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I started gravel riding in June 2022, and I love sharing my rides with others who wish to experience some of these amazing routes I have found around Scotland. To that end, I have listed all my rides with pictures, a brief description, difficulty, and distance.
A guide to what might be involved in an Easy/Medium/Hard grading can be found on our 'Disclaimer' page: https://www.gravelscotland.uk/gravel-riding-scotland/group-disclaimer
Some rides include a 'HALL OF FAME' badge & are highly recommended!
1. Dalwhinnie
(70km/942m)
This is an outstanding route. Some of the most beautiful scenery I have experienced on a gravel ride. A real variety of surfaces to navigate, with the last 18km proving to be very challenging, both climbing and descending - wider tires would have been very welcome here.
A deserved HOF badge for this ride, highly recommended.
Hard
HOF
GPX File
2. Gravelfoyle 1.0
(68km/1249m)
A gravel riders paradise.
A variety of gravel forest tracks, all loose over hard, and some connecting road areas make this suitable for most gravel bikes. And with so many tracks to choose from, creating your own route is effortless.
Medium
GPX File
3. Eskpletive, Dalkeith (48km/660m)
This was my first gravel ride of 2022, and wow, I was hooked after this, such endless variety.
Every riding surface I can think of applies here, along with countless changes of scenery hard to beat. A little tricky to navigate from your Garmin device on your first run, so can be challenging.
A route I will be returning to time and again.
Medium
GPX File
4. Gifford, Garvald (44km/632m)
Definitely a ride of two halves.
The first half was filled with adventure, some stunning hidden paths you would never find without local help, quite sublime, if a little in the weeds at times.
Quiet country roads to finish, a bit of a local gem.
Easy
GPX File
5. Ballater & Loch Muick (58km/893m)
Classic Deeside gravel ride. Gorgeous long views with a lovely P2P along Loch Muick, some quite remote areas to cover.
However, this ride also comes with a caveat - a few kilometers of chunk that is unrideable on a gravel bike, (pictured), with some other areas a little tough going. All worth it though!
Hard
GPX File
6. Linn of Dee
(55km/634m)
This route was something special.
Jaw-dropping views, a variety of surfaces, several streams to cross, challenging climbing, and two P2P that could easily extend the ride further. This should be on every gravel rider's calendar, outstanding.
Medium
HOF
GPX File
7. John Muir Golf Coast
(53km/484m)
A seamless blend of the Aberlady and Gifford gravel rides.
You don't miss out on much of the beautiful coastline and countryside that East Lothian has to offer here.
Mostly off-road with sandy flat areas, field hopping, and narrow single track, even a cafe stop in North Berwick.
A lovely adventure.
Easy
HOF
GPX File
8. Dalmeny to Blackness Coastal Run (50km/393m)
As a resident of Edinburgh, this is a ride I have taken countless times, quite delightful!
Mostly off-road & pathways, this route takes you along a lot of coastal areas, dipping into the Dalmeny Estate, woodlands, around Hopetoun House, onto Blackness Castle.
I've kept this as a loop, but to avoid the 4km of the busy A904, you can just backtrack from the Castle in a P2P, the magic is in the first 25km of the ride.
Easy
GPX File
9. Gatehouse Of Fleet, Galloway (59km/768m)
When you’re looking for a route that is easy riding, and has beautiful Galloway countryside views, yet just enough distance and mixed surface to keep you on your toes, this may be the perfect ride.
A great started for those just getting into gravel riding.
I look forward to riding this again with friends.
Easy
GPX File
10. Galloway Forest Park
(69km/1320m)
Once in a while, you find a route that is just inspired. Hard for me to put into words how much I enjoyed riding Galloway Forest Park, it is just about everything I love about gravel riding.
Not hugely challenging to ride, views out of this world, and the climbs were not too steep either, a perfect balance in my view.
This ride has to be high on your list. Sublime.
Medium
HOF
GPX File
11. The Herring Roads of The Lammermuirs
(52km/1121m)
This route kicks off with a short ride to Watch Water Reservoir to catch some beautiful views, from there, the real climbing starts.
Each section of this ride opens up new stunning views. And although there are a few tough climbs wrapped into this one, all of them are worth the effort.
Medium
GPX File
12. Carron Valley Reservoir Loop (65km/1074m)
This is a grand tour of the Carron Valley area, and should not be underestimated just how stunning and varied this ride is, a real assortment of panoramic valley photography, technical descents, stream crossings, connecting routes across the heather undergrowth, and passing through perfect gravel woodland tracks, an epic ride.
The main descent is equally epic, and some of the most fun, challenging, and exciting gravel riding of the year.
Hard
GPX File
13. Blairadam Wood, Kelty (36km/491m)
My first gravel ride in Fife, and although a short loop, there was plenty here to make the journey worthwhile.
Great woodland gravel, lovely viewpoints, a ride around Loch Ore, countryside tracks, and short connecting roads. A route I will be expanding on at a later date!
