Peebles road loop

No sharp climbs... Makes it a bit harder.

I would have said tour of the borders. But to avoid the wall of talla do it in reverse. 

But basically most routes will have some form of hefty climb to get you out of one valley into the next.

Peebles - Innerleithen - Granites - Gladhouse Reservoir - Eddleston - Option of Meldons or Bike Path back to Peebles (40 or 45 miles). No steep climbs in this one, but some long drags. Pretty remote but generally nice. Rough road getting to Gladhouse and about 1.5 miles of busy A-road before the bike path starts prior to Eddleston. Aim for a day with light SW wind.

Peebles - Stobo - Broughton - Bigger - Broughton - Dreva (optional) - Stobo - Cademuir - Peebles (35-40 miles). No particularly big or steep climbs in this one, and a nice stop the second time in Broughton and the Laurel Bank tea room. Dreva is a little steep but can go back the way you came.

Or just down the back road towards Yair and add a lollipop on with a loop to Selkirk, Boleside, Gala, and back on the back road.

Probably the easiest road rides I can think of. Let me know if you need any plotted on a map!

I took a more literal view of "loop" but thos vww routes would suit.

1. The road between waterheads and eddleston is fast but its pretty wide and most drivers are used to cyclists being on it.

If you want a nice but shorter out and back peebles out along the south of cademuir and then along the manor valley until there ain't no road left is a nice ride with extremely little traffic like a 20mile car free treck up a deadend valley and back. Road good and takes in a ruined castle. 

Thanks alot folks.

I've attempted to plot this in ride with GPS does it look about right? I'm keen to avoid busy roads.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/52176246

You've got most of it, but did you mean to have an off-road section? I haven't ever done that bit before but I don't think it's that well trafficked. Could be rough! If you wanted to stick purely to roads, have a look at this.

Goes a bit further round and onto very small roads to Gladhouse Reservoir. I've also included options of the Meldons (turn right at Eddleston) - this is a nice wee back road climb and descent - and round Cademuir (turn right after about 2.5km when returning to Peebles on the A72) - this is also a nice wee backroad that has a good downhill finish into Peebles. Both these additions can be done separately and are nice for little evening/after-work type rides. The A72 stretch isn't amazing but also not super busy most of the time. Or just finish into Peebles on the bike path as you've already plotted.

Think that'll need a wee re-route at Gladhouse - https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/in-your-area/investments-in-your-area/gladhouse-reservoir

Peebles to inners take left turn and ride past the Golfie to Heriot (right turn over a bridge) then after Heriot take a right to pick up the back road which roughly folllows the A9 and peel off towards Thornielee. From there cross the Tyne and take the back road back to Traquair and back road by Cardrona to Peebles. (should make more sense if you look on a map) Bang on 50 miles. apart from busy main roads, no route of a decent length from Peebles is ever going to be all that flat but this route is mainly quiet roads with nothing like as bad a climb as the full Granites road. and from the Heriot turning you'll feel like you're riding in a far quieter part of the country

Posted by: Merak

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I'm keen to avoid busy roads.

Towards the end of your route you have 5 miles on the busiest A road from Edinburgh to Peebles  (Waterheads through Edleston to Cringletie House. Most drivers probably do expect cyclists on this road but I'd probably try to avoid it if you're uncomfortable with processions of fast passing vehicles.

Towards the end of your route you have 5 miles on the busiest A road from Edinburgh to Peebles (Waterheads through Edleston to Cringletie House. Most drivers probably do expect cyclists on this road but I'd probably try to avoid it if you're uncomfortable with processions of fast passing vehicles

Thats fairly out of date advice. The only bit of that road you need to ride is from waterheads to almost the scots pines. The rest of the way can be done on the plenty wide tarmac'd bike path.

Its not a "fun" stretch but you do avoid all the horrible bends you are referring to.

Also unless its rish hour its not that busy during the day. The only procession will be if you get caught by a bus or a tractor.

That heriot route isn't a bad shout. All the steep bits are downhill in that route 

Ah. thanks Josh. didn't realise there was now a cycle path. Haven't ridden that stretch for years but often see cyclists on it when driving to or back from Peebles. Never at rush hour but pretty much always join a "procession" of vehicles waiting to pass each time even without a tractor or bus in the mix. Not on the scale of the queens funeral or anything. but it only takes one poor overtaking maneuver to put the shits up you if you're not confident on busy roads. Just thought I'd warn the guy.

Anyway. other than that wee bit both routes will be nice.

Yeah the cyclepath is a massive improvement. I'commuted by bike from Peebles to Edinburgh and while generally i don't mind roads the two sets of S bends were grim. Its much more pleasant now.

The procession comment is fair to be honest but  basicall two straights and a couple of good visibility bends. Short of a total throbber (there is a particular silver merc i have had run ins with) there is plenty of scope for good wide passes.