Driving Serpentine Road, the bendiest road of Scotland
Scotland, europe
0.96 km
70 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're on the Isle of Bute, just off Scotland's west coast, ready to tackle one of Britain's quirkiest roads! This paved marvel, known as Serpentine Road, climbs right up Canada Hill. Think Lombard Street in San Francisco, but with a Scottish twist.
This road was born back when Rothesay was a booming Victorian resort. Its 14 hairpin turns were cleverly designed to help horses haul building materials up to the manor house perched on the hilltop.
Starting from the town center, this fully paved, two-way road is seriously steep – we're talking up to a 10% gradient in places! It’s famous as a technically challenging cycling route. Winding down the western slopes of Canada Hill, you'll drop about 70 meters (230 feet) in elevation. Take it easy on the way down!
At just under a kilometer (0.6 miles) long, this road packs a punch. Expect those 14 hairpin turns to keep you on your toes. But the views? Absolutely spectacular, overlooking Rothesay. It can be a bit tricky if you're not used to it. If you're lucky, you might catch the annual Rothesay Cycling Weekend, a hill-climb event that's been happening since the 50s!
Where is it?
Driving Serpentine Road, the bendiest road of Scotland is located in Scotland (europe). Coordinates: 54.0434, -1.1985
Road Details
- Country
- Scotland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 0.96 km
- Max Elevation
- 70 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 54.0434, -1.1985
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