Medium
GPX File
14. Dunkeld & Tay Forest
(52km/910m)
The Dunkeld and Tay Forest area is a magnet for gravel riders, and after this ride, I can see why.
The landscape is striking, and the gravel paths are excellent, just not after heavy rain. There are many hidden features along the way, beautiful moss-covered forestry area, large rock streams, and Loch Kennard was truly mesmerising. More of a summer ride, but very memorable.
Medium
GPX File
15. Bannockburn to Carron Valley (42km/780m)
This gem comes in at my #1 Central Scotland’s favourite route, it’s a blinder.
I had ridden around the North Third Reservoir before, but I had never seen it from this vantage point, it took my breath away. Not only that, but the tracks along the Carron valley reservoir gives anything Gravelfoyle has to offer a serious run for its money, it was divine.
Although it’s graded as easy, there are a few 10-15 metre technical descents early on that have to be walked for the beginners, they take just a few seconds, but it’s worth pointing out, otherwise, 50/50 road to smooth off-road gravel heaven.
Easy
HOF
GPX File
16. Gravelfoyle 2.0 Two Loop Classic (70.6km/1364m)
If you want to know why this ride features on my list, you have to go ride it, it’s a topographic wonderland.
The first loop is glorious gravel riding, smooth, easy climbing, and cinematic views.
The second loop is much steeper climbs and chunkier gravel, the reward for this is though is heavenly – such charm awaits you for a more challenging ride.
Medium
GPX File
17. Loch Eck & Loch Long (57km/1228m)
This ride will certainly suit those of you who love steep climbs, there are some big ones to take on here. The upside to this of course are the epic descents, they are fast and furious.
Other features of this ride are the glorious views you get of Loch Eck and Loch Long from the top of the climbs, combined with the quality gravel tracks, make this a compelling challenge to take on. This was a tough ride, but like most of the rides posted on this website, worth it!
Hard
GPX File
18. Two Loch Loop From Lochgoilhead (32.5km/960m)
This one goes straight into my favourite gravel rides of all time, it was sublime. I don’t always get on with steep climbing, but this really hit the sweet spot with smooth, easy assents.
The landscape throughout this journey was striking and captivating, but what really made this route special for me was the 4km of technical singletrack that is unsurpassed for gravel riding, challenging yes, but absolutely divine and thrilling.
This is a top ‘Hall Of Fame’ ride and one of my best recommendations for tech-loving gravel riders.
Hard
HOF
GPX File
19. Clatteringshaw Dam Tour From Fleet (54km/738m)
Fleet in Galloway really has some of the best gravel tracks to ride anywhere in Scotland, with that, you are also treated to some glorious views of the wonderful forest and countryside, it’s one of my most favourite areas to ride, and has a very welcoming local community.
Easy
GPX File
20. Tour de Lead Hills, Borders (53km/1240m)
Buckle up, because this route has many of the classic Borders ride features, including stunning open hilly landscapes with beautiful backdrop views, steep rugged climbing, and quiet remote riding.
Yes, I did find myself walking a few of the very steep climbs, but there is no question the challenging and quite technical, (in places descending was all the more fun.
Not a route for beginners.
Hard
GPX File
21. Newcastleton To Kielder Forest (74km/1396m)
A route that features excellent gravel tracks throughout most of the journey, some technical singletrack on the way home, so you will need a few bike handling skills to take this on, but nothing too serious. The standout feature here is Kielder Reservoir, it is vast, and much of the journey will give you some of the best views of it. A great day out.
Medium
GPX File
22. Selkirk To Bowhill Estate (40km/1010m)
Absolutely one of my favourite rides of 2023, an instant classic. But make no mistake, this route will certainly test your off-road skills.
A huge variety of surfaces to navigate here, from quiet roads, to technical singletrack descents, this is a world of adventure with dazzling views to match.
Hard
HOF
GPX File
23. Mission Of Burma. Speyside (75km/1203m)
Speyside has some of the most charming and mesmerising scenery anywhere in Europe, so where better to ride than this route.
There is a beast of a climb in the very early part of this journey, but at least the gravel tracks are in great condition for most of this route. Nothing out of the ordinary on the technical side, a little chunky in places with one short but very technical descent on the way home, which is walkable, otherwise this was an excellent track and quite captivating scenery.
Hard
GPX File
24. Glen Feshie & Loch An Eilein (46.5km/605m)
'Hall of Fame' for this route, not only that, this comes in as the most stunning scenery I have seen on any ride, it was otherworldly, a topographic wonderland I will never forget.
There was very little in the way of challenging riding or climbing on this course, just a few tight singletrack sections at the end.
Absolutely angelic from start to finish.
Easy
HOF
GPX File
25. Loch Leven & The Lomond Hills (59km/675m)
This is a fabulous route in Fife with stunning views to take in along the way. Start/finish at Loch Leven on lovely gravel, the route takes you on a tour of the Lomond Hills with a mix of off-road and road. Some short singletracks and mildly technical sections, but nothing a gravel enthusiast would have trouble navigating.
Some parts of the route are popular with walkers, so a bell might be handy.
Medium
GPX File
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