#Gravel riding in Fife? Here’s why!
I joined Dunfermline CC for a ride on route 6 from my new book Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians.
And from this Sunday you can get the Inner Forth Bike Bus for free to Newmills & start there.
👉 Infos about the book in my bio
Blossom time - one of the best seasons to visit and walk! Come on a Saturday for a guided indoor/outdoor history tour at Kinneil House as well. Or visit free Kinneil Museum on any afternoon except Tuesdays. Thanks to @innerforth and @keepscotlandbeautiful for leading two ‘Walk & Talks’ yesterday - on John Muir Day - with a focus on the impact of a changing climate on national heritage.
#kinneilestate #kinneil #boness #falkirkexplored #johnmuirway
There's loads to get involved with over the next few weeks! Group cycle rides by our trained cycle leaders, Walk and Talk heritage sessions by @keepscotlandbeautiful and @innerforth , a Climate and Social Justice Hustings in Stirling ahead of the upcoming Scottish election, Climate Change Forum sessions by @clackmannanshirecouncil , and our very own Climate and Energy Gathering happening next week (with only a few tickets left!) just to name a few.
Swipe through the post to see what's on. All contact details should be on the images, but please let us know if you have any questions.
For more information and tickets to our Climate and Energy Gathering, and our group cycle rides, please visit our Eventbrite page - linked in our bio.
🚴We're incredible proud to be riding alongside @innerforth this season!
Our amazing team will be guiding on the Forth Bike Bus, helping create fun, safe and inspiring journeys in two wheels - and the countdown is on.. just one month to go until we start this project!! ⌛🚴♀️
From first-time riders to seasoned cyclist. it's all about building confidence, community and a love for getting around by bike.
here's to more smiles, more miles and making cycling accessible for everyone.
#InnerForth
#welcometofife
#bikebus
#cyclingcommunity
#ActiveTravel
#RideTogether
Well, that was quick! The new book is here - more than a month before the official publishing date. Why? To get you on your bike & ENJOY Edinburgh, Fife & the Lothians.
If you’d like one, signed by me, just check out the link in the bio! And even better, you’ll go in a draw to win DexShell overshoes, they arrived today too! #gravel #scotland #edinburgh
Sooooooo looking forward to see the first proof for Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & The Lothians. The book is already listed & pre-sales will open next week. Three books in a year was a push, but I can’t wait to share this one with you. Official launch date is the 21 May.
All pics are taken from the gravel routes in Fife in the book, 2 easy, 2 straightforward & 2 advanced.
To shorten the wait, you can watch my latest film ‘Roughstuffing in Fife’ now on YT.
#Gravel #Fife #LoveFife
I arrived in Edinburgh for the first time on a dreich day in Winter 2003. Despite the weather, I instantly fell in love with the city. Studying in Sunderland as an exchange student, I returned a few more times that winter and spring. When the chance arose to work at Underbelly, one of the venues for the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe, I jumped on the opportunity and returned for three more seasons. Even though I made New Zealand my home from 2007 to 2009, I visited for the festival season each summer.
Finally returning from the other side of the world, hugely inspired by the guidebooks by the Kennett Brothers, which had encouraged my rides across Aotearoa, I made Scotland’s Capital my home in June 2009. And never left.
In my almost 17 years in Edinburgh, only interrupted by a one-year trip by bike around the world, I have seen cycling becoming more visible and used my hometown as base to explore the rest of Scotland, the UK, and the world. Most recently I took inspiration from the Oslo Dawn Patrol and founded a similar social ride in Edinburgh.
Researching this book was in equal terms easy and very challenging. I want this guide to be relevant for you if you are lucky enough to call Edinburgh, Fife or East Lothian your home. Almost all my book deliveries in Edinburgh are done by bike, and I wanted to write a book for all the people I have met on those journeys and through the Edinburgh Dawn Patrol.
But I also wanted to create a book which is a useful companion if you just 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. I can’t think of any other city that is home to three UNESCO world heritage sites and hosts some of the world’s most inspiring artists each summer.
All routes in this book are accessible by public transport. That is a first, certainly for my guidebooks. Edinburgh is well connected, and so it made perfect sense to include my favourite routes in East Lothian and Fife, and two of the routes that take you further into the Scottish Borders and West Lothian.
