Eyemouth
Situated on the beautiful Berwickshire coast, Eyemouth has been a fishing port since the 13th century. With around 80 boats regularly fishing out of it, it remains one of the busiest fishing ports in Scotland. The harbour is also the starting point for many sightseeing trips and is frequently visited by swans and seals.
Cycle routes in the area include an 8.5 mile (14kn) coastal route to the fishing village of Burnmouth as well as a 14 mile (22.5 km) route that takes in Coldingham Bay with its magnificent sea views and St Abbs Head, a National Trust-owned nature reserve. During the Summer, the sheer 300ft high cliffs between farmland and the sea are home to thousands of birds including puffins, herring gulls, guillemots and kittiwakes. An inland 20 mile (32km) route takes cyclists on a more challenging route to the magnificent 18th century Paxton House with its stunning period rooms, Chippendale furniture and Picture Gallery containing over 70 paintings from the National Galleries of Scotland.
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Innerleithen
Nestling in luscious green hills along the River Tweed, Innerleithen is an ideal start point for some of the best circular cycle tours in the Scottish Borders. Routes vary in length between 37 and 53 miles (60-86 km) and include picturesque woodland, moorland and many historic sites.
The 53 mile Megget and Talla trail bypasses three of the region’s most beautiful stretches of water – the Megget and Talla reservoirs and St Mary’s Loch. Attractions featured on the trail include Dawyck Botanic Gardens, Scotland’s first five-star garden, renowned for its stunning seasonal displays of exotic and native plants. This more challenging route takes in Broadlaw –at 840 m, the highest hill in the Scottish Borders. The Tweed and Ettrick route takes cyclists on a 42 mile journey through two of the region’s most beautiful valleys, with the chance to stop off for refreshment at the Gordon Arms, frequented by Sir Walter Scott and visited by Robert Burns and Wordsworth. Historic houses including the Duke of Buccleuch’s house at Bowhill and Traquair House, the oldest inhabited and most romantic house in Scotland are also marked on the route.
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Peebles
The picturesque town of Peebles has been a Royal Burgh since 1152. Situated on the banks of the Tweed in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the town features an award-winning range of independent shops and restaurants, an excellent arts centre and a host of special annual events.
Cycle trails in the area range from 7.5 mile (12km) circuits to a 22.5 mile (36km) route to the pretty Borders village of Eddleston. Most are suitable for family groups and inexperienced cyclists and feature heather-clad hills, tree-lined trails and stunning river views. Attractions included on the routes include Kailzie Gardens, famed for its beautiful roses and Osprey viewing station, as well as Traquair House. Dating from the 12th Century, Traquair has a Cottage restaurant serving delicious refreshments, making it a perfect stop en-route.
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Duns
Situated in Berwickshire, close to the Lammermuir Hills, Duns is a quiet Borders town that provides an ideal starting point to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the region. An area steeped in history, it houses Duns Castle, originally built by a nephew of Robert the Bruce.
Cycle trails starting out from Duns are a mix of routes on flat, quiet roads suitable for families and inexperience cyclists, and hilly, more physically demanding trails better suited to more experienced cyclists. Towns and villages featured on the trails include Edrom, Swinton and the delightful Longformacus, and there are many sections of tree-lined roads and river crossings. Attractions open to visitors just off the Edrom route include Manderson, a majestic Edwardian historic house set in 56 acres of formal gardens that’s home to the world’s only silver staircase.
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Jedburgh
Situated on the main A68 the Royal Burgh of Jedburgh lies on the Jed Water, a tributary of the River Teviot. Jedburgh is a picturesque traditional Scottish market town, with a wide range of individual shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and accommodation. One of the most historic towns in Scotland (it was the first parish established in Scotland) Jedburgh’s attractions include the stunning 12th Century Jedburgh Abbey, Mary Queen of Scot’s House, visited by Mary in October 1566, The Spread Eagle Hotel, the oldest continually licensed hotel in Scotland and Jedburgh Castle Jail.
There are 5 cycling trails for Jedburgh, all starting and ending at the Glebe car park at the South end of the town and varying in length from 7 –21miles. The trails keep mainly to quiet roads and take in a diversity of scenery from local villages, attractions such the ruined C15th Cessford Castle and the lovely Teviot Smokery, an ideal stopping point for lunch or a stroll around its water garden.
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Selkirk
Situated on the A7 Selkirk is an attractive small town that has indelibly stamped itself on both Scotland’s and the Scottish Borders past. Taking its name from the auld Scots words 'sheil' and 'kirk' which means 'the church in the forest', Selkirk was the location and ancient seat in the Ettrick Forest for Scottish Kings and was given Royal status in the twelfth century. It is the site of the first Border Abbey, where William Wallace, "Braveheart", was declared guardian of Scotland. Other visitor attractions in Selkirk include Sir Walter Scott’s Courtroom and Halliwells House Museum.
There are four colour coded, signed, cycle trails from Selkirk. All are loops and start from the Selkirk Leisure Centre car park. Varying in length from 7-19 miles they include the Bowhill trail, a 7-mile route through the Ettrick Valley and passing Bowhill House and Country Park and the 16-mile Midlem and Lilliesleaf trail. This passes Linden Loch, takes in views of the Cheviot hills and meanders through the pretty villages of Midlem, ideally situated as a picnic stop, and Lilliesleaf.
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Hawick
Home to spectacular traditions such as the world famous Hawick Common Riding and with a rich textile heritage, Hawick is the largest Border town. A recent £10 million pound investment established the new “Heart of Hawick” which features Tower Mill, with its cinema/theatre and café bar and the Heritage Hub, a fantastic Scottish Borders Archive and Local History Centre.
There are four cycling trails all leaving from the Upper Common Haugh car park near the South end of Hawick High Street. The routes tend to keep to minor roads and so are suitable for inexperienced and family groups. Trails vary in length from 7 – 19 miles, most have some hilly sections, and they pass through classic Borders countryside with its rolling hills, farms and rivers. The 14m Roberton route for example offers views of upper -Teviotdale and Craik forest and a section follows the path of the Borthwick Water river.
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Melrose
One of the prettiest towns in the Borders and a real food lovers paradise, Melrose is home to lovely boutiques, arts and crafts shops, quaint tea rooms and stylish eateries. Attractions in the town include Melrose Abbey, where Robert the Bruce’s heart is buried and the Wynd Theatre. A few miles West of the town is Abbotsford, the historic home of novelist Sir Walter Scott. Melrose also hosts the Borders Book Festival in June each year.
The car park at St Dunstan’s Park, located off the west end of Melrose High Street, is the starting point for four colour coded, signed cycle trails. The trails vary in length from 5-15 miles and are reasonably hilly in parts. They include the 13.5 mile Scotts View and Dryburgh route which passes Scotts View, one of the most stunning scenic viewpoints in the Borders offering a lovely panoramic outlook over the Eildon Hills. This route can also shortened by 3.5 miles to take in the famous Wallace statue. An easier trail is the 5mile Abbotsford route passing Sir Walter Scott’s historic Abbotsford home. It is possible to tour the house from the Spring through to Autumn or just stop in at its tea room for refreshments.
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