Tour de France 2027 Edinburgh Grand Départ route revealed as competition starts in Scotland for first time ever
The event will mark the first time the historic race has begun its route in Scotland
The full route for the Tour de France 2027 Grand Départ has been revealed after it was announced that Edinburgh would be the first ever Scottish location to host the beginning of the competition.
Kicking off on Friday, July 2, some of the world’s best road cyclists will be take to streets in the Capital as the 114th edition of the famous race.
The route will begin at the bottom of the Royal Mile outside the Scottish Parliament and Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Contenders will make their way up Canongate and onto High Street before turning onto North Bridge and Princes Street.
The route will snake around The Mound and Johnston Terrace, with a backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, before journeying through the Old Town via Grassmarket, Victoria Street, George IV Bridge and Chambers Street.
Riders will then face the long stretch from South Bridge straight down to Cameron Toll before turning down onto Gilmerton Road, travelling over the City Bypass before joining the A7 and heading into Midlothian. This includes travelling through Newtongrange and Gorebridge and heading into the the Scottish Borders.
The route will continue on to the conclusion of stage one in Carlisle.
Paul Bush, managing director of Grand Depart UK, told Radio Scotland Breakfast: “The start of the Grand Depart will be at Holyrood Palace, which is one of our iconic venues in the city.
“The peloton will travel up the Royal Mile, down North Bridge, along Princes Street, through the Mound, into the Grassmarket and then wend its way out of the city.
“This is what they call a neutralised section, of about 13km (8 miles), but they are still travelling at some pace so there’s the opportunity for people in the city to see the peloton up close and personal.
He added: “The major roads on the route will be closed, as one of the most important things in road cycling is to deliver a safe environment. There will be some inconvenience but the Capital is well suited to that - it has hosted many major events.
“This is about a celebration - an opportunity - it’s the third biggest sporting event in the world. It’s a free-to-watch event, which is unique and you will see the very best riders in the world.
“I really hope people will come out and celebrate the fact we have got this amazing event, and really get some community spirit behind it.”
Cllr Jane Meagher, Leader of City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Hosting the Grand Départ here in Edinburgh is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the very best of our capital city and the wider country.
“Events of this scale bring world-class sport to our residents and visitors alike, and deliver significant opportunities for local businesses, while inspiring more people to get on their bikes and experience the benefits of cycling.
“We’re incredibly proud to welcome the Tour de France to Edinburgh, and preparations are already well underway. We look forward to welcoming riders, teams, and spectators from around the world for what promises to be a truly memorable occasion.”
Stephen Flynn, cabinet secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, said the reveal of the Grand Départ route was “another exciting milestone” as Scotland prepares to host the launch of the event for the first time.
He added: “Seeing the full route confirmed, from the streets of Edinburgh through Midlothian, the Scottish Borders, and Dumfries and Galloway, really brings home what a special moment this will be for communities right across the country.
“Having the eyes of the world on Scotland once again can only be of benefit to our economy and will bring a further boost to our tourism sector, as people head to Scotland to watch one of the world’s most popular sporting events.
“I would encourage people across Scotland to get involved as we build towards July 2027, and to make the most of this incredible opportunity to showcase all that Scotland has to offer.”