Dean and Gillian , 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

Trans Border "Express" Day 1

Intro: 

This year's micro adventure, which starts and finished from my home in Peebles would be firstly to Wooler in Northumberland, then onto Berwick upon Tweed and back to Peebles. I wouldn't be on my own this year as Gillian fancied getting in on the action and will be joining me !!

Day 1 Easter Sunday, From Peebles to Wooler.

We left Peebles around 10am the sun was out as it was "warming" up a bit. 

We cycled along the familiar cycle path through Cardrona, Innerleithen and Walkerburn.  We did bump into a local legend out for an ebike ride.

Local ebiker !!!

  

We then joined the back road to Peel , Yair and up over the hill to Boleside.

Tweed bridge

It's a lovely little cycleway through Boleside to Gala

We followed the cycle path that follows the railway line to our first stop at the Tempest Brewery.

Tempest Tap Room

Then we heading through Melrose and a few hills through Eildons down to our lunch stop at Main street book shop cafe in St Boswells.

Soup in St Boswells

Leaving St Boswells the sun was shining and starting to get warm. We followed some lovely quiet farm roads through Makerstoun, past Floors castle and down into Kelso. It was nice and chilled in the town square, so we had another stop and enjoyed a Gregg's and sat in the square.

Kelso Square 

Looking back towards the Eildon hills

Quiet Border roads

From Kelso we had a long climb up towards Yetholm, we turned off and followed more quiet roads toward the Cheviot hills through Kirknewton and finally made it to Wooler , 60 miles and 6 hours later.

Ad Gefrin, Kirknewton ancient home of the Northumberland kings.

We stayed in the Wooler hostel, which is really nice. The hosts are very welcoming and the hostel used to be a site from the Land army during the war and has lots of information about the area. 

We were very tired so re-hydrated our dehydrated meals, drank a glass of wine and retired to our comfy beds.

Total distance : 58.88 miles

Strava activity : https://www.strava.com/activities/14236637112