Challenging Rides

Kirkpatrick C2C – Duns Spur

Cycling Route

This 19-mile long spur takes you away from the core Kirkpatrick C2C route for a short distance and brings you to the town of Duns.

Towns along route: Coldstream, Duns, Paxton

Kirkpatrick C2C – Galashiels Spur

Cycling Route -

Easy

This 2-mile route spur takes you to the charming town of Galashiels, a town built on the textile industry, which sits on the River Tweed and is surrounded by rolling hills.

2mi

3km

164ft

50m

98ft

30m

Towns along route: Galashiels

Kirkpatrick C2C – Portpatrick Spur

Cycling Route -

Easy

This 7.5-mile spur allows you to extend the Kirkpatrick C2C, starting from the pretty seaside town of Portpatrick just west of Stranraer.

7.5mi

12km

623ft

190m

623ft

190m

Towns along route: Portpatrick, Stranraer

Kirkpatrick C2C – Challenge Stage 4

Cycling Route -

Hard

Take on the 59 miles on the Challenge approach to the Kirkpatrick C2C with the fourth stage of the route.

59mi

94.5km

3,805ft

1,160m

4,362ft

1,330m

Towns along route: Selkirk, Melrose, Kelso, Coldstream, Paxton, Eyemouth

Kirkpatrick C2C – Challenge Stage 3

Cycling Route -

Hard

Tackle the 48 miles on the Challenge approach to the Kirkpatrick C2C with this third stage of the route.

46mi

74.5km

4,658ft

1,420m

4,330ft

1,320m

Towns along route: Langholm, Newcastleton, Hawick, Selkirk

Kirkpatrick C2C – Challenge Stage 2

Cycling Route -

Challenge

Take on the 69 miles on the Challenge approach to the Kirkpatrick C2C with this second stage of the route.

71mi

114.5km

5,215ft

1,590m

4,986ft

1,520m

Towns along route: Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas, Dumfries, Lockerbie, Langholm

Kirkpatrick C2C – Challenge Stage 1

Cycling Route -

Challenge

Take on the 74 miles on the Challenge approach to the Kirkpatrick C2C with this first stage of the route.

74mi

119.5km

4,526ft

1,380m

4,690ft

1,430m

Towns along route: Stranraer, Glenluce, Wigtown, Newton Stewart, Creetown, Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbright

Kirkpatrick C2C – Explorer Stage 8

Cycling Route -

Moderate

The eighth and final stage of the Kirkpatrick C2C stretches from Coldstream to Eyemouth on the Berwickshire Coast. Though largely flat, this stretch of the route has a few smaller climbs before a descent to the coastal town of Eyemouth.

25mi

40.5km

1,706ft

520m

1,771ft

540m

Towns along route: Coldstream, Paxton, Ayton, Eyemouth

Kirkpatrick C2C – Explorer Stage 7

Cycling Route -

Hard

The seventh stage of the Kirkpatrick C2C takes cyclists eastwards, from Melrose towards Coldstream. This largely flat stretch offers some undulations as it follows the River Tweed.

27.5mi

44km

1,673ft

510m

1,771ft

540m

Towns along route: Melrose, Kelso, Coldstream

Kirkpatrick C2C – Explorer Stage 6

Cycling Route -

Hard

The sixth stage of the Kirkpatrick C2C takes you from the largest town in the Scottish Borders, Hawick, to the market town of Melrose.

23.5mi

38km

2,198ft

670m

2,230ft

680m

Towns along route: Hawick, Selkirk, Melrose

Kirkpatrick C2C – Explorer Stage 5

Cycling Route -

Moderate

The fifth stage of the Kirkpatrick C2C stretches from the village of Newcastleton to the town of Hawick.

21mi

33.5km

1,738ft

530m

1,738ft

530m

Towns along route: Newcastleton, Hawick

Kirkpatrick C2C – Explorer Stage 4

Cycling Route -

Hard

The fourth stage of the Kirkpatrick C2C takes you from the town of Dumfries to Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders.

52.5mi

84.5km

4,822ft

1,470m

4,526ft

1,380m

Towns along route: Dumfries, Lockerbie, Langholm, Newcastleton

Kirkpatrick C2C – Explorer Stage 3

Cycling Route -

Moderate

The third stage of the Kirkpatrick C2C stretches from Kirkcudbright on the coast to the largest town in the area, Dumfries.

29mi

46.5km

1,837ft

560m

1,804ft

550m

Towns along route: Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas, Dumfries

Kirkpatrick C2C – Explorer Stage 2

Cycling Route -

Hard

The second stage of the Kirkpatrick C2C takes riders from the market town of Newton Stewart to the colourful harbour town of Kirkcudbright, also known as the Artists’ Town.

34mi

55km

2,394ft

730m

2,460ft

750m

Towns along route: Newton Stewart, Creetown, Gatehouse of Fleet, Borgue, Kirkcudbright

Kirkpatrick C2C – Explorer Stage 1

Cycling Route -

Hard

This first stage of the Kirkpatrick C2C takes you from the coastal town of Stranraer through the landscapes of the Rhins and Machar peninsulas before reaching the small market town of Newton Stewart on the banks of the River Cree.

