Enjoy your own Tour of the Borders

The Scottish Borders is home to some of the best cycling in the country and Burts and Townhouse are totally geared up for cyclists, so in this article we highlight many of the great routes which start or pass through Melrose.

With The Tour of Britain taken place in the Scottish Borders in September, the region once again welcomed some of the world’s top professional cycling teams and riders.

Indeed, riders passed through Melrose twice with the intermediate sprint in the town and the King of the Mountains climbs at Scott’s View and Dingleton, before a thrilling chase back to the cobbled finish in Kelso.

‘We’ve come a Geelong way!’
In fact Burts welcomed a group of lovely cycling farmers from Geelong in Australia who stayed with us this summer as part of their Coast and Castles cycling journey.

You may not know this, but the South of Scotland is ‘home of the bike’ and you can see why the region’s epic roads, hills, glens, lochs, rivers and picturesque towns and villages have attracted and hosted the world’s elite cyclists for many years. Albeit at a breathtakingly fast pace!

For those of us who like to take our road cycling at a slightly more leisurely pace, we thought it would be a good idea to highlight the many fantastic cycling routes which pass through or start here in Melrose.

Whether that’s an epic long-distance adventure, an iconic circular route, a superb one-day cycle or the chosen stage of a longer route. Cycling is a fantastic way to get to know the Borders, not only because there are routes for all abilities, but because cycling enables you to reach some of the most magical places in our region.

The Kirkpartick C2C 250 miles/402km
The South of Scotland is the home of the bike – literally! We have Dumfriesshire blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan who invented the first pedal bike or velocipede in 1839. The Kirkpatrick C2C takes riders on an unforgettable 250 mile journey across the South of Scotland from Stranraer in the west to Eyemouth in the east. The route winds across breathtaking landscapes, from our dramatic coastlines to rolling hills, through stunning scenery and picturesque towns, including Melrose.

 The 4 Abbeys Cycling Route – 56 miles/90km
The 4 Abbeys is a circular route linking the four main abbeys in the Borders at Melrose, Dryburgh, Kelso and Jedburgh.

The route follows mainly quiet roads, although short stretches on ‘A‘ roads are unavoidable, a scenic route that takes in many historic interest points in the region either on the route or close by. The route is moderate with a couple of steep but fairly short hills. It is normally tackled in a clockwise direction but can be done either way. Many of our cycling guests enjoy an overnight stops here in Melrose with us, where the route can be started and finished.

Tweed Valley Cycle Route – 95 miles/154km
Starting at 650 ft above sea level in Biggar and finishing on the coast in Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Tweed Cycle Way is a waymarked cycle route, 95 miles long, running through the heart of the Scottish Borders with the River Tweed as its linking theme. t is an attractive route, avoiding busy roads almost entirely, with many fine hill and forest views and handsome towns along the way such as Peebles, Melrose, Kelso and Coldstream. The route is moderate, with a few steep sections. It is normally tackled in an easterly direction and will take 3-5 days to complete depending on your pace and where you may decide to stop along the way. Please note that this route can also be started in Carstairs which can be reached by train.

Borderloop 4 Melrose – 79 miles/128km
The Borderloop is a circular cycling journey along the quiet lanes that criss-cross this beautiful region, with several possible shortcuts offering alternative itineraries. Break up your journey into stages to eat, stay and relax, including here in Melrose at Burts and Townhouse.

Leave Melrose and head towards Dryburgh Abbey take the B6356 past Clint Mains and on to the B6404 and then on to the B6397.

Floors Castle, home of the Duke of Roxburghe, can be visited before arriving in Kelso by the A6089. A wander around Kelso’s shops and the Abbey can break the journey before leaving Kelso on the B6352 towards Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm. Then head west and south on the B6401 skirting Morebattle and on to Camptown. A detour can be made to Jedburgh if time allows. Take care crossing the A68 and head towards Chesters and on to Bonchester Bridge. Join the B6399 and head north towards Hawick where you can take a break. Leave Hawick head north towards Melrose on the B6359 passing through Lilliesleaf and Bowden.

Midlem and Lindean – 17 miles /27km
This route heads east from Selkirk and climbs to the summit on Lindean Moor and then undulates passing Lindean Loch Nature Reserve.

Abbotsford – 5 miles/8km
This short route has a short climb out of Melrose before dropping steeply through woods to Abbotsford, former home of Sir Walter Scott.

Scott’s View and Dryburgh – 14 miles/22km
This route passes by Trimontium an outpost of the Roman Empire and the Leaderfoot Viaduct before climbing towards Scott’s View, where you can pause and enjoy the view of the River Tweed as Sir Walter Scott used to.

Eildons – 8 miles/13km
A route which takes you in a loop passing the Rhymer’s Stone which offers pleasant views of the Tweed Valley.

Coast and Castles – 95 miles/152km
The Coast and Castles South (Newcastle to Edinburgh) cycle route is a great introduction to long-distance cycling. It’s perfect for those looking for their first cycle touring adventure. The route hugs the coastline from Newcastle to Berwick-upon-Tweed, then heads inland via Melrose and Dalkeith to Edinburgh. It is arguably one of the National Cycle Network’s easiest, but no less epic, long-distance routes.

North of the Scotland-England border at Berwick-upon-Tweed, the route moves into the Tweed Valley where quiet lanes take you through beautiful border country before a gentle climb onto the Moorfoot Hills into Midlothian. From here witness a spectacular view of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth as you cycle into Scotland’s capital city.

The best way to tackle the route is south to north – from Newcastle to Edinburgh. Travelling in this direction usually means the wind is more favourable but the ride is great either way round.

Geared up for cyclists
Here at Burts and Townhouse we are totally geared up for cycling guests.

At the end of a day in the saddle, we have secure bike storage, charging points for electric bikes, bike washing and clothes drying facilities, not forgetting the relaxing accommodation and delicious food and drink that we are renowned for.

For help and advice in planning your own cycling break in the Borders, please give us a call.

Main image – © VisitScotland