Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians, the latest guidebook from adventure writer and filmmaker Markus Stitz showcases 15 of the finest gravel bike adventures around Scotland’s capital city. Published by Vertebrate Publishing, the book is on pre-sale now and will be launched on 21 May.
Covering Edinburgh, 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. The routes explore charming fishing villages and the industrial heritage of the Fife coast, follow Scotland’s oldest railway, the 1722 Waggonway in East Lothian, or venture into the Pentland and Lomond Hills.
The longer routes in the book include a route which tracks the Edinburgh bypass on off-road paths, created with round-the-world cycling record holder Mark Beaumont, a multi-day bikepacking adventure inspired by the Rough Stuff Fellowship and a visit to the Great Polish Map of Scotland and Rosslyn Chapel.
Researched, ridden and written by the Bikepacking Scotland and Edinburgh Dawn Patrol founder, the routes feature clear and easy-to-use Ordnance Survey maps; easy-to-follow directions; details of distance, timings and difficulty gradings; stunning photography; refreshment stops and local knowledge; and a detailed appendix. Also included is a link to downloadable GPX files.
Stitz, originally from Germany, has lived in Edinburgh since 2009 and has deep ties to the city. From 2010 – 2015 he commuted regularly through Fife and West Lothian, cycling from Stirling home to Edinburgh most days before his round the world trip. He has worked with Welcome to Fife and Visit East Lothian and has most recently collaborated with Pindar Creative on the redesign of the Edinburgh cycle maps.
Markus comments: ‘In my almost 17 years in Edinburgh, only interrupted by a one-year trip by bike around the world, I have seen cycling becoming more visible and used my hometown as a base to explore the rest of Scotland, the UK, and the world. Most recently I took inspiration from the Oslo Dawn Patrol and founded a similar social ride in Edinburgh.’
‘Researching this book was in equal terms easy and very challenging. I want this guidebook to be relevant for people who are lucky enough to call Edinburgh, Fife or East Lothian their home. Almost all my book deliveries in Edinburgh are done by bike, and I wanted to write a book for all the people I have met on those journeys and through the Edinburgh Dawn Patrol.’
‘But I also wanted to create a book which is a useful companion if people visit Scotland’s capital for a few days. Edinburgh is my favourite city in the world – welcoming, buzzing and steeped in natural and architectural beauty. I can’t think of any other city that is home to three UNESCO world heritage sites and hosts some of the world’s most inspiring artists each summer.’
All routes in the book are accessible by public transport, and the book also includes an introduction to gravel riding in Scotland, covering the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, bike and kit advice.
Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians is available in all good bookshops, as signed copies directly from the author at bikepackingscotland.com/books/ and adventurebooks.com.