Hilly Scottish roads

Noodley

I'm trying to put together a few routes involving hilly roads in Scotland, and am needing some help.

I know a few hills, e.g Cairn O'Mount, Lecht, Bealach, Cairnwell, Glen Quaich but I'm not too familiar with hilly roads.

Any chance of posting details of the hillier roads I should be looking at, and where about they are?

Thanks.

pneumatic

Sounds like you've found most of them already!

Duke's pass (NW of Stirling) is amusing. The road south from Lochranza on Arran is quite drole. There's some teasing terrain around about Moffat in the Borders and you can also have yourself a laugh riding from Blairgowrie to Braemar.

Hope that helps.

Captain Fagor

Check out the Mennock Pass, the B797 between Sanquhar and Wanlockhead. Don't miss the private road up to the radar station. All in, it's a 625m climb (+100maod to +725maod). Sweet!

Brian B

Thats a few steep climbs that you have mentioned there. There are others near Glen Quaich on the other side of Loch Tay - the waterboard climb, the climb up to Ben Lawers visitor centre(equally good from glen lyon side - the steadiest gradient in Scotland just like a miny Alpine climb) and also the hilly south side of Loch Tay.

The Ochil hills are very hilly with a few steep climbs such as Path of Condie and the Lammermuir hills ouside Edinburgh are pound for pound the hardest roads in Scotland. The Talla climb near Peebles is also a good steep climb and Lowther hill above Wanlockhead is a great climb. Glendarul (dont know the if this is the right spelling) on the West Coast is another great big climb thats steep in places.

My brother Richboy on this Forum has all these routes and climbs on memory map and to be honest he knows more hills and routes all over Britain than most. Give him a message thingy from this Forum and he would give you a complete lowdown on all thats steep to be climbed.

But why stick to Scotland - the hardest roads in Britain are in the North of England and Wales. If you want the ultimate then try Hardknott pass from Boot it just makes me want to be sick every time I go to near it - its just so hard.

Noodley

Thanks guys

I was in Wanlockhead yesterday, but the route didn't go to the radar station :?

I was in Northumberland earlier this year doing a 100km route and plan on heading back to Englandshire for a few rides later the year in the Peak District, York Moors and Northumberland. I might even fit in a trip to Wales, but the cost of fuel is a bit of a bugger...and time away from the family means I have to try to keep it "local". I am starting to find going round Cairn O'Mount, Lecht and Cairnwell a bit repetitive, although I plan on riding them again this weekend.

I shall send Richieboy a message...(edit - if I can work out how to find him in members list :oops: )

Anonymous

Noodley wrote:

Thanks guys

I was in Wanlockhead yesterday, but the route didn't go to the radar station :?

I was in Northumberland earlier this year doing a 100km route and plan on heading back to Englandshire for a few rides later the year in the Peak District, York Moors and Northumberland. I might even fit in a trip to Wales, but the cost of fuel is a bit of a bugger...and time away from the family means I have to try to keep it "local". I am starting to find going round Cairn O'Mount, Lecht and Cairnwell a bit repetitive, although I plan on riding them again this weekend.

I shall send Richieboy a message...(edit - if I can work out how to find him in members list :oops: )

Hi Noodley, to be honest mate you've already listed a few of the 'real' nasties in Scotland....Cairn O Mount from Clatterin Brig was a sore one...the 1st Km of the Lecht from Cock Bridge is maybe the steepest km in Scotland?....and Glen Quiach is a toughy aswell...

I don't know where you live....but the Cowal Pininsula is outstanding...maybe the most beautiful run in Scotland?....and very tough climbs...especially the one up from Glendaruel over to Otter Ferry...thats very steep and sustained....but theres many other steep ones there aswell....I've personally got a 80miler planned out for this year sometime.

Another one I MUST do this year...is a 100miler around the coast of Mull of Kintyre.....it looks on the OS map and Memory map that it could be the toughest run in Scotland?...I've never seen so many single and double chevrons in Scotland before...and at the very tip of the Pininsula there a steep road over to a Lighthouse...the road down to it is 320 meters in 2kms...I plan to go down - have a rest and a wee bite to eat then cycle back up....its the steepest average 2kms in the whole of the UK...

As my brother says...theres glorious routes through the lovely Ochils....in fact I did a smashing tough 60miler there on Saturday....and east of Edinburgh theres the Lammermuirs...very very tough cycling to be had there aswell.....

