Etape Caledonia: routes, Schiehallion and how to prepare
- Distance
- 136 km
- Climbing
- 1,132 m
- Highest point
- 376 m
- Categorised climbs
- 5 · up to 20 %
- Shape
- Loop
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
63–376 m · 5 categorised climbsEtape Caledonia is a closed-road sportive through Highland Perthshire, with three loops from Pitlochry: 40 miles with 860 m of climbing, 55 miles with 1,166 m, and 85 miles with 1,555 m over three major climbs. The next edition, the 20th, is on Sunday 9 May 2027.
Etape Caledonia at a glance
- Where
- Pitlochry, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Official website
- etapecaledonia.com ↗
- Next edition
- 9 May 2027
- Routes
- 85 miles: 137 km, 1,555 m climbing · 55 miles: 89 km, 1,166 m climbing · 40 miles: 64 km, 860 m climbing
- Terrain
- Rolling to flat
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of Etape Caledonia, 136 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
Etape Caledonia offers 3 routes.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| 85 miles | 137 km | 1,555 m |
| 55 miles | 89 km | 1,166 m |
| 40 miles | 64 km | 860 m |
What the course asks of you
The roads follow lochs and glens between the hills of Perthshire, rolling for long stretches between the big climbs. The best known is the climb past Schiehallion, the mountain that gives the event its signature view.
Highland weather in May changes fast. Pace the climbs evenly, keep warm clothing for the descents, and stay with a group in the glens, where the wind funnels along the valley.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- Train steady power: efforts of 10 to 20 minutes just below your threshold teach you the pace you can hold over the rolling roads of Etape Caledonia.
- Build the long ride towards 137 km, at a pace you could keep all day.
- Ride part of your training in a group: on rolling roads, staying in a wheel saves more energy than any other choice.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
The mistakes that cost riders the most on a day like this:
- Pushing every rise of Etape Caledonia: on rolling roads, keep the effort steady and let the speed vary.
- Following the fastest wheels in the first kilometres, when everything feels easy.
- Drinking only when thirsty: a long rolling day dehydrates you before you notice.
Prepare Etape Caledonia with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing Etape Caledonia, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation towards 9 May 2027: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is Etape Caledonia 2027?
On Sunday, 9 May 2027, according to the organiser.
How long are the routes of Etape Caledonia?
85 miles: 137 km with 1,555 m of climbing; 55 miles: 89 km with 1,166 m of climbing; 40 miles: 64 km with 860 m of climbing. The 2027 routes as the organiser lists them, all starting and finishing in Pitlochry.
How many riders take part?
About 4,500 riders in 2026.
Can I ride the course of Etape Caledonia in Cycloscape?
Yes, inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro: once you start your preparation, the course is ridden on your trainer as part of the plan.