Rides in the Scottish Borders- Borders Brake-away Group

Cycle rides in the Scottish Borders

Rides in the Scottish Borders- Borders Brake-away Group

Borders Brake-away organises rides in the Scottish Borders. Our starting points are spread around the area, with good parking should you need to transport a bike to the start. Rides vary from 20 to 50 miles, and are typically about 10mph average on the road. Usually small groups, and riding on very quiet roads. The group organisers are Jennie Johnston and Nigel Cliffe. Details of rides are discussed on our email group. Join the group email list https://groups.io/g/bordersbrakeaway Or contact both Jennie and Nigel on email bordersbrakeaway+owner@groups.io

 

Rides for 2022

The ride plan for 2022 will be created during the winter and early spring of 2022, in discussion with members of the email group.   It is hoped to start organised rides in March, when the weather is a little warmer, though it’s always possible that we’ll get a warm early spring week when a ride could be arranged.   Anyone on the email group can put forward a ride – just give others the time and starting place.   

All our rides are for the social aspect of riding – having a chat whilst enjoying the scenery, the exact distance or speed are not that important.   Typically ride groups average 10mph, faster downhill, slower uphill.  But we ride with the pace of others and wait for people.    Rest stops can be roadside picnics or in cafes, often decided by the rider in the few days ahead of the ride.   Distances vary from 30 miles to 50 miles or more, the longer rides tending to be in the middle of summer.

Ride starting places will vary, the Borders is a big area!   In 2021, we started from Harestanes, Kelso, Peebles, Rutherford, and forestry carparks at Peel and near Bonchester Bridge. All places with lots of space to park cars – recognising that the Border’s population is very spread out, and almost anyone will have to move their bike to a ride start.   It’s a reasonable guess that similar starting places will be used in 2022.    If lacking transport to move your bike to a starting point please ask, someone may have space to carry your bike. 

If you’re on holiday in the area and want to join us for a ride, we’d be very pleased to see you.   We’re happy to see all sorts of bikes and riders, just so long as the bike is roadworthy.  E-bikes are fine if you have one.

Further details of rides can be found by joining the group email list:   https://groups.io/g/bordersbrakeaway       

 

 

Review of 2021

2021 began with Covid restrictions still in place, though rides were permitted subject to complying with various rules.   So, the 2021 ride season began on March 20th with a figure-of-8 route from Harestanes (near Ancrum) of 31 miles.  The figure-of-8 allowed people to join for only part of the ride.  As it happened, we had nice weather and everybody stayed for both halves of the ride.  The figure-of-8 approach worked well, and was used on some other rides during the year.

A total of ten rides were held through the summer at with six different starting places across the Borders area.  The last full ride of the year being in October with a 50 mile route from Kelso.  Some of our group also joined the riders from Berwick Cyclists on their two rides starting from Berwick in Northumberland.   A group Christmas lunch was held in December at Walkerburn (near Innerleithen).   

2021’s rides were mostly arranged at fairly short notice.  This had the advantage of playing to the weather; only one was affected by bad weather, the remainder all had sunny weather and not too much wind.   The good weather also meant that most rides in 2021 had picnic lunches outside, either carried by riders from the start, or bought from a local shop near the lunch stop.  Eating outside helped with ensuring we stayed away from Covid risks. 

 

 

 

 

Borders Brakeaway rides 2021

Date

Starting point

Route

Approximate distance

Sat 20 March

Harestanes

Figure of eight. First loop to Minto, second loop to Roxburgh

50 km / 31 miles total

Sat 3 April

Kelso

Figure of eight. First loop to Makerstoun and Stichill, second loop to Hadden and Lempitlaw

61 km / 38 miles total

Wed 21 April

Glenkinnon car park, near Peel

Tweed Valley to Peebles and back

49 km / 31 miles

Sat 15 May

Kelso

Branxton, Ford, Milfield, Yetholm

67 km / 42 miles

Sat 29 May

Glenkinnon car park, near Peel

Innerleithen, Granites, Heriot, Stow, Clovenfords

63 km / 39 miles

Sun 27 June

Hells Hole car park, Wauchope Forest, near Hawick

Whitrope, Hermitage Castle, Newcastleton, Saughtree

64 km / 40 miles

Fri 23 July

Border Berries, Rutherford, near St Boswells

Roxburgh, Kelso, Mindrum, Yetholm, Kalemouth, Nisbet

68 km / 43 miles

Tue 24 August

Kelso

Roxburgh, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose, Dryburgh Bridge, Clintmains

60 km / 37 miles

Sun 29 August

Peebles

Walkerburn via Tweed valley cycle path/minor roads

35 km / 22 miles (approx)

Fri 15 October

Kelso

Figure of eight. First loop to Nisbet and Roxburgh, second loop to East Learmouth and Yetholm

78 km / 49 miles total