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Dave S
Cheshire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 200
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
22 Jul 2007 17:14 |
Hi folks
We are thinking of staying Friday, Saturday in Hawick or further South down A7.
So far, Saturday round trip pieced together out of sections from www.bestbikingroads.com looks like:
Hawick, Selkirk, Yarrow Water, Traquair, Humbie, Haddington, Grantshouse, Coldstream, Kelso, A699, Lanton, Hawick.
May extend to Peebles. Includes a big chunk of the A1, unfortunately. Any local knowledge re accommodation, route greatly appreciated.
Regards
Dave
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Jim Tait
Scotland,
United Kingdom
Posts: 13
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (04->)
23 Jul 2007 22:00 |
One of the most common haunts for bikers round this area is the Edinburgh to Moffat (A701) route then Moffat to Selkirk (A708). If the weathers good you'll see a few bikes congregating in Moffat. Theres a few coffee shops , guest houses , hotels etc here. The road just coming into Moffat is pretty good and twisty (Devils Beeftub) with some decent views.
The road from Moffat to Selkirk is a bit bumpy to begin with , but there are some good views aswell , notabley the 'Grey Mares Tail' which is a large waterfall. Once the road improves you'll come to a cafe at St Mary's Loch. There are always a few bikes stopping off here for a break at the weekend.
I dont know enough about places to stay , but Kelso hosts the BMF Bikefest , so there's plenty of choice here , also Peebles should be pretty good for accomodation.
Good luck.
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Pa
GREAT BRITAIN !,
United Kingdom
Posts: 7,007
Premier Member
Sprint ST (02-04)
24 Jul 2007 21:08 |
Jim, yer no be any relation to the Langholm Taits would Ye ?
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Dave S
Cheshire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 200
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
24 Jul 2007 22:09 |
Thanks, Jim. Moffat added to route plan....
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JohntheJock
Newcastle,
United Kingdom
Posts: 1,615
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
24 Jul 2007 23:21 |
[edited]:
Coldstream A697 has more than its fair share of speed cameras on the Scottish side, also the A68.
What dates are you talking about I might manage a ride along part of the route.
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Dave S
Cheshire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 200
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
25 Jul 2007 13:42 |
JtJ, Not for a while...we have now settled on Sep 7-9 staying in Langholm on the A7 which is a handy spot for a few of us to join up coming from different directions....we'll probably meet with a couple more on the Saturday near Jedburgh...Saturday night will be spent over a few beers in Langholm reminding ourselves how we rode like gods...the usual stuff....
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Jim Tait
Scotland,
United Kingdom
Posts: 13
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (04->)
25 Jul 2007 17:56 |
North West Pa , I dont think I have any relations in the Langholm area. Although I know there are a fair sprinkling of Taits in the Borders area. I live in Port Seton on the east coast from Edinburgh (Iam originally from Prestonpans) and we're as rare as hens teeth.
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Jim Tait
Scotland,
United Kingdom
Posts: 13
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (04->)
25 Jul 2007 18:10 |
Dave S , on a few occasions there can be a police presence round this area . So just be aware . I think there was talk of an unmarked grey BMW recently going around the area. The only thing I've seen was a Police van handing out leaflets at St Mary's Loch advising bikers on what to look out for on the roads when your putting the gas on a bit, even advising about 'drain covers on the bends'.
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JohntheJock
Newcastle,
United Kingdom
Posts: 1,615
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
26 Jul 2007 19:39 |
Dave S
I'll check this thread nearer the time for an update 
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Terence of the North
Seaside fogland,
United Kingdom
Posts: 8,072
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
26 Jul 2007 20:56 |
dave
Me too
It all depends on whether you want to go to see castles and other sightseeing etc on your runs.
There is no need to do any miles at all on the A1
To get from Haddington to Berwick on the border, take the B6355 over the hills through Cranshaws and Ellemford as fast as you like.
All borders A roads have cameras, mostly on the scottish side. They are mostly well signposted.
The very best roads are policed at weekends but otherwise very quiet.
Selkirk to Moffat (stopping at the Glen cafe at St Marys Loch, plus the Grey Mares Tail waterfall) is tremendous and shouldnt be missed, but heavily policed at weekends (by decent well meaning coppers)
The very best road in the area is south from Hawick via Bonchester Bridge through the forest towards Longtown.
Either
at Saughtree turn east through Kielder forest towards Newcastle
or
keep going south to Longtown then Brampton.
At Brampton you have many choices. i.e.
Go home via the M6
OR
Go south down the B6413 to Langwathby then up the amazing A696 to the cafe on top of Hartside summit, then on to Alston and down through Weardale via the A689 to the A1.
