In one year's time.

[Ray Young]

Just thought I'd let you know that I am currently working on a ride for next years summer solstice which is June 21st and falls on a Saturday. It is going to be a lot harder than the one I put together this year being a 250 mile long circular route with approximately 30,300 feet of climbing and is set in the Scottish Borders starting and finishing in Melrose. There is a theme to the ride which is "Historic Highways". There are currently six of them included ranging from roads from Ancient Briton to Roman roads to old "named" trade routes. There are also some additional un-named drove roads and a dismantled railway line thrown into the mix. A lot of the route I have already ridden, other parts I need to ride to see if they exist on the ground as I want minimal bike hike sections. It will take me a while to finalise the route so it may not be posted up in "anyone playing out" for some time. Thanks for taking the time to read this and hope some of you will be interested in riding it at whatever pace you choose.

[restlessshawn]

Anything within 15 miles or so of Melrose you are unsure about I might know or be able to check without much hassle if you want.

[Ray Young]

Hi Restless, thanks. What's the Southern Upland Way like from Gala up to The Three Brethren and have you ever ridden Dere Street? I intend to ride Dere Street out from Melrose towards The Cheviots and back at some point as it just takes my fancy, maybe on an overnighter.

[Lughnasadh]

Sounds appealing.
I will keep an eye out for this for next year!

[Blackhound]

If indication's from Mrs B are to be believed we might be away, could be interested in an ITT at an earlier date if that was agreeable.

[welshwhit]

Cracking idea, like the theme too!

Drew

[Ray Young]

Blackhound, if your doing it as an ITT then the solstice is just a suggested date, no reason why you couldn't ride it earlier.

[restlessshawn]

Hi Restless, thanks. What's the Southern Upland Way like from Gala up to The Three Brethren and have you ever ridden Dere Street? I intend to ride Dere Street out from Melrose towards The Cheviots and back at some point as it just takes my fancy, maybe on an overnighter.

SUW from Yair bridge to 3b is fine bit of a slog up but rideable unladen (might have to push a couple of short steep bits with camping gear on), not ridden it from Gala to there.

Only bit of Dere street I have ridden is Maxton to Ancrum, where it is also St. Cuthbert's way. There were alot of styles on that short section as it's a walking trail there really and not bike or horse. The styles got so annoying I stopped in Ancrum (which has a great pub) for 2 pints then cycled home

[Ray Young]

Thanks restless, have you by any chance ridden the borders abbeys way from Jedburgh through Hawick to Selkirk?

[restlessshawn]

I've starting at Ashkirk to Hawick, all ridable because it is also a horse route (Buccleuch ride), but that does mean it gets cut up in places (I did it when it's dry)

Hawick to Denholm follows the river and is quite nice with only a few styles I remember

Denholm to Ruberslaw(ish) is fine but I ran out of time the day I rode it and cut onto the road and home

[pushbikemike]

Hi Ray. I did the drove roads from peebles through west linton over cauldstane and then back over bore stane carlops and through The Meldons back to peebles. All cracking trails for bikepacking. Are you using any of them? Mike

[restlessshawn]

Hi Ray. I did the drove roads from peebles through west linton over cauldstane and then back over bore stane carlops and through The Meldons back to peebles. All cracking trails for bikepacking. Are you using any of them? Mike

Do you have a gpx of that please Mike? Or is it really obviously marked as drove roads on the OS maps?

[pushbikemike]

Do you have a gpx of that please Mike? Or is it really obviously marked as drove roads on the OS maps?

I'll sort out the gpx file for you Shawn. Will email it when I get a chance.

[restlessshawn]

Great thanks, I need a litle trip

[Ray Young]

Thanks again restless, thinking of detouring onto the borders abbeys way towards the end of dere st after your comments on all the styles. This would mean starting at Jedburgh and avoiding Melrose/Gala. Mike, I've ridden borestane and cauldstane many times. Recently did Some of Meldon hills which I enjoyed very much. Not including these bits on the planned route though.