Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians: 15 gravel bike adventures around Scotland’s capital city

Gravel bike rides around Scotland’s capital and beyond, spanning East and West routes, hills, and coastlines.

Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians showcases 15 of the best gravel bike rides around Scotland’s capital city and beyond. Covering East, West and Midlothian and crossing the Firth of Forth into the Kingdom of Fife, the rides range from 17 to 89 kilometres, plus a challenging 244-kilometre bonus route.

Explore charming fishing villages and the industrial heritage of the Fife coast, follow the 1722 Waggonway – Scotland’s oldest railway – in East Lothian, or venture into the wild Pentland and Lomond hills. Take on an alternative Edinburgh bypass created with round-the-world cycling record holder Mark Beaumont, or tackle a multi-day bikepacking adventure inspired by the Rough Stuff Fellowship.

Researched, ridden and written by Edinburgh local and Bikepacking Scotland founder Markus Stitz, the routes feature clear and easy-to-use Ordnance Survey maps; easy-to-follow directions; details of distance, timings and difficulty gradings; stunning action photography; refreshment stops and local knowledge; and a detailed appendix. Also included is a link to downloadable GPX files.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Acknowledgements
How to use this book
Responsible access & legalities
The bike
General safety
In the event of an accident
Beasties
Be responsible
Beyond the bike
Planning your ride
Maps & symbols

Section 1 – Easy routes
01 Leuchars & Tentsmuir Forest – 24.4km
02 Longniddry & Butterdean Wood – 22.8km
03 Dalmeny Estate & Hound Point – 17.2km
04 Falkland & the Howe of Fife – 22.8km

Section 2 – Straightforward routes
05 Coal Pits & Devilla Forest – 44.4km
06 Dunfermline & the Fife Coast – 39km
07 North Berwick & the Garleton Hills – 53.6km
08 Waggon & Railways – 48.8km
09 Musselburgh & the Ormiston Yew – 36.3km
10 South Queensferry & the Inner Forth – 50.9km
11 Edinburgh Gravel Dawn Patrol – 25.8km

Section 3 – Challenging routes
12 Across Fife – 83.3km
13 Mark Beaumont's Edinburgh Bypass – 56.9km
14 East Linton & Crystal Rig – 75.1km
15 The Great Polish Map of Scotland – 89.1km
16 Bonus Roughstuffing in Fife – 244km

Appendix