If you want to stray further into my county (Northumberland) and do some coastal stuff and more hills or castles, just let me know, email me on here.
Terry F
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Dave S
Cheshire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 200
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
27 Jul 2007 21:46 |
NE Terry, studying the map your suggestions look great. The Saughtree-Kielder road isn't exactly obvious unless you know it's there! This is the route we are probably taking (subject to change, of course) Sat. 8 Sep:
Langholm-Selkirk-Kelso-Jedburgh (break here)-Bonchester Bridge-Saughtree-Kielder-Wark-Lees Hill-Langholm with a quick detour to Eskdalemuir (to see the Buddha, apparently). About 180 miles. Should be plenty for a bunch of old gits on a nice day out. intent on multiple tea/ coffee stops
NET, JtJ (anybody else) great to catch up with you if you're around. Hopefully it will have stopped raining by then.
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Terence of the North
Seaside fogland,
United Kingdom
Posts: 8,072
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
27 Jul 2007 22:50 |
OK
the Samye Ling monastery is NW of Langholm on the B709 road
Langholm to Selkirk
There is or was a cafe next to the Shell Garage at the juction of the A7 and A699 in Selkirk
Selkirk to St Boswells to Kelso. Park in the Market place in Kelso, (the whole town centre is cobbled!) ask where the cafes are. Theres one next to W H Smiths.
Kelso to Jedburgh. As you come into Jedburgh from the north down the hill from Bonjedward there are two big woollen mill shops with car parks cafes and bogs on the right.
Jedburgh to Bonchester bridge (flat out) to Saughtree, turn left for Kielder. Mind the sheep.
Either go to the castle in Kielder village or to Tower Knowe visitor centre at the SE end of the lake or to Bellingham village/town for bogs and shops etc
To get back to Langholm from Bellingham go south a bit then either
take the military road B6318 or the A69 west to Brampton
OR much much better
take the A686 from Haydon Bridge through Alston and up onto Hartside summit for a stop at the bikers cafe. What a road and what a view.
Then either
back down to Alston, A689 to Brampton, A6071 to Longtown and A7 to Langholm.
or down the other side of the mountain to Langwathby, north thro Salkeld, Croglin, Cumrew etc to Brampton and on to Langholm.
Every yards a good un!!
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JohntheJock
Newcastle,
United Kingdom
Posts: 1,615
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
05 Sep 2007 19:51 |
[edited]:
Dave S
Do we have a final plan. 
Where will you be on Saturdy morning ? time ? 
Where will you be on Sunday morning ? time ?
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JohntheJock
Newcastle,
United Kingdom
Posts: 1,615
Premier Member
Speed Triple (05->)
09 Sep 2007 01:21 |
Dave S
I will make my appologies now won't make it tomorrow.
Well not till after 12 at least 
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<TRIP>
st johns wood.london,
United Kingdom
Posts: 7,543
Premier Member
Daytona 955i (02CE, 03)
09 Sep 2007 16:42 |
cos ,he will be in his sack pissed up.
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Dave S
Cheshire,
United Kingdom
Posts: 200
Premier Member
Sprint RS (02-05)
10 Sep 2007 15:22 |
JtJ. Good job you were pissed up as I wasn't able to confirm plans because I was working away and didn't get on line. This is what we did:
Saturday: A7 to Hawick and on to Selkirk. B707 then A72 to Peebles
A703 to Leadburn, B6094 to Roslin
Back down B6094 then cut across B6372 towards Gorebridge.
A7 South for a few miles and then picked up B709 across a golf course (bit odd, that) towards Innerleithen and on to Mountbenger.
A708 West to cafe at St Mary’s Loch (fantastic spot)
Back to Mountbenger and A709 return to Langholm stopping at the Buddhist temple.
Sunday: A7 to Hawick again.
B698 East to meet A68. A68 South to Jedburgh. B6357 to Bonchester Bridge and on to Saughtree.
Then onto the unlisted road that runs through the sheep pasture and down the side of Kielder. (To visitors centre).
Back onto the unlisted road and on to Bellingham.
B6320 to Chollerford.
Return home via cafe in the Quarry just North of Stanhope, Alston, Hartside, Penrith.
We were really lucky with the weather and the B&B (Border House) was excellent...run by bikers. Superb roads and not half the traffic you would get further South. Top weekend.
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Terence of the North
Seaside fogland,
United Kingdom
Posts: 8,072
Premier Member
Sprint ST (05->)
11 Sep 2007 19:40 |
Pleased you had a good trip
JTJ and I went through a fair bit of that area on Saturday 9th )before he went off to his beerfest!
Isnt the cafe at St Marys loch a gem of a place?
you noticed the lack of traffic.... (no telling anybody please..... )
Y'all come back now!
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