Wild rides in the borders

I have not been over Broad Law , but yes done some more remote rides, various options from Pykstone Hill coming up from the Scrape. ( Some hike a bike in places.)
The descent into Drumelzier is great , but a bit of a dead end to continue the ride , you could ride to Broughton and back (to Peebles) on the John Buchan Way.
The route out of Manor Valley has a bit of hike a bike at the start then a good ride too Megget , friends have come back over Dollar Law from there, but not done it myself.
I (jointly.) run a web site called Bike Valley Trails the " Manor Valley Epic" may suit , a good trail not on any OS maps yet into the Manor Valley, we do charge £1.50 to help pay for our set up costs of the web site , but you will get an OS map (licenced!) , gpx track and written instructions. (We are trying to get some funding to (recoup our IT costs) to make all the rides free,) we have forty rides on there now and more being written up if demand is there we will continue to build the site. I have been putting together some much longer rides which will make weekend bike packing rides or huge days out for the ultra fit! The rides are properly considered too, trying to avoid hike a bike and areas hard to navigate.

But this (Manor Valley Epic) ride is 100% rideable and could be extended if you want to add to it and remove a few of the tarmac sections , I can send you some ideas if you want to extend it and hard to explain on a quick forum post.

Pretty obvious but its remote up on those hills and not many features if the cloud comes in and colder and windier than the valleys so be prepared if you go over Dollar Law or similar terrain.

Some good stuff over the west side for MTB's, but for a gravel 'epic' take a look at the Lammermuirs or Hawick/Craik.

Other ideas are heading out of the Bowbeat Wind Farm down then down towards Gladhouse reservor, or Portmore Loch a couple of options to get to Cloich forest and back via the Meldons as well, but i have not checked the Gladhouse exit from the forest at Bowbeat since the storm, one to do again soon , a lovely descent from The Scrape (exiting the forest at Breach Law, passing Dead Wives Grave and onto John Buchan Way is another option to add onto a loop.

Could I hijack your area knowledge @adcock9jn ?

We are biking the SUW in stages (mostly out and back), one stage planned is from St Mary's Loch over to Kirkhouse. We could turn around and head back but is it possible to loop back through the Glen House estate - up the valley (Glenshiel Banks?) and then over Peat Hill? That would make a loop rather than out-n-back.

I am not sure of how much the tree felling has affected the trail around Whiteknowe head? Plus in places its not ideal in places , but yes i have pushed heading North along there! , its was an VERY early verson of Capital Trail (heading towardsthe Gypsy Glen from there ), but Markus changed it fairly quickly!
If there is two of you i have an alternative which goes over a deer fence (ladder)and makes a nice ride in either direction but with approx 6/7km back to St marys Loch on tarmac.

is it possible to loop back through the Glen House estate – up the valley (Glenshiel Banks?) and then over Peat Hill? That would make a loop rather than out-n-back.

We tried it from the St Marys' side a few years ago - basically a rough vertical push up, unrideable up/down. And then on the Banks side, again unrideable through heather/bracken.

Thanks @adcock9jn and @intheborders - think we'll keep that ride as an out and back section.

I will forward an option (s) with a pdf map.
I will send them over on messenger. I may need your eamil if I cannot send an attachment.

vmgscot message sent.