Spectator information
Travel and parking
Event parking - Earlston
- Earlston Rugby Football Club, Mill Road - £5
- Borders Pet Rescue - Bramble's Field, off A68 via layby to south of Earlston - £5 cash and card
No spectator parking in residential areas
Town centre road closures and parking restrictions will be in place in Earlston from the early hours of Sunday 6 September until after the event is over. Out of respect for local residents, and to minimise congestion and maintain safe access for emergency services, spectators are asked not to park in residential areas of the town.
Coming from the east of Earlston?
Spectators travelling from the east of Earlston should use the A697 to Lauder or the C78 from Smailholm to Leaderfoot and then the A68 to access the parking at Earlston. This is due to the road closures in Earlston, which come into effect early on Sunday morning.
Bus
Borders Buses' 60 Service will divert via the A68 and A697 due to the road closure through Earlston and will not serve Gordon. This extended route will result in delays to the service.
The 51 Service from Galashiels to Edinburgh, via Newtown St Boswells and Earlston is not affected.
Please see the Borders Buses website for timetable and disruption information.
Train
Spectators travelling by train via the Borders Railway can make use of Service 60 bus operated by Borders Buses between Galashiels Transport Interchange and Earlston.
Spectating on the route
Spectators are also encouraged to watch the race along the route. A small number of parking restrictions will be in place in certain communities for race safety reasons.
If viewing the race along the route please be aware that a rolling road closure will come into effect ahead of the race’s arrival and all parking should be off the race route to prevent any disruption to the race itself or safety issue.
Outwith Earlston the race will operate under a rolling road closure. After the initial rolling closure is put in place, spectators and vehicles must not enter the race route until the final race vehicle, the Police road reopening car, has passed your location.
The length of the rolling closure will vary depending on the gap between the first and last rider on the stage.
Route and race timings
- Earlston (start) - 11am
- Smailholm - lead cars 11.06am; first rider 11.21am
- A6089 junction for Stichill (B6364) - lead cars 11.19am; first rider 11.34am
- Stichill - lead cars 11.24am; first rider 11.39am
- Greenlaw - lead cars 11.37am; first rider 11.52am
- A697 junction for Charterhall (B6460) - lead cars 11.41am; first rider 11.56am
- B6460 junction for Duns (A6112) - lead cars 11.53am; first rider 12.08pm
- Teindhill, Duns - lead cars 12pm; first rider 12.15pm
- Cranshaws - lead cars 12.22pm; first rider 12.37pm
- East Lothian boundary - lead cars 12.27pm; first rider 12.42pm
- B6355 junction for Longformacus (C98) - lead cars 12.36pm; first rider 12.51pm
- Longformacus - lead cars 12.54pm; first rider 1.09pm
- Hardens Road junction for Greenlaw (A6105) - lead cars 1.08pm; first rider 1.23pm
- Gordon - lead cars 1.33pm; first rider 1.48pm
- Earlston (first pass of finish line) - lead cars 1.47pm; first rider 2.02pm
- Smailholm - lead cars 2pm; first rider 2.15pm
- Earlston (second pass of finish line) - lead cars 2.15pm; first rider 2.30pm
- Smailholm - lead cars 2.28pm; first rider 2.43pm
- Earlston (finish) - lead cars 2.43pm; first rider 2.58pm
See the Tour of Britain website for more spectator information on Stage five of this year’s event, including an interactive route map.
Road closure information and full estimated race timings can also be found online.
Entertainment and activities
The Tour Village will be located in the heart of Earlston, close to the podium and will include a range of sponsors as well as local stalls. A number of local food and drink providers will be nearby too.
Our Sports Development team will be running cycle skills sessions for young people on the Green in the centre of the town throughout the day.
A big screen will broadcast live race coverage throughout the day, allowing spectators in Earlston to keep up to date with the action before the riders return to the town itself.
Team buses will be located at Earlston High School, to the east side of the town.