Scotland

Part of United Kingdom

Why cycle in Scotland?

Scotland has everything a cyclist could want, except guaranteed dry weather. Clear roads through the Highlands, rugged coastlines, islands with ferry services and one of the best mountain biking scenes in the world. In July 2027, the Tour de France will start in Edinburgh, for the first time in history in Scotland. A beautiful moment to go there yourself.

• Tour de France 2027The first stage goes from Edinburgh via the Scottish Borders to Carlisle, 184 kilometers with about 2,000 meters of elevation gain and one categorized climb, the Côte de Melrose.
• The HighlandsSingle-track roads with passing places, lochs and mountains. The Bealach na Bà near Applecross is one of the toughest climbs in Great Britain.
• Mountainbike and gravelThe Tweed Valley around Peebles and Innerleithen was the host of the World Mountain Bike Championships (cross-country) in 2023. For gravel and bikepacking, there are routes such as the Highland Trail and the Badger Divide.
• Long routesThe North Coast 500 (over 800 km around the north), the Hebridean Way across the Outer Hebrides and the Kirkpatrick C2C from coast to coast.

The most beautiful cycling areas

Edinburgh and the coast of East Lothian

Edinburgh is a great base. East of the city, the coast of East Lothian, with wide beaches and golf courses, runs to North Berwick and the rock of Bass Rock. Quiet roads lead from here to the Lammermuir Hills, without needing to drive far.

Along the coast this stretch is called the Golf Coast, after the 21 golf courses that are located there. Wide sandy beaches stretch out to the edge of the city. In Edinburgh itself, you drive along the boulevard of Portobello, climb over the cobblestones of West Bow, past the port of Leith and to the foot of Arthur’s Seat, the ancient volcano in the middle of the city. Read our story Cycling in Scotland: from Landal Whitekirk Hill to Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders.

Scottish Borders

Rolling hills, quiet roads and the Tweed Valley, just below Edinburgh. Innerleithen is a real cycling village, full of bike shops and with a large mountain biking scene. From the village, you climb with your race bike through a quiet valley to Broad Law, with views as far as Edinburgh. In Melrose, with its twelfth-century abbey, lies a short, steep climb of about two kilometers at almost 7%: the Côte de Melrose in the 2027 Tour. Further south are Hawick, the capital of Scottish cashmere, the gloomy Hermitage Castle and Newcastleton, also known to mountain bikers. Along the coast runs the Coasts and Castles route from Newcastle to Edinburgh.

Cairngorms: gravel around Aviemore

In the middle of Scotland lies the Cairngorms National Park, with Aviemore as the outdoor capital. It is bustling with hikers, mountain bikers, and climbers, without feeling touristy. For gravel enthusiasts, it is one of the best places in the country. The Burma Road is a climb of about 4.5 kilometers with about 500 meters of elevation gain, with sections ranging from 8 to 15%, over surprisingly beautiful gravel. After that comes a long descent with expansive views over the hills.

Read our story Searching for gravel heaven in Aviemore, Scotland, and also Cycling in Scotland: Highlands and more.

Scottish Highlands

The most rugged and desolate roads in the country: single-track roads with passing places, along lochs and under bare mountains. The Bealach na Bà to Applecross climbs from sea level to 626 meters, with sections up to 20% and hairpin bends like in the Alps. The road through Glencoe and over Rannoch Moor is spectacular but busy: go early in the day. On the island of Skye, Quiraing is the most famous, but there are also beautiful roads further afield, both on and off the tarmac.

The islands

Scotland is an archipelago. The Hebridean Way runs across the Outer Hebrides from the southernmost point to the beach of Eoropie, passing through Lewis and Harris and the Callanish Stone Circle. You are here for the peace and space. In the north lie the Orkney Islands, known for their shellfish and sea life, and the Shetland Islands, the islands of ponies.

The Tour de France 2027 in Scotland

The Tour de France will start in July 2027 for the first time in Scotland, with an opening ceremony at Edinburgh Castle. The first stage (184 km, approximately 2,000 meters of elevation gain) will run through the Scottish Borders: through the Tweed Valley along Innerleithen, over the highest point at Broad Law, the Côte de Melrose, and via Hawick and Newcastleton to Carlisle in England. We explored the course in September 2026; a great opportunity to discover the Borders for yourself.

Long routes and gravel

Scotland has about 1,100 kilometers of car-free cycling paths on old railway lines, hunting trails along canals, and forest roads as part of the national cycling network (NCN). The routes are marked with blue signs with a red number. The most beautiful ones:

• Route 7, Lochs & Glens WayFrom the south of Scotland via Dumfries & Galloway and the coast of Ayrshire along Loch Lomond, through the forests of Perthshire and the Cairngorms to Inverness.
• Route 78, Caledonia WayFrom Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula to Inverness, along the west coast, through the Great Glen past Fort William and Ben Nevis, and along Loch Ness.
• Route 76, Round the Inner Forth: a round trip around the Firth of Forth, passing under the Forth Bridge, past bird reserves and villages to Stirling.
• Route 195, Deeside Way: completely car-free over an old railway line from Aberdeen to Ballater, along the River Dee.
• Route 1From the English border via Aberdeen to John o’Groats and the Shetland Islands. John o’Groats is also the end point of the famous LEJOG, From Land’s End to John o’Groats.
• North Coast 500: A round trip of over 800 kilometers from Inverness along the north and west coast. Popular with campers in the summer.
• Gravel and bikepackingThe Badger Divide runs largely unpaved from Glasgow to Inverness. The Highland Trail 550 is a notorious, tough bikepacking route through the wildest parts of the Highlands.

Your Cycling base

Edinburgh is a nice start, with the coast and the Borders nearby. East of the city is Landal Whitekirk Hill in North Berwick: luxury chalets with their own hot tub, a restaurant, spa and pool, with the coast of East Lothian right on your doorstep and Edinburgh just a three-quarters-hour drive or two-hour bike ride away. You’re well placed for the Borders and the mountain biking trails of the Tweed Valley Innerleithen of Peebles. Aviemore is the outdoor capital of the Cairngorms, and Inverness the gateway to the Highlands and the North Coast 500.

From B&Bs and hotels to bothies: simple, free mountain huts in remote areas. Thanks to the Scottish right of access, you can also camp in the wild, respecting nature and the farmers.

When are you leaving?

May to September. May and June are often the driest months, with very long days. In July and August there are many mosquitoes in the west: bring a mosquito repellent with you.

Travel tips

• Driving on the leftIn Scotland you drive on the left, even on a bicycle.
• WeatherThe weather changes quickly and it always blows in the hills. Also bring rain gear and warm layers in summer.
• CuttingIn July and August there are many midges in the west. A mosquito repellent is not a superfluous luxury.
• TrainThe lines to Kyle or Lochalsh and Fort William are among the most beautiful in Europe and take bicycles along. Reserve your bike space.
• Food and drinkIn North Berwick, The Lamb is a great bistro for a casual dinner, and Alandas makes award-winning ice cream. In Innerleithen, you go for coffee and lunch to Findra, in Leith, to The Brunswick Book Club.
• WhiskyNot for nothing is it the national pride. In the port of Leith there is a distillery.

How do you get there?

With the night boat from IJmuiden to Newcastle or from Rotterdam to Hull, and then by car in a few hours to the Borders or Edinburgh. By train, via London, and then with the Caledonian Sleeper to Edinburgh or further into the Highlands. Or fly directly to Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness.