The Scottish Coast to Coast Full Itinerary
The Cycling - Introduction
This C2C route transects the Scottish borders from Annan in the south-west, up to Scotland’s capital Edinburgh. This route sees you pedal through the farmlands of Dumfriesshire, the thriving market town of Moffat, two challenging climbs on the way to Peebles, the Tweed Valley and then onto the Firth of Forth coastline.
To make the most of the weekend we start our tour on Thursday evening with a night of accommodation in the shadow of the Forth Bridge at Queensferry South, transferring to the start of the ride Friday morning. After 3 days in the saddle you will find yourself back at the Forth Bridge on the Sunday afternoon between 14:00 - 16:00, where you can jump into your car, or onto the train to explore the city, or start your homeward journey. Those wishing to fly or use the train to get to the start/finish, then Queensferry South is easily accessible by train from Edinburgh airport, or Edinburgh Central.
Usual Daily distances. 34 miles, 44 miles, 47 miles or 55km, 70km, 76km
Total height gain: 8755ft or 2670m
Terrain: Scenic roads and traffic-free cycleways. The majority of the ride travels through rolling countryside, although there are a couple of challenging climbs. A moderate level of fitness is recommended.
Support vehicle: A vehicle will be used to move bags from place to place and will not follow you directly. We provide a telephone number for the driver if you require mechanical assistance.
Tour staff: A CycleActive representative will meet you at the beginning of the tour to answer any question you may have. This member of staff will be overseeing the tour and transferring the bikes and luggage.
The following information gives you more details on the cycling and the way this tour operates. If you want to find out more about the journey, the package or anything else about our C2C tours – please just give us a call. Our office team is always ready to help with enquiries.
Day 1 - Arrival at Queensferry South, Edinburgh
Thursday Evening
The trip begins on Thursday evening when you arrive at our chosen accommodation in Queensferry South. Once you have checked in you are free to explore the local town or head into Edinburgh central. If you are already in Edinburgh and do not require this first night's accommodation then please let us know and we can take it out of the tour package.
"Monday Evening start for the Fringe Festival Mid-week special"
| Accommodation: | Hotel | |||
| Meals Included: | None | |||
| Cycling: | 0 miles | 0km |
Day 2 - Annan to Moffat
Friday
After breakfast, we will all meet on the seafront next to the Forth Bridge to load bikes and start our 2hr, 10mins transfer to the start at Annan. If you travel by car, we'll show you where to park for the whole weekend.
Our approximate arrival time in Annan is 11:30. Once on the bike, you head north up the Annan river valley on quiet country roads towards the bustling town of Moffat. Lockerbie is an ideal place for a late lunch, where you can also visit the Garden of Remembrance at Dryfesdale Cemetery, marking the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. Afterwards, you continue to ride upstream between the vast forests of Ae and Eskdalemuir.
After 34 miles on the bike, Moffat is your home for the night, nestled in the heart of Southern Scotland this town is a hub of activity. If you are looking to further stretch your legs, then Moffat Dale is always waiting.
Our approximate arrival time in Annan is 11:30. Once on the bike, you head north up the Annan river valley on quiet country roads towards the bustling town of Moffat. Lockerbie is an ideal place for a late lunch, where you can also visit the Garden of Remembrance at Dryfesdale Cemetery, marking the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. Afterwards, you continue to ride upstream between the vast forests of Ae and Eskdalemuir.
After 34 miles on the bike, Moffat is your home for the night, nestled in the heart of Southern Scotland this town is a hub of activity. If you are looking to further stretch your legs, then Moffat Dale is always waiting.
"Tuesday for the Fringe Festival Mid-week special"
| Accommodation: | Hotel | |||
| Meals Included: | Breakfast | |||
| Cycling: | 34 miles | 55km | ||
| Ascent: | 2100ft | 640m | ||
| Descent: | 1752ft | 534m |
Day 3 - Moffat to Innerleithen
Saturday
Pedalling from the door of your accommodation, today sees you on the bike for the day, with Devils Beef Tub being your main challenge. This perfectly graded, bike-friendly, 400m ascent, is a pleasure and the view back down into the Scottish borders tops it off beautifully. A wonderful sweeping descent, following the Tweed river, is your reward, with the town of Peebles and its thriving town centre well worth a visit. The Tweed valley rail path is one of the finest examples of a converted disused railway and leads nicely into Innerleithen, where you will spend the night.
"Wednesday for the Fringe Festival Mid-week special"
| Accommodation: | Hotel | / | B&B | |
| Meals Included: | Breakfast | |||
| Cycling: | 44 miles | 70km | ||
| Ascent: | 3400 ft | 1038m | ||
| Descent: | 3270ft | 997m |
Day 4 - Innerleithen to The Forth Railway Bridge
Sunday
Your final day on the bike sees you start with a climb into the Moorfoot Hills, which then allows you to descend all the way into the Edinburgh basin. The views from these hills over the Scottish capital reach as far as the Pentlands and the Firth of Forth.
The capital has a superb network of cycleways that leads you onto the seafront and its promenade, making your way to the iconic Forth Railway Bridge.
Once you have arrived at the finish for 14:00 - 16:00, you can collect your bag and either jump into your car, or onto a train, making your way into the city centre to spend a few extra nights, or you can start your homeward journey.
The capital has a superb network of cycleways that leads you onto the seafront and its promenade, making your way to the iconic Forth Railway Bridge.
Once you have arrived at the finish for 14:00 - 16:00, you can collect your bag and either jump into your car, or onto a train, making your way into the city centre to spend a few extra nights, or you can start your homeward journey.
"Thursday for the Fringe Festival Mid-week special"
| Accommodation: | None | |||
| Meals Included: | Breakfast | |||
| Cycling: | 47 miles | 76km | ||
| Ascent: | 3255ft | 992m | ||
| Descent: | 3733ft | 1138m |
2020 Trip Dates
Thursday evening to Sunday. Unless stated
2020
17 - 20 September
Edinburgh
Car
Click Here for directions
Post Code: EH30 9TA
Flights
Direct flights from all over the UK.
A Taxi from the airport to the hotel takes 15 mins.
Train
Train Station: Dalmeny
Walk 0.3 miles (6 mins)
2020 Dates
Thursday evening to Sunday. Unless stated
2020
17 - 20 September
 |
Book Now, Pay Later - limited offer on 2021 dates
The Scottish Coast to Coast Bike Ride
Edinburgh
Car
Click Here for directions
Post Code: EH30 9TA
Flights
Direct flights from all over the UK.
A Taxi from the airport to the
hotel takes 15 mins.
Train
Train Station: Dalmeny
Walk 0.3 miles (6 mins)
FURTHER TRAVEL INFORMATION
Choosing the Right Holiday
At CycleActive we carefully grade our trips according to both the level of fitness you need and, for mountain biking, the level of skill you need. We also offer personal advice to anyone who needs it, by email or on the phone, to ensure that you find a holiday suitable for your abilities and desires.
Fitness grade 2-3. This means you need to be a moderately fit cyclist as the Scottish C2C does involve multiple days of cycling from point to point over hilly terrain. You can take your time as this tour is not guided, so you don’t have to stay at the pace of others, but you do need reasonable stamina.
Skill grade A. The main route follows scenic roads and cycleways that are mainly on a sealed surface so you do not need experience of off-road riding to be able to enjoy it.
Route Map and Packing Advice
As part of the tour package, you will receive the relevant guidance notes, which when combined with the official signage, should ensure a navigational smooth ride. If you need to park a car for the tour duration, then we will let you know the options available to you. There is free, on-street parking, at the start/finish location along with a few paid options.
Geography & Climate
This is a fairly hilly ride with 2670metres of ascent through varied terrain. We operate the tour in the summer months but as always with the British weather, it can still be very warm or very cold. We recommend that you keep an eye on weather forecasts prior to the trip and travel with a good variety of cycle clothing to allow for the range of temperatures, and for rain or showers.
Cycling Support
This trip is unsupported (A van doesn't follow you at all times) and unguided, so once you head out on your cycling days you are responsible for your own safety and your own journey from point to point. A CycleActive member of staff is transporting luggage and can be telephoned for mechanical support if you have a problem out on the bike.
Accommodation & Food
We have made this tour as comfortable as possible so you can enjoy a good place to finish each night, with a hot shower and tasty food. All accommodation has been carefully selected by us and is bike-friendly. There are no cafes between Moffat and Pebbles so a packed lunch will need to be taken. Moffat has a few excellent bakeries which we will list in the trip notes.
Bike Type and Cycle Rental
If you want to use your own bike, we recommend either a road bike, mountain bike with fast-rolling slick tyres, or a hybrid bike. E-bikes that have adequate range are more than welcome. You can complete the ride on regular road bikes but some of the traffic-free sections are a bit rough for skinny race tyres. A high volume road tyre is advised for comfort. If you want to rent a bike please contact us to discuss your needs and we will reserve a bike for you. We use current model Trek bikes, in excellent condition and fitted with fast-rolling semi-slick tyres.
Trains/flights
The start of the tour is accessible by train and the nearest train station to the start/finish is Dalmeny, located in Queensferry South. If you wish to fly into Edinburgh then you can use the tram to access Edinburgh gateway and then the train to Dalmeny. Alternatively, a taxi is 15 minutes from the airport to the accommodation.
Clothing and equipment
On booking, a detailed list of useful and essential items will be sent to you. You must bring your own cycle helmet that must be worn for all cycle rides. All clothing and equipment must be packed in one small to medium-sized bag, either a soft holdall or soft rucksack. This is the maximum luggage allowed as all bags are carried in a minivan and space is limited.