Scotland SE Winter Bothy, Now Sat 12.

[Ray Young]

More emphasis on socialising on the Saturday this year unless you want to make your own way there.
Saturday, meet at a pub in Lauder at 5.30-6.00 pm, pub to be decided. Easy seven mile ride to Bunnies Bothy in the Lammermuir Hills.
Sunday, approx 25 mile