There are five routes. The route files have overview maps, profiles and GPS files in various formats for download from ridewithgps.com. The route track itself is colour-coded for the quality of the riding surface. Tested sections are marked blue, red or black (see below) and un-tested sections are marked green. I update the route files as I test each new section. Here are the links to the current route files:
- This is Spine of Scotland
- This is West & Islands
- This is South & Border
- This is East & Cairngorms
- This is Far North
Here is my descriptive grading system:
| Colour Code | Surface Description | Bike & Minimum Tyre Volume | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tarmac road |
any surfaced road |
Touring or Gravel
any tyre
|
Mostly small single track roads |
|
Grade A track |
even surface most of width of track, well compacted |
Gravel or Touring
35mm+ tyre
|
Windfarm tracks |
|
Grade B track |
fairly even surface on carriageways, small gravel, stable surface |
Gravel or Mountain
35mm+ tyre
|
Forestry tracks |
|
Grade C track |
generally uneven track, with larger rocks or loose gravel/sand surface
or lots surface water
|
Mountain
or Gravel
40mm+
|
Drove roads |
|
Grade D track |
generally rough uneven surface, larger rocks, narrow, fully grassy or very muddy track or path |
Mountain
40mm+
|
Foot paths |
|
The Sea |
Water |
Any bike |
On a ferry (hopefully) |
The general recipe for the routes is around 90-110km & 1200-1400m of climbing per day. The Ride Guide for each route will include suggested road short-cuts and additional off-road sections. So you can plan your own route to suit you and take as few or as many days as you like.
Ride Guides
Detailed ride guides are available to all rally riders and anyone who wants to ride the route independently, in return for a donation to our charity partner. The ride guides include:
- day-by-day descriptions of the route and short-cut options
- information about places to stay and eat along the route
- tips and advice about travel, access rights, kit, food supplies etc.
Anyone planning an independent ride, just make a donation (however small) to our charity partner: and send me an email to roamscotland@gmail.com and I will send you the most up-to-date route and a Ride Guide if available. I complete a new Ride Guide each year as we take on another area of Scotland in the Rally. You’ll even get a ‘patch’ badge thingy, as a wee momento of your ride, if you send me an email with your address to roamscotland@gmail.com
Anyone looking for other Scottish routes, check out Markus Stitz’s offerings on Bikepacking Scotland
Photographs
It’s great to see others folks ride photo’s or videos, it really does inspire others. So please, if you are posting photos on Instagram, add the hashtag #roamscotlandrally