Cross borders drove...
 

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Cross borders drove road - anyone ridden it?

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I'm looking for an off road route down from Edinburgh to the borders and beyond.  This looks like a useful route but seems very variable from a landrover track to not much at all

Anyone ridden on it or got any other idea:  I'll beheading for peebles and then further south


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 7:30 am
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I did it a long long long time ago, I think it was in Kenny Wilsons "Walks with my Mountain Bike".

Nice route but at the time we did it, needed some navigation as was thin on the actual ground. Must have changed since then.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 8:05 am
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in Kenny Wilsons “Walks with my Mountain Bike”.

Lolz


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 8:06 am
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I'm pondering it - I nearly did it earlier this year but the weather was terrible on the day I had planned for it so I headed north instead.

My plan was to catch the train to Galashiels, then the bus with bike spaces to Hawick, then ride the route to the end, then home via the Water of Leith. I suspect that with the recent dry weather it'd actually be OK.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 8:47 am
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I have been trying to work out a (mainly) off road route to Carlisle - this and the southern upland way looklike it would do but looks an awful lot like hard work on geograph.  Very vegetated.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 8:50 am
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I ride the section from Inners to Yarrowford then on to Ettrick Water fairly regularly and that's fine any weather or time of year.
The Gypsy Glen section is also fine.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 8:54 am
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 vww
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As above, I think the section from Gypsy Glen through to Selkirk area is fine. I was in Cloich (north of Peebles) a few of weeks ago and got through fine - a few awkward gates and couple surprisingly steep climbs but nothing to worry about.

Depending on your bike choice and ultimate destination, you could look at the Manor Valley from Peebles and over to Megget, down to St Mary's Loch and on to the Captain's Road. That would take you towards Craik Forest and small roads via Eskdalemuir down towards Langholm. I haven't ridden in Craik (off road) but potential for getting south and west towards Hawick or Langholm off road too.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 11:06 am
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Ta folks.

Ill be on my hardtail dragging my trailer full of crap so its gonne be hard work but hey ho.  I have very low gears and I won't be in a hurry

Edit - I'm aiming for Carlisle.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 11:12 am
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TBH the road over Eskdalemuir is a delight and would be ideal for you. Stop at Samye Ling for tea and cake.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 11:42 am
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Depending on your bike choice and ultimate destination, you could look at the Manor Valley from Peebles and over to Megget,

You want to turn left on manor and estate track it over to St Mary's loch.

I keep looking at the Peebles Carlisle railway route thinking "goer" then I remember ever single bridge has been ripped out.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 11:51 am
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years ago I rode the old railway line down to gala.  Nowadays some bastid has put a train on it!


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 12:00 pm
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I did a few bits of it bikepacking upto SSUK a few years back.

The forecast was for a tailwind and about an hours heavy rain shower near the start (but it's early September and 20 something degrees so nothing to be concerned about, I didn't even bring a proper waterproof) . I didn't put 2 and 2 together and spent 12 hours getting deluged.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 1:44 pm
tjagain reacted
 aggs
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<p style="text-align: left;">The Great North Trail may suit you ,esp as a starting point for planning</p>
Lots of info online about it.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 4:16 pm
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The great north trail is absolute shite from the border south to about Appleby. Keilder, then bogs and general grimness. I'd avoid it.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 4:54 pm
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I've ridden on it from Edinburgh to Peebles. Didn't follow it exactly, think it goes from the Lanark road past Harperrigg. I usually go from the south side of Edinburgh and through the Pentlands and come out at 9 mile burn then follow the Roman road to West Linton, then take the road to Romano Bridge and pick up the drove road there. It's a fairly steep single track climb out of Romano Bridge then a mix of double track and forest road to Peebles. Haven't explored further than that but it's a nice route and reasonably well sign posted.


 
Posted : 27/06/2023 8:30 pm

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