Ride to the Sun 2026

The UK’s most loved cycling event! Cycle 100 miles through the night on lovely quiet roads from England across the border to Scotland on the weekend nearest the summer solstice – 20th June in 2026. 

Follow in the footsteps of the Roman legions who trudged the long road from Luguvalium (Carlisle) to the old garrison camp of Caer Amon (Cramond). Sol Invictus was the Roman God of the unconquered sun and was the Roman legionnaires’ guide through war and battle and it is with that spirit that we ride through the night to arrive for sunrise on Cramond beach, tired but unconquered!

The first Ride to the Sun ran in 2015 and 2026 will be RttS XI.

Ride to the Sun is FREE to take part, there is a chip shop stop in Moffat after 43 miles, bananas and water at the Crook Inn pub at 61 miles, and hot rolls served at the finish.

About Ride to the Sun

If you want to ride through the night to the seaside with a bunch of like-minded people then don’t miss this northern homage to the Dunwich Dynamo!

Ride to the Sun is an overnight coast-to-coast ride from Carlisle to Cramond, England to Scotland, racking up a century (100.5 miles) in the footsteps of the Roman legions.

The ride finishes at Cramond, “a great wee beach” only 5 miles to Edinburgh Waverley or Haymarket stations for the train journey home.

Ride to the Sun is an unsupported event, more along the lines of an Audax than a sportive. As such there are no signs, no sweeper vehicles and no official organisation: riders must take responsibility for themselves, but the relaxed and friendly vibe is one of the highlights for all the participants and numbers have grown each year since the first event in 2015. 

Sunrise at Cramond beach is 4.30am so set off from Carlisle in plenty of time to get there – that’s the informal aim of the event. Most people start between 7.00 and 8.30pm, allowing time for the chippy stop and maybe a quick bop at the Crook Inn cyclorave – but it’s entirely up to you.

See you in Carlisle!