Borders Cycle Raid
A 3 day, two-night tour of the Scottish Borders. I roughly followed the 'Borders Loop' sustrans route. It was well signposted and covers some really nice roads to cycle on.
I wild camped just outside Berwick on night one and then the Melrose YH which I see is now closed.
Edinburgh
Starting at The Meadows, Edinburgh. It goes up to Arthurs Seat and then thro'/ around/ under/ over/ the suburbs of Edinburgh. Follow R1 until junction with R76 behind Queen Margaret’s University just outside Mussleburgh.
Musselburgh
R76 twists and turns through busy traffic (all-day) through Musselburgh Along by the race course then take the coastal road. This toys between scenic (sea view) and not so nice towns. Carry on to Prestonpans. Head inland to Longniddry Station and go behind this on to a very good bridleway (no traffic). End up in Haddington
Haddington
Still R76 out off Haddington, go underneath the A1 to East Linton. Good views of Trapain Law (big hill, with a large chunk eaten out off it). On to Dunbar alongside the A1 through West Barns to Dunbar.
Dunbar
Dunbar worth exploring and stopping for lunch. Out off Dunbar follow track alongside railway behind Cement Works and in front off Power Station. If A1 is quiet best just scoot down that road. Join A1 just after Power Station - not a nice road but no alternative. Cycle route takes down you a very steep hill and then a long, long climb back up and across moors to Eyemouth. You can of course, stay on main road to Coldingham to by-pass this silly detour.
Eyemouth
Don't look for a camping site in or near Eyemouth - there isn't any. Still on R76 head back to A1, straight over on to Ayton. Onwards through some nice back lanes with big well-hidden houses to Berwick. Wild camped on this road - plenty places without causing anyone concern. Don't bother too much about visiting Berwick. Large supermarket just outside at town/A1 junction.
Berwick
Back on R1 going west follow River Tweed
Union Bridge
Cross Tweed by the magnificent Union Bridge. Nice quiet roads here. Pass Kelso if you want to. Stopping for the night at Melrose (note YH now closed).
Melrose
Melrose to Tweedbank and starting to climb the Lammermuirs. Very scenic and surprisingly remote.
Innerleithen
Over the hills and twisty road R1 to the outskirts of Bonnyrig and Dalkeith. This bit not so nice. Don't follow R1 as it loops needlessly around the east of Edinburgh. Head straight for city centre and experience some of the worse pot-holed roads in the country!
Cycle Borders
Cycling in the sparsely-populated Borders is a delight for the confident tourer, and can feel like the best of the 1960s. It’s an area of local shops, friendly communities, handsome market towns with good cafes, and little traffic. There’s wilderness beyond the lush Tweed valley, a few notable climbs, and certainly lots of big scenery. Now that the Borders railway – axed in 1969 but rebuilt in 2015 – is back up and running, it’s easy getting to the heart of this under-rated region.
National Cycle Routes are few, apart from the Tweed Valley Cycle Route (part of NCN1) that runs 95 moderately challenging miles from Berwick to Biggar through many of those fine towns: Kelso, Melrose, Peebles, etc. Highlights include going over the historic Union Bridge north of Horncliffe, and two equally picturesque traffic-free crossings of the Tweed at Newtown St Boswells and just west of Melrose. It’s worth detouring a little north of Newtown to (Sir Walter) Scott’s View.
For wild and remote scenery with great climbs and downhills, explore the back roads round Talla Reservoir and St Mary’s Loch. The quiet narrow road climbing and falling gently north out of Innerleithen (also part of NCN1) has unbeatable scenery and can involve miles of freewheel, depending on wind direction. Innerleithen is a mountain biking hub, thanks to the Stanes centre, and its chic bistros and cafes are popular with local club cyclists.