The intro to Gravel Rides Edinburgh, East Lothian & Fife. Written. Out in May 26.
ad🌍 Introducing Climate Ranger Training from @innerforth ! 🌱
Discover the Climate Ranger training exploring climate resilience where you’ll learn about the environment, build practical skills, and explore green career pathways!
From understanding local ecosystems to leading climate action, this training helps you connect with your place and prepare for a sustainable future while learning from real-world professionals.
This is designed for 14–25 year olds (open to anyone curious about climate action), and you’ll complete 10 exciting journeys building your toolkit for positive change.
Whether you want to explore green careers or help your community adapt to climate challenges — this is your stepping stone!
Check out the link in my bio for more information, and @innerforth !
We atook a wee break here, but we’ll be back to welcome you in 2026 — and wish you all the very best for the New Year 🎉
Dirt Dashes are inclusive, fun bikepacking events in Alyth, Whitby & Dunoon. We love riding bikes all year round, and this year we were also delighted to offer two guided rides with Inner Forth Futures.
So, as a small recap, here are 12 highlights from our past year 👇
Jan – Cargo bikepacking in Norway ❄️
Feb – Helping build trails at the Fort William Mountain Festival 🛠️
Mar – Meeting Rough Stuff legend George Berwick
Apr – Exploring Trondheim with Louise
May – Welcoming you to the Cateran Dirt Dash 🎒
Jun – Our guided ride with the Inner Forth Bike Bus
Jul – A new camp & route at the Yorkshire Coast Dirt Dash, plus welcoming our first German visitor 🇩🇪
Aug – Working with Carradice on new images for their bikepacking range 📸
Sep – Another fun Dunoon Dirt Dash
Oct – Visiting The Natural State, Arkansas 🇺🇸
Nov – Another guided ride with Inner Forth Futures
Dec – Joining the Oslo Dawn Patrol 🌅
A wee reminder ⏰ if you joined us in ’25 and have a discount code for 2026, those expire this Sunday.
Join us in ’26 — we’d love to meet you ❤️
All the info is on our website or in the bio.
2026 Dates 📅
DexShell Cateran Dirt Dash — May 23–24
Stans Yorkshire Coast Dirt Dash — June 13–14
Lezyne Dunoon Dirt Dash — Sept 26–27
Across the Kingdom of Fife in a day.
Last Thursday Itested the last two routes for the third Gravel Rides book with @joshreids 📚
We first crossed the Tay and ride through Tentsmuir Forest to Leuchars, and were then joined by Rich Webster from the Fife Countryside Trust on our way to Glenrothes.
From there we climbed into the Lomond Hills & enjoyed the rest of the route to North Queensferry in the darkness, including a short chippy stop. And to round the journey up, we cycled back to Edinburgh.
With 16 routes mapped now, I look forward to add the words to maps & images. It’ll take a while until you can get the book (Spring26), in the meantime I have five other books as the perfect gift waiting in my living room. On a short section our route crossed over with route 6 from ‘Bikepacking Scotland’ and route 5 from ‘Great British Gravel Rides.
Thanks to Josh & Rich for a great day in the saddle. As all the routes in the upcoming book are accessible by public transport, you don’t meed a car to get to the start & back from the finish - this route is served well by Scotrail & Ember.
You can find out more about my books on my website or @bikepackingscot ’s website
A lovely morning spent with local businesses at @broomhallcastlehotel , a presentation by Mirran of @innerforth … followed by a social media chat by @sophiegetssocial … and finishing with a walk in the rain to Menstrie Castle! 🏰 ☔️
Love meeting up with other small businesses, with a view to future collaborations and referrals - building a community!
Thank you 💕
Are you a business based in Clackmannanshire, Fife, Falkirk or Stirling?
I’m so excited to be delivering a Business Upskilling Workshop for @innerforth at @broomhallcastlehotel , where I’ll be sharing practical social media tips and strategies to help you grow your business online 🙌
Join us on Tuesday 11th November for a morning of networking over breakfast, skill-building and a visit to Menstrie Castle 🏰
Book your place now 👉 @innerforth
#SophieGetsSocial #socialmediaworkshop
