Rebel Route: Sgurr 8

Zwift’s Scotland map has beautiful views and purpose-built racing segments including the Sgurr climb, Glasgow Crit Circuit, and of course Breakaway Brae.

But there are only 5 official Scotland routes, so we decided it was time to create some thoughtful new Rebel Routes.

The Sgurr is a super-cool part of Scotland’s map, but official Zwift routes that include this climb either have you doing nothing but hill repeats (City and the Sgurr) or they force you to ride all of Scotland in order to ride the Sgurr (The Muckle Yin).

As the last in our series of Scotland Rebel Routes, “Sgurr 8” finds some middle ground. It’s a figure-8 route that takes you up and over the Sgurr’s gravel climb twice, but also lets you enjoy some of Scotland’s best visuals including The Cliffs, the postcard, the Loch (with Nessie?), and the constellations visible atop the Sgurr at night.

About Rebel Routes

“Rebel Routes” are Zwift rides not available on Zwift’s routes list, thus requiring manual navigation.

See all Rebel Routes >

The reward for your rebel ride? Exploring a new route, knowing you’ve gone where few Zwifters have gone before. And a Strava segment rank in the tens or hundreds instead of the thousands! Rebel Routes are also included as a separate category on our Veloviewer Route Hunter leaderboard.

Route Description

We begin by selecting the Rolling Highlands route and riding through the lap banner before flipping a u-turn. (Sgurr 8 begins and ends at this lap banner.)

Descend and take in the “postcard view” before climbing up the corkscrew in the castle. Soon after leaving the castle we’ll turn right to take the Loch bypass road (look for Nessie on the right!), then another right to head back toward the Sgurr climb.

Another right at the mystical roundabout and we’re at the base of the Sgurr’s gravel climb. Up up up we go, descending the paved side and turning left to descend The Cliffs.

Two more lefts and we’re back on the same gravely Sgurr climb. Up and over, take a right at the bottom and ride through the lap banner to finish the route. Nice work!

Profile

The two Sgurr climbs are the big standouts here, with most of the road apart from those climbs being downhill.

Getting Started + Lead-In

The easiest way to get started is to choose “Rolling Highlands” from your Scotland route options. Ride through the lap banner just ahead, then flip a u-turn to begin the route.

Turn by Turn

Here are the turns you’ll need to make to successfully complete Sgurr 8 after starting from the Rolling Highlands route and flipping a u-turn after the lap banner:

• Right to Glasgow
• Right to Glasgow
• Right to Sgurr Summit
• Left to Cliffs
• Left to Sgurr Summit
• Left to Sgurr Summit
• Right to Tower

Route details:
Distance: 12.62km (7.84 miles)
Elevation Gain: 150m (492′)
Strava Segment

Rebel Route Suggestions

Got an idea for a great Rebel Route? Share it below and maybe we’ll publish a post about it!