Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians showcases author Markus Stitz’s 15 best gravel bike rides around Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh, as well as Fife, East Lothian, Mid Lothians and West Lothian.
In his description of the new book, he writes: “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.
“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.”
A new adventure book
The book is a familiar format from the Inspiring Adventure collection at Vertebrate Press. Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians is priced at £15.95 and can be bought from Adventure Books. (I receive a small commission for book sales through this website.)
The routes range from distances of 17km to 89km, plus a challenging 244km route. There is also a split of easy, straightforward and more challenging routes.
In the book, riders are encouraged to explore, as well as pedal their bikes. For example, you can visit the pretty fishing villages of Fife and find out about the region’s industrial heritage. You can follow the 1722 Waggonway – Scotland’s oldest railway – in East Lothian, and venture into the wilder Pentland and Lomond hills.
There are also details of an alternative Edinburgh bypass created with round-the-world cycling record holder Mark Beaumont and a multi-day bikepacking adventure inspired by the Rough Stuff Fellowship.
More about the book
Markus grew up in East Germany and has always been passionate about cycling. In 2015, he cycled around the world using a single-speed bike. He is an Edinburgh local and the founder of Bikepacking Scotland. He is also a now well- known adventure cyclist and an author of many cycling books.
He knows what works in a book for cyclists. In this latest guide, he has created routes that feature clear and easy-to-use Ordnance Survey maps, as well as straighforward directions, details of distance, timings and difficulty gradings.
There are useful downloadable GPX files and further information, such as refreshment stops and local attractions.
All the 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, plus bike and kit advice.
While a small sized book, it is packed full of great photography. It’s the sort of book you pick up, flick through to see if you have already done any of the routes, then get caught by a great photo or two and take a look at routes you have not yet done, or you fancy doing.
I am drawn to an intriguing route, Musselburgh and the Ormiston Yew (36km)and the Edinbrugh Dawn Patrol (26km) as potential outings.
I can see this being a guidebook that will be as useful to local people who are keen to explore their own region by bike and also people are visiting the area with their bike.
Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians: 15 gravel bike adventures around Scotland’s capital city publishes on Thursday (May 21, 2026)