The best traffic-free bike rides around Gladhouse Reservoir

There are 6 dedicated no-traffic road cycling routes around Gladhouse Reservoir, offering a mix of easy and moderate options for various skill levels.

The routes around Gladhouse Reservoir are generally considered easy to moderate. You'll find 3 easy routes and 3 moderate routes, making it accessible for both beginners and those looking for a slightly more challenging ride.

Yes, several routes are suitable for families and beginners due to their easy difficulty and quiet roads. The View of the Pentland Hills – Gladhouse Reservoir loop from Temple is an easy 15.5 km option that offers scenic views without significant traffic.

You can expect captivating landscapes with a mix of woodlands, farmland, moss, and heather moorland. Many routes offer serene environments and dramatic panoramic views of the Moorfoot and Pentland Hills. The reservoir itself, with its small wooded islands, is a central scenic feature.

While cycling, you might spot the distinctive 1879 dam made of pink sandstone. The wider area also features historical sites like the 16th-century Hirendean Castle ruins, which can be explored on foot or as part of a longer cycling excursion.

Gladhouse Reservoir is a haven for wildlife. It's a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Ramsar site, known for large flocks of wintering pink-footed geese. You might also spot ospreys nesting on the islands, along with other birds like greylag geese, mallards, tufted ducks, and teal.

The komoot community highly rates the cycling experience around Gladhouse Reservoir, with an average score of 4.8 stars from 26 ratings. Reviewers often praise the quiet, smooth roads, the beautiful scenery, and the peaceful rural escape the area provides.

Yes, many of the routes are circular, allowing you to start and end at the same point. An example is the Gladhouse Reservoir Road – Gladhouse Reservoir loop from Waterheads, an easy 21.8 km route that circles the reservoir.

Gladhouse Reservoir is conveniently located. It's just a 15-minute cycle from the B6372, which connects to National Cycle Network Route 1, making it accessible for planned cycling journeys that might involve public transport connections to nearby towns.

While specific parking areas for cyclists are not detailed in every route description, the area around Gladhouse Reservoir generally offers various informal parking spots. For routes like the Carrington to Temple Road – Temple Climb from Carrington loop from Midlothian, starting points in villages like Carrington or Temple may have suitable parking options.

The longest route featured in this guide is the The Meldons Road – Peebles to Eddleston Bike Path loop from Eddleston, which is a moderate 28 km ride offering varied terrain and scenic views.