Dean and Gillian's , Dumfries and Galloway Odyssey - Part 2

 After a peaceful nights rest in our room , we were up early for our hearty breakfast of porridge and toast.  We then went along to the temple to listen to a teaching from a visiting Tibetan monk.  The was a really unique experience the temple was full of people and we were able to sit at the back and take it all in.  There was chanting and meditation as the monk spoke in Tibetan and it was translated into English.  I found the experience very peaceful and relaxing, but I'm not sure i'm ready to shave my hair off yet !!!!

Temple before the teaching

It was then time to leave the monastery  and continue further on our adventure into Dumfries and Galloway.  Well we lasted about a mile and half before we decided to stop for "second breakfast" at the Eskdalemuir Old School Hub and cafe.  I was glad we stopped it is a really cool place.  There is a shop and a really good cafe that does a very looking Sunday lunch.

Might have to come back for Sunday lunch.

Second breakfast !!!

Leaving the Eskdalemuir hub

A lovely stop but we really had to get on the road and do some cycling.  We headed west through the Eskdalemuir forest then through village of Boreland.  We then crossed the bridge over the M8 and stopped for a break at Loch Mabon.  I would really recommend an ice cream at Crolla's if your ever in town.

Another fuel stop !!!!

After ice cream we cycled through the beautiful D&G countryside passing many farms and lots of cows.

Cow crossing !!!!

We made it to Dalswinton estate where our friend Alex fed us and put us up for the night.  We had a lovely work around the estate as the sunset on another that for D&G in D&G !!!

With Alex at Dalswinton

Dalswinton gardens

Dalswinton church

Sunset over Dalswinton

Eskdalemuir to Dalswinton estate 30.82 miles, 1649 foot climb.

Route Map: https://www.strava.com/activities/19866919738

Second breakfast stop: Eskdalemuir Old School Hub and cafe

Ice cream Stop: Crolla's Gelato

Accommodation: Alex's house !!!

Dean and Gillian's , Dumfries and Galloway Odyssey - Part 1

 For this years "adventure for our doorstep" we decided to head south and explore a bit of Dumfries and Galloway and the Lowther hills.  Our trip would last 4 days covering 30-40 miles per day which felt a good distance considering the hills we would be cycling up.

Day 1 - Peebles to the Samye Ling Buddhist Monastery.

We started out from Peebles on a sunny Saturday morning.  Our route took us to Traquair the over our first climb over "Paddy Slacks" then down into the Yarrow Valley.  Sadly the new look Gordon Arms doesn't to coffee (or beers) so we were straight into our next climb up and over Berrybush before a cracking descent on a brilliant road surface into the Ettrick valley.  Both climbs although long are very gradual and we could establish a good climbing pace.  We stopped for a wee coffee and cake break at the Beehive Shop and Cafe just before the village of Ettrick.

Coffee and cake at the Behive

Ettrick

After our refreshment we had a quick look around the village of Ettrick, birthplace  of the poet James Hogg the Ettrick Shepherd.

Ettrick monmunent

Ettrick Kirk

James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd

We then cycled through the beautiful Ettrick valley, along past Loch Tima before a lovely descent into Dumfries and Galloway to our first nights accommodation at the Samye Ling Buddhist Monastery. 

Loch Tima

D&G crossing into D&G

D&G roads

 They have a hostel and provides vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The grounds of the Monastery are stunning with amazing gardens and Buddhist statues.  There is temple which you can look around and join in a teaching if you like !!!! A very quiet and tranquil spot in the Eskdale valley.

Simple accommodation at Samye Ling

Monastery gardens

Temple

Inside the temple

End of the first day

Peebles to Samye Ling Monastery 36.66 miles, 2032 ft climb

Route Map: https://www.strava.com/activities/19851882293

Lunch Stop: Beehive Shop and Cafe.

Accommodation: https://samyeling.org/visiting/accommodation/

Trans Border "Express" Day 3.

 We started the day with a hearty breakfast in the hostel before heading back inland to Scotland.

YHA Breaky

We crossed the Union bridge from Scotland into England and stopped in the village of Norham for our morning coffee break.

Crossing the Union Bridge.

Back into England ??

Norham village

Victoria Hotel

The Victoria hotel is well worth a food stop if you are passing by https://www.thevictoriahotelnorham.co.uk/

We crossed back into Scotland and cycled through the border villages of Leitholm, Eccles, Swinton and Hume.  We also cycled under the Leaderfoot viaduct before coming to Galashiels.

Hume Castle

Another hill slog !!!

Hume Castle

Leaderfoot viaduct.

We finally arrived back in Galashiels and a well deserved cider at the Salmon Inn, before jumping on the X62 back to Peebles.

Finished !!!!, final pint at the Salmon Inn.

Total distance : 47.45 miles

Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/14255827071

I hope you enjoyed reading about our mini tour in the Scottish Borders and Northumberland, lots to see and do.

Trans Border Express Day 2

Morning in Wooler.

We had a great sleep in the hostel, very comfortable and we were well rested for the day ahead. We went for a walk around town and went for breakfast at the Wooler Milk Bar.

Wooler Milk Bar

Wooler Hostel

Wooler Hostel

We spent the morning at the Ad Gefrin distillery and visitor centre.  The theme is based on the site of the old Ad Gefrin palace which we passed through the previous day.  The Visitor centre was very interesting and the distillery is one of the most amazing ones I've been too.  Well worth a visit.

Stills

Whisky warehouse

The roof of the visitor centre.

The King of Northumbria !!!!

Inside the visitor centre.

Whisky tasting.

Whisky tasting.

Coffee (to sober up) before we get back on the bike.

You can find out more about Ad Gefrin by following the link: https://adgefrin.co.uk/

Short cycle to Berwick upon Tweed.

We then had a short enjoyable 22 mile ride to Berwick upon Tweed.  We had a stop to look at the Duddo standing stones, Northumbria's "Stonehenge" !!!!

We arrived in the evening and checked into the Berwick upon Tweed YHA, which is a very comfortable place to stay.  We had a walk along the down walls before a beer in the Curfew pub and a fantastic dinner at Mavi's Turkish Restaurant.

Berwick Walls

Berwick Walls

Berwick rail bridge

Berwick road bridge.

Post cycle pint the the Curfew

Excellent food at Mavi's

After being fed and watered, it was back to the hostel to recover the the final cycle home.

Total Distance : 21.71 miles

Strava activity: https://www.strava.com/activities/14249501585