40mi

64km

2,165ft

660m

2,263ft

690m

Towns along route: Stranraer, Glenluce, Wigtown, Newton Stewart

Kirkpatrick C2C

Cycling Route -

Challenge

This coast to coast route travels through a border land. This is a land of royalty and raiders with defensive strongholds, magnificent abbeys and great houses; power struggles were frequent and bloody.

250mi

402.5km

18,204ft

5,550m

18,368ft

5,600m

Towns along route: Stranraer, Glenluce, Wigtown, Newton Stewart, Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbright, Castle Douglas, Dumfries, Lockerbie, Langholm, Newcastleton, Hawick, Selkirk, Melrose, Kelso, Coldstream, Paxton, Eyemouth

Megget & Talla

Cycling Route -

Hard

This route heads south from Innerleithen passing Traquair House and along the Paddy Slacks towards the Gordon Arms.

55mi

89km

4,034ft

1,230m

4,034ft

1,230m

Towns along route: Cardrona, Innerleithen, Traquair

Grantshouse

Cycling Route -

Hard

This route travels south from Eyemouth towards Ayton Castle. The route then continues eastwards through Reston and on with views of the Cheviots and then the Lammermuirs.

26.5mi

43km

1,870ft

570m

1,870ft

570m

Towns along route: Eyemouth, Grantshouse

Moorfoots & Gala Water

Cycling Route -

Hard

Heading north from Innerleithen, this route climbs over the Moorfoot Hills to a height of 350m above sea level before descending to the village of Heriot.

38mi

61.5km

3,083ft

940m

3,083ft

940m

Towns along route: Innerleithen

Portpatrick – Corswall – Kirkcolm Loop

Cycling Route -

Hard

Beginning at the beautiful and bustling harbour town of Portpatrick, you climb away from town up onto the rolling farmland.

35.5mi

57.5km

2,624ft

800m

2,624ft

800m

Towns along route: Kirkcolm, Stranraer

Langholm – Newcastleton – Harelaw Loop

Cycling Route -

Hard

This ride starts in Langholm with a tough climb up the side of Whita Hill. On top of Whita Hill there are two interesting cultural pieces: The MacDiarmid Memorial, the Langholm born poet and the Malcolm Monument for Sir John Malcolm, one of the four knights of Eskdale.

25mi

40km

2,493ft

760m

2,493ft

760m

Towns along route: Langholm

Lockerbie – Eskdalemuir – Castle O’er Loop

Cycling Route -

Hard

This must be the quirkiest of routes in Dumfries & Galloway. Leave the town of Lockerbie and head into the hills of Eskdalemuir Forest to visit the vibrantly coloured Tibetan Buddhist Centre of Samye Ling near Eskdalemuir.

33mi

53km

2,657ft

810m

2,657ft

810m

Towns along route: Eskdalemuir

Moffat Loop via Grey Mare’s Tail

Cycling Route -

Hard

Moffat sits in a steep valley on three sides, which means that you have a climb out and onto the hills - but it is so worth the effort.

44mi

70.5km

3,477ft

1,060m

3,477ft

1,060m

Towns along route: Moffat

Newton Stewart to Wigtown via Isle of Whithorn

Cycling Route -

Hard

Apart from some extraordinary landscapes and stunning photogenic scenery, there are the marks of history and culture all along this route.

64mi

103km

2,362ft

720m

2,493ft

760m

Towns along route: Wigtown, Monreith, Port William

Dumfries to Moniaive Loop

Cycling Route -

Hard

Stunning in any season, with views back to the high hills. Crowned “most cultural town in Scotland” in 2019 - Moniave is worth spending time in.

46.5mi

75km

2,919ft

890m

2,919ft

890m

Towns along route: Dumfries

Mountain Biking

Cycling Route

A selection of world class tracks for mountain bikers.

Tweed & Ettrick Valleys

Cycling Route -

Hard

A difficult route, Longer distance or on hilly roads and may enter remote areas. High degree of self sufficiency required.

43.5mi

69.5km

3,313ft

1,010m

3,313ft

1,010m

Towns along route: Innerleithen, Galashiels

Tour De Lauder – Nouveau

Cycling Route -

Hard

Please allow at least 7 hours 20 minutes to complete it, excluding the time taken to enjoy the destinations along the way.

52.5mi

84.5km

5,478ft

1,670m

5,445ft

1,660m

Towns along route: Lauder, Stow, Innerleithen

Tour De Lauder – Classic

Cycling Route -

Challenge

This is one of the route options from the annual Tour de Lauder which takes place in Lauder in April.

88.5mi

142km

8,954ft

2,730m

8,889ft

2,710m

Towns along route: Lauder, Stow, Innerleithen

Southern Borders Loop 2

Cycling Route -

Challenge

The Southern Borders Loop offers two options for cyclists. This longer circuit is harder (suitable for more experienced cyclists) with 5 significant climbs over 300m.

75mi

121km

5,806ft

1,770m

5,806ft

1,770m

Towns along route: Hawick

Challenging Rides

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