But.....if you do like to really test yourself...then it has to be Northern England and Wales...different ballgame altogether:-

Lakes...Honister Pass / Struggle(aka Kirkstone Pass) / Wrynose pass and Hardknott Pass / Gummers How / Corney Fell / Birker Fell / Stickle Pike...oh jeez the place is jam packed with the most brutal of climb...especially Hardknott and Wrynose...those 2 are off the planet....and Honister Pass is as tough as anything I've did in Scotland...so mis the Struggle to think of it...

Dales....Fleetmoss / Buttertubs Pass / Park Rash / Oxnop / Coal Road / Fleak Moss / Lams Moss....the list goes on...not as severe as the Lakes but not too far behind.

NY Moors...Botlby Bank, Blakey Bank, White Horse Bank, The Infamous Rosedale Chimney Bank, Sleights Moor climb...maybe most climbs at most climb 200meters,,,but they are so steep it really is incredible...

Wales...Bwlch Y Groes...that climb alone says it all....along with Hardknott West its the toughest thing I've ever did in the Uk...maybe theyre the toughest things I've did ever?....including the Continent?

If you want a route for a certain area mate then just PM me your email address and I'll get a Jpeg sent off to you...no problem.....just hit my name at the side of this posting then 'profile' me then send a private email....hope this helps.

wakemalcolm

John

The road from Ratagan to Glenelg is a favourite of mine - it's winds nicely too. Once you get to Glenelg you can catch the ferry across to Skye and take the road along to Broadford from there. It looks like a wall as you approach it.

Will follow this thread with interest.

scapaslow

I can only provide details of a few hilly routes in my locale in Central Scotland which probably don't compare with many of those listed above which i'd like to try at some point, especially the ones around Loch Tay.

From Stirling - Logie Hill up to Sheriffmuir (poor road surface on first part) down to Blackford then Auchterarder,Dunning and either up the Dragon Hill to Path of Condie and Stronachie (v. tough) or the easier road (still a good climb) to the Yetts of Muckhart then back to Stirling and Corrieries cafe!

A circuit from Stirling,up to North Third keep going up and over to Carron Valley Reservoir.

Bridge of Earn to Glenfarg via the Wick's O' Baiglie Road or Bridge of Earn, Glenfoot to Strathmiglo.

Falkland to Leslie through the Lomond Hills. Combine this with either of the previous two.

Castle Campbell - Dollar. Not a through road but a significant challenge.

Cleish up to Loch Glow then Knock Hill..

There's a few good climbs in the Campsies but i've not tried them yet.

What are the toughest climbs in Fife?

grantus

Where in Scotland are you located?

If you're central then there are some good ones to be had in the Campsies as the previous poster said.

Also, as the previous post mentioned, probably nothing compared to some of the highland ones or the lowther hills but if they're on your doorstep then they are worth a go.

Tak Ma Doon road out of Kilsyth over to Carron Valley rises approx. 200 or so metres over 3 miles. Doesn't sound too bad but there are quite a few level-ish sections on it which means there are a couple of bits that rise very steeply.

Crow road is a bit of a classic which goes from Lennoxtown to Fintry and is 7 miles long. I find the climb from the Fintry side much harder as it goes on for longer and is deceptive in that it looks like it's finally levelled off but you are still actually going uphill.

The climb from Fintry over to Kippen is another good one.

Probably the steepest I've ridden is from the North Third reservoir outside Stirling up to Earl's Hill.

A good few hundred metre climb and drops you down at the Fintry end of the Carron Valley Reservoir so if you turn left at the end it takes you back to Carron Bridge Hotel then you can make a realy hilly loop of a circuit as you can climb over the hill and drop back down to the North Third again.

A really steep hill is in a place called Longcroft - it's on the A803 just before you reach Bonnybridge.

There is an unclassified road called Station Road or Doctor's Brae - both names appear on the road sign - that takes you up what I reckon must be a 20% gradient for 200 metres. The road then levels off and goes under the M876 motorway before rearing up again for 200 or 300 metres.

Again, nothing very long or worth going out your way for but if you live nearby then they are good for practicing on.

The road up from the Black Bitch pub (honestly, that's it's real name) in Linlithgow past Beecraigs Park to the radio mast on Cairnpapple hill is very long and steep although I've only driven up it as yet! it does look a right toughie though !!

P.S. I too shall follow this thread with interest as I'm just getting into road biking after getting the bug recently and coming over from mountain biking

grantus

Hey Wakemalcolm,

Funny coincidence - I've never heard mention of the Ratagan road on any of the cycle forums I've been on. I remember driving over that road going on holiday to Glenelg as a child and being petrified of the height!

Also, if you continue on through Glenelg to Arnisdale there is one almighty hill that drops you down into Arnisdale. I can recall the handbrake in our car not being able to hold on it when I was learning to drive!

Is the road you mention on Skye the one that goes through the Black Cuillin?

Probably as atmospheric as Glencoe if I remember rightly!

That little ferry from Kylerhea crosses the narrows which I can remember my Dad saying was one of the most treacherous stretches of water in Britain.

Also, if I remember correctly, there is a pretty frightening descent into Broadford if you are coming in from the North. I can recall driving my Dad down that road the last time we were up there on holiday in 1993 and I had the 'L' plates on the car - I was terrified the brakes were going to give out!

Don't know who was braver - me for doing it as a learner driver or my Dad for being the passenger!

Sorry for going off on a tangent - your post just brought back some memories there!

Happy days!!

davedins

I've done a few of those climbs in the past couple of weeks:

Last Sunday, we went from Kincardine, through Clackmannan and Alloa to Bridge of Allan then over Sheriffmuir (it's a beast), down to Blackford, Autherarder, Dunning, Forteviot, Bridge of Earn and then over another slab to Glenfarg. After that pretty straightforward down to Milnathort and across to Dollar, Tillicoultry, Alloa and back to Kincardine. Just under the 80 miles with some decent climbing.

Week before: Glasgow to Lennoxtown, over the Crow Road to Fintry (great climb), then on to Kippen, along the Stirling flats to Cambusbarron and then back over the single track road another poster described back to Fintry and then retraced our steps over the Crow again before heading back to Glasgow. That one's about 70miles.

Brian B

grantus wrote:

The road up from the Black ***** pub (honestly, that's it's real name) in Linlithgow past Beecraigs Park to the radio mast on Cairnpapple hill is very long and steep although I've only driven up it as yet! it does look a right toughie though !!]

This is my local climb and probably not as hard as it looks but its great to have it. There are a few others nearby that alone are not too bad but string them together and you have a great training route. There was a good write up in cycling plus a few months back about Hills of West Lothian.

pneumatic

scapaslow wrote:

What are the toughest climbs in Fife?

East Lomond (to the communications tower)
Glen Tarkie (from the North)
West Lomond (from Falkland)
Path of Condie (ok, that's not techically Fife, but it is still tough)
Ninewells Brae (from Newburgh)
Largo Law (from the coast)
Cleish Hill (from the North)
Either way out of Wormit towards the West

and after all of those, the Sandy Brae from Springfield junction to Hill of Tarvit. It doesn't look much but when you've been out for a long ride, it is a hateful little pech!

Also quite amusing is the Sustrans-recommended "leisure" route from Dairsie Bridge to Strathkinness. That would put any novice road-rider off cycling for life!

I used all of these for my Alpine preparation but nothing (including the Ventoux) compares to the horror of Hardnott and Wrynose.

DaveyL

Glad Richyboy mentioned Mull of Kintyre and the lighthouse. Browsing through the "files of the slopes of Europe" website I found this:

http://ciclismo.sitiasp.it/altimetria.aspx?id=1657

And wondered if it could be true? (I know some of the other climbs are not accurately represented on that site, e.g. Bealach-na-Ba from Tornapress).

scapaslow

scapaslow wrote:
What are the toughest climbs in Fife?

Pneumatic wrote

East Lomond (to the communications tower)
Glen Tarkie (from the North)
West Lomond (from Falkland)
Path of Condie (ok, that's not techically Fife, but it is still tough)
Ninewells Brae (from Newburgh)
Largo Law (from the coast)
Cleish Hill (from the North)
Either way out of Wormit towards the West

and after all of those, the Sandy Brae from Springfield junction to Hill of Tarvit. It doesn't look much but when you've been out for a long ride, it is a hateful little pech!

Also quite amusing is the Sustrans-recommended "leisure" route from Dairsie Bridge to Strathkinness. That would put any novice road-rider off cycling for life!

Thanks Pneumatic. Could you provide a little more detail on a couple of these please? My OS map no 58 cuts off right on some of these - i'll need to get 59!

I'm assuming Glen Tarkie is what i described as Glenfoot to Strathmiglo?
What road is the East Lomond climb?
Ninewells Brae - is this the road to Auchtermuchty via Pitcairlie Farm (just on the edge of my map)? Is it harder than Glen Tarkie?

I'll add a couple of these into my next run out that way.

Anonymous

DaveyL wrote:

Glad Richyboy mentioned Mull of Kintyre and the lighthouse. Browsing through the "files of the slopes of Europe" website I found this:

http://ciclismo.sitiasp.it/altimetria.aspx?id=1657

And wondered if it could be true? (I know some of the other climbs are not accurately represented on that site, e.g. Bealach-na-Ba from Tornapress).

Oh I think theres a element of truth in it....have a look at the OS map...I know roughly how steep a road will be with how close the contour lines are...and this looks bad...real bad!

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=Lake+D ... %20Kintyre

Eat My Dust

How about Inverness to Wick? If I remember correctly around 120 miles. I've only ever driven up there but there's some big hills up that way. I'm sure any LEJOGers out there would confirm this!! You'd have to get the train back though.

DaveyL

RICHYBOYcp wrote:

DaveyL wrote:

Glad Richyboy mentioned Mull of Kintyre and the lighthouse. Browsing through the "files of the slopes of Europe" website I found this:

http://ciclismo.sitiasp.it/altimetria.aspx?id=1657

And wondered if it could be true? (I know some of the other climbs are not accurately represented on that site, e.g. Bealach-na-Ba from Tornapress).

Oh I think theres a element of truth in it....have a look at the OS map...I know roughly how steep a road will be with how close the contour lines are...and this looks bad...real bad!

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=Lake+D ... %20Kintyre

I have a feeling that kind of climb would be irrelevant for me. I managed about 100 - 200 m of Hardknott on my 34/27 before having to get off and push. Maybe with 30/25, but I doubt it... I wonder if there are any pictures of the climb out there.

nwallace

Multimap still do OS mapping so have a look around Fife on that.

Glenfoot -> Strathmiglo is marked as Abernethy Glen on the OS map, If i am out at Abernethy I am heading for Perth though.

Newburgh to Ninewells, done it once only really steep in Newburgh, Slochd was tougher. Got to wonder why the Councils route doesn't pass Lochmill.

The roads down to the A92 from Gauldry are reasonable, seem longer than the 2 roads up from Balmerino. The Gutchers is for me the easiest route from Wormit to Gauldry.

The A92 here isn't too bad outside holiday and commuting traffic. The surface is good as well.

Dairsie Bridge to Strathkinnes (High Road) Is amusing going down the hill, but horribly bumpy.
Having now done Strathkinnes Low road in both directions, theres nothing wrong with it.

However this isn't the only odd route in the Fife route map. Wormit from Lecuahrs station is signed as being over Cuplas (Balmullo Grey Quarry Road), along to Kedlock Fues, up Hazleton walls, along the top, down the coach road, through balmerino, and then out past peacehill. Tentsmuir Road and then up though newport and tayport would be a better route for posting. (and the main road here isn't much outside commuting time either)

Like the ninewells road in Newburgh the other coast vilalges have steep hills in them but don't go anywhere. Flass road and Mount Stewart road in Wormit and Castle Brae and Cupar Road (never tried them) in Newport.
But if you have come this far into Fife, head round the coast to St Andrews for an Ice cream, Crail road?

Out at Kettle, the Cadgers (From Freuchie) seemed easy compared to the more direct route up from Kings Kettle to Coaltown of Burnturk

Disclaimer: I'm 95 kilos and no climber, much prefer drops, my hill tactic is to avoid the ones I discover are difficult. Living in Fife I quickly learnt that the only flat part of fife is Tentsmuir. I want a tripple.

Noodley

Thanks for all the replies, I have been having problems with my internet connection so have not been able to reply for a couple of days.

Some good ideas for climbs, now to try to work them into audax routes...

OS 65

Hi Malcom and Grant

I've ridden the road from Ratagan. It was incredibly hard with panniers but great descent down the other side. This was about 3 years ago so I don't know if the cafe shack is still open, but you've got to stop off at this old shed in Corran. I had the best Cloutie Dumpling ever, the owner is a bit of an eccentric

I made the mistake of trying to ride over to Kinloch Hourne from Corran. It took me about 3 hours to ride the 10 miles. Incredibly steep off road path used by deer stalking quad bikes. I managed to fall in a river as I was fording it and almost lost my panniers in the current!

I heard sustrans was thinking of making the Corran-Kinloch hourne path into a route so cyclists could avoid the A87

wakemalcolm

Happy days. I remember trying to make up a circuit from Kinloch Hourn going over the path and back round via Ratagan on road bikes about 15 years ago. Had to carry most of the way and it was 3 o'clock by the time we got to Glenelg with about a quarter of the distance covered. That was a long day in the sadle.

Do you have a source for the Sustrans story?

OS 65

Hi Malcolm
I did it on a road bike too, it really took a chunk out of my time - totally misjudged it and ended up carrying the bike. I'd do it again though!

here is a link to the sustrans plans. little more than a wish at the moment I think:

Route 79

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp? ... 9909995375

OS 65

Noodley

OK, here's a wee route with some climbing:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Aberfeldy-200

It would be beter with the road from Killin over to Loch Lyon but that is not available on bikely. (and the total altitude is way off as well)

Brian B

This is what I did today in glorious wall to wall sunshine. Started off at Amulree at 6am and cycled over Glen Quaich climb to Kenmore. Headed up Glen Lyon to Bridge of Balgie. Now my most favourite climb in the UK is there to Ben Lawers visitors centre. I just love this climb as it is well graded and you can put a fast pace on and the scenery is just amazing when coupled with blue skies. Dropped down into Killin and from there took the Hydro Power road and ignore the dead end signs as the road goes on for about 9 miles then just before it does end there is a road to the left which imediately hits 10%+ and stays there for over 2km with switch backs and then still continues to climb at a lesser gradient. This then drops you down into Glen Lyon past another Dam but 13 miles further up from Bridge of Balgie.

Now as its my favourite climb when again I hit Bridge of Balgie I do it again and once more climb up and down past the visitors centre but then take the north side of Loch Tay road and a fast pace along to Kenmore. Now the daddy of climbs up there and the second hardest climb in Scotland IMO after Bealach na Ba I went the opposite side over Glen Quaich.

This climb is a 400m plus with very steep ramps well into double figures but luckily you can snatch some respite on the bendsand there is alovely bit of flat halfway up the climb. I then descended down into Amulree and spent an hour just sitting there eating my lunch from the car.

At one point I did not see a car for almost 25 miles. You just cant beat that. What a day!

BillR1

Brian,

That sounds like an awesome route mate. Can you get Richy to send me a memory map file for it so I can give it a go sometime, or do you fancy doing it again after your next sportive?

Bill

Brian B

No probs Bill. I think my brother has every conceivable route up there done and one very similar to mines and Noodleys. I will be probably being doing this route again before the summer ends.

I have been doing this route for the past 2 summers to test my sportive fitness and always wait for a glorious day to do it. I saw several deer, a barn owl and a golden eagle within a few miles of starting out.

I caught then sort of semi-raced two other guys up the bridge of balgie climb which lasts for about 5 miles and when we got to the top I had told them it was my second climb of it that day and was heading again back over Glen Quaich - they thought I was mad.

I will give you a shout Bill the next time I am heading up. Nice times you and Stevie got at the Skye sportive. My bro is down doing the White Rose Classic which I would have liked to be doing but had other committments and you cant win them all.

BillR1

Cheers for that Brian.

Look forward to the run some time.

Bill

ded

Brian, I'm intrigued by this:

Dropped down into Killin and from there took the Hydro Power road and ignore the dead end signs as the road goes on for about 9 miles then just before it does end there is a road to the left

Is that the road marked as a "road/track" on OS maps that heads from Kenknock in Glen Lochay northwards? i.e. about here:

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?map=56.49654,-4.47758|14|4&dp=841

or am I looking in the wrong place? If I am looking in the right place, is that road tarmac all the way? No special off-road adaptations on your bike, are there :? ? Because that clearly makes a lovely double loop!

Anonymous

ded wrote:

Brian, I'm intrigued by this:

Dropped down into Killin and from there took the Hydro Power road and ignore the dead end signs as the road goes on for about 9 miles then just before it does end there is a road to the left

Is that the road marked as a "road/track" on OS maps that heads from Kenknock in Glen Lochay northwards? i.e. about here:

http://www.multimap.com/maps/?map=56.49654,-4.47758|14|4&dp=841

or am I looking in the wrong place? If I am looking in the right place, is that road tarmac all the way? No special off-road adaptations on your bike, are there :? ? Because that clearly makes a lovely double loop!

Yes, thats fully tarred...a stiff climb from Glen Lochay to Glen Lyon...the road is in poor condition at the bottom...but you cannot go wrong...just cycle down Glen Lochay to the end of the road and look right...there it is -enjoy!

bilbo.baggins

Brian B wrote:

This is what I did today in glorious wall to wall sunshine. Started off at Amulree at 6am ....

Wow. That is hard day out. A few times I've done Killin->Hydro Road->Ben Lawers->Kenmore->Glen Quaich->Amulree->Aberfeldy->Kenmore->S Loch Tay->Killin and that's hard enough.

If you've ever in this area with the bike try this up and over and back climb at Strontian, although not as great a height gain (342m from sea level), it is as hard as Glen Quaich IMO as it's totally unrelenting. (or maybe it's because I'd climbed the other direction in the preceding 20 mins!)
Cut and paste the entire link ...
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?hloc=GB|s ... 20PH41%204

For now, trying to recover from yesterdays WRC