So you walk onto the train at Euston and heads north across the border. You cast a glimpse at the rolling landscape when arriving at the border and haste towards Perth, Pitlochry and that area for a bike holiday.
I am starting to wonder if those of you heading north are all doing a big mistake. During the last ten-twelve years, I have dipped into the area at the borders called The Southern Uplands and the Borders. I have also cycled the road from Newcastle over Otterburn, Hawick and Peebles to Glasgow. That ride is a stunning ride, btw. In particular the ride up the river through Peebles which really dropped my jaw to the floor.
Yesterday, I cycled through the Southern Uplands from Lanark via Crawfordjohn to New Cumnock. A brilliant bikeride. The same can be said for the ride over Wanlochhead too, which I did some years ago. The Galloway hills area is also excellent and so is the minor coastroads between Dumfries and Stranraer, I have heard. I will investigate them later this summer, btw.
I believe that the Scottish islands like Mull, Skye and the Western Isles probably has the best bikeriding and scenery anywhere in Europe and is well worth going for by the night train from London. But the rest..... ? Some of my best bikerides has been in the Southern Uplands. Peebles and the river valley surrounding it is without doubts one of the prettiest places in Scotland. The border crossing at Carter Bar (A68) is like Moses arriving at Kanaan's land (where the bikeriders can drop into Scotland whereas Moses could not). Probably the finest border crossing in the British isles. Well, remove the word probably. It is the finest border crossing in the British isles.
Terrain wise, the Borders and Southern Uplands is not as steep as the Highlands. But scenery wise, the Borders is on par with the Highlands. Yes, there is more sheep and more farmfields there. But you still have some high mountains and tens of miles with desolate moor cycling. You also have a lot of river canyon cycling (as in the road from Crawfordjohn to Sanquhar) and other dramatic features (like line dancing sheep).
I believe you all are missing out on something really special by not jumping off the train just before the Borders and then ride through the Borders to Glasgow/Edinburgh and then end the holiday there or go further north again to the likes of Pitlochry.
Or am I wrong ? I am just raising this issue as a matter of a debate and to raise awareness of this area. An area I am..... well, I am now incoherent rambling. Period. The thread is open for your views and opinions.
I am starting to wonder if those of you heading north are all doing a big mistake. During the last ten-twelve years, I have dipped into the area at the borders called The Southern Uplands and the Borders. I have also cycled the road from Newcastle over Otterburn, Hawick and Peebles to Glasgow. That ride is a stunning ride, btw. In particular the ride up the river through Peebles which really dropped my jaw to the floor.
Yesterday, I cycled through the Southern Uplands from Lanark via Crawfordjohn to New Cumnock. A brilliant bikeride. The same can be said for the ride over Wanlochhead too, which I did some years ago. The Galloway hills area is also excellent and so is the minor coastroads between Dumfries and Stranraer, I have heard. I will investigate them later this summer, btw.
I believe that the Scottish islands like Mull, Skye and the Western Isles probably has the best bikeriding and scenery anywhere in Europe and is well worth going for by the night train from London. But the rest..... ? Some of my best bikerides has been in the Southern Uplands. Peebles and the river valley surrounding it is without doubts one of the prettiest places in Scotland. The border crossing at Carter Bar (A68) is like Moses arriving at Kanaan's land (where the bikeriders can drop into Scotland whereas Moses could not). Probably the finest border crossing in the British isles. Well, remove the word probably. It is the finest border crossing in the British isles.
Terrain wise, the Borders and Southern Uplands is not as steep as the Highlands. But scenery wise, the Borders is on par with the Highlands. Yes, there is more sheep and more farmfields there. But you still have some high mountains and tens of miles with desolate moor cycling. You also have a lot of river canyon cycling (as in the road from Crawfordjohn to Sanquhar) and other dramatic features (like line dancing sheep).
I believe you all are missing out on something really special by not jumping off the train just before the Borders and then ride through the Borders to Glasgow/Edinburgh and then end the holiday there or go further north again to the likes of Pitlochry.
Or am I wrong ? I am just raising this issue as a matter of a debate and to raise awareness of this area. An area I am..... well, I am now incoherent rambling. Period. The thread is open for your views and opinions.
