Southern Upland Way Road Cycle Route

Distance: 202 miles / 325 kilometres

Cycling Style: Multi Day Road Cycling

The Southern Upland Way Road Cycle Route (or SUW Road Cycle Route) is the ideal way for road cyclists to take in the splendour of the long established Southern Upland Way. When the Southern Upland Way was opened in 1984 it was Scotland’s only official Coast to Coast long-distance trail and it remains so today. It ventures into very remote land, but many sections of the true line of the route are difficult to cycle due to peaty paths, geology, and annual rain fall. It starts from Portpatrick on the south west coast of Scotland and finishes at Cockburnspath on the east.

The Southern Upland Way Cycle Route makes road cycling the width of the country possible while taking in much of the same landscape and character as the famous Southern Upland Way, only on quiet back roads.

Cycle Route

Download Southern Upland Way Cycle Route GPX file

3 days of cycling may be too many daily miles for some, and others may simply enjoy it at a slower pace with time to absorb some of the attractions and scenery along the route; visits to formal gardens, enjoying the history of the local towns, and their hotels, pubs and inns to name a few. Many of the original SUW villages are still explored, this time by road bike rather than by foot, while others are new to the SUW such as Newton Stewart – Gateway to Galloway, Moniaive - Voted Scotland’s Coolest Village, Penpont and nearby Keir Mill – Birthplace of Cycling, and Duns – once home to the Borders Racing legend Jim Clark the famous Museum in his honour.

Distance	201.4 miles / 325 kilometres	Total Ascent	14553 feet / 4435 metres
Lowest Point	16 feet / 5 metres (at 0.00 miles)	Highest Point	1532 feet / 467 metres (at 92 miles)
Uphill	84.3 miles / 137 kilometres (41.9%)	Downhill	89 miles / 143 kilometres (44.2%)
Flat	28.0 miles / 45 kilometres (13.9%)	Height Gain	1515 feet
Steepest Uphill	+15.6% (at 89 miles)	Steepest Downhill	-21.1% (at 192 miles)
Longest Uphill	1.2 miles (at 53.7 miles)	Longest Downhill	2.3 miles (at 181 miles)
Ascent Rate	72 ft/mile	Descent Rate	72 ft/mile