Tour de France 2027
Stage one of the world’s most prestigious cycle race will depart from Edinburgh on 2 July 2027 – flying through the Tweed Valley en route to Carlisle. Explore our section of the men’s Tour de France and discover why the valley is made for two-wheeled adventures
The Tweed Valley Stage
It will be a privilege and a marvel to welcome the world’s leading road cyclists to Scotland for the men’s Tour de France Grand Depart next summer. Riders will begin their epic, three-week journey on the historic streets of Edinburgh, a fitting backdrop to a sporting event that has captivated fans for over 120 years.
Our eyes, of course, will very much be on the section of route that passes through the spectacular Tweed Valley. Having navigated the rolling Moorfoot Hills to the south of Edinburgh – and their first modest climb of the tour, Broad Law at Heriot – riders will arrive in our corner of Scotland fresh-legged and fast paced.
Entering via ‘the Granites’, an especially scenic country road named after a local rock outcrop, the peleton will follow Leithen Water downstream towards Innerleithen on the banks of the River Tweed. Once a vibrant mill town and now a hub for all things outdoorsy, Innerleithen is not only home to world-class mountain biking trails, but also a Mountain Bike Innovation Centre scheduled to open in summer 2027.
A sharp turn east on Innerleithen High Street will see the cyclists on course for neighbouring Walkerburn – and several speedy sections of fast-rolling tarmac along the valley floor. If they have chance to glance right on the approach to Thornielee Forest they may catch glimpse of Elibank Castle, a 16th century tower house, before ramping up for the steady climb to Clovenfords village where a statue of the Borders’ most famous son, Sir Walter Scott, watches on. From here, the route will travel deeper into the Scottish Borders via Galashiels … and the famous Côte de Melrose.
Stay tuned
We’ll have much more Tour info to share, and tonnes of exciting updates to shout about as we prepare to play our part in the largest free-to-watch sporting event in UK history. Keep an eye on the website and stay connected via our newsletter and social accounts to find out first what’s coming down the line!
