gravel route from Ullapool, Highland to Contin through Croick, The Craigs and Little Garve, with 1,041 m of climbing. The first 77 km has no café, shop or water. Mostly unpaved: 88% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 8% as paved and 4% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 99.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,041 m
- Riding time
- 8 h 19 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 77 km
- Best months
- Jun to Aug
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Ullapool → Contin
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,041 m
- 100 km
Route description
- Ullapool
- Croick
- The Craigs
- Little Garve
- Garve
- Contin
Starting in Ullapool at 10 m elevation, the route initially climbs 153 m over 2.3 km at an average gradient of 6.8%, passing close to the peak of Meall Mòr (270 m at 2.3 km). The ride continues over mixed terrain dominated by gravel tracks (88% unpaved) with several climbs: a 2.4 km hill at 6.2%, a longer 4.1 km steady climb at 3%, and shorter ascents later reaching up to 87 m gain at 5.2%. The highest point is at 363 m around 58.3 km, near Meall a' Chaorainn (632 m).
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 363 m, 58.3 km in.
Highlights
- Meall Mòr peak near start
- Climb up to 363 m at km 58.3
- Croick archaeological site at 40.8 km
- Rogie Falls near Contin at 92.9 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 2.3 km · 153 m · 6.8 % · max 11.7 % | 164 m |
| Unnamed climb | 12.4 km | 2.4 km · 147 m · 6.2 % · max 13.3 % | 255 m |
| Unnamed climb | 26.7 km | 4.1 km · 124 m · 3 % · max 6.5 % | 226 m |
| Unnamed climb | 45 km | 2.4 km · 58 m · 2.5 % · max 5.4 % | 190 m |
| Unnamed climb | 56.6 km | 1.7 km · 87 m · 5.2 % · max 7.8 % | 363 m |
| Unnamed climb | 67 km | 1.6 km · 82 m · 5.2 % · max 7.7 % | 345 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 1.4 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 74% track · 13% quiet street · 6% minor road · 5% path · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 1.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 6.4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Surface
- Mostly unpaved: 88% is mapped as gravel or unpaved, 8% as paved and 4% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 20% climbing · 23% descending · 57% flat
- Steep sections
- 5.1 km over 5% · 1.5 km over 8% · 0.5 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 11.8% at 14.2 km
- Longest descent
- 4 km from 84.5 km, dropping 98 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 77 km, from the start. Along the route: 12 cafés and restaurants, 6 shops and 2 petrol stations.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmTea by the Sea · café · 150 m off route
- 0 kmUllapool Unpacked · supermarket · 260 m off route
- 0 kmJet · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 0 kmBoots · pharmacy · 280 m off route
- 77.3 kmRiver Black Water Inn · pub · 200 m off route
- 95.5 kmContin Stores · convenience store · 60 m off route
- 95.5 kmJET · petrol station · 180 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Ullapool Ferry Terminal (ferry), 330 m off route
- 86.1 km — Garve (station), 890 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2.3 km — Meall Mòr (peak, 270 m)
- 8.1 km — Pairc A' Chlaiginn, Long Cairn (archaeological site)
- 40.8 km — Croick, broch (archaeological site)
- 92.9 km — Rogie Falls (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- Riverside Campsite · campsite · 110 m from the finish
- Highland Hideaway · guest house · 150 m from the finish
- Coul House Hotel · hotel · 530 m from the finish
- Achilty House · guest house · 850 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Ferry Boat Inn (60 m), Tea by the Sea (150 m), Argyll (60 m)
- Shops
- Ullapool Unpacked (260 m)
At the finish
- Shops
- Contin Stores (60 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 77.1 km from km 0.2 to 77.3
- 1.4 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 6.4 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- 88% of route on gravel or unpaved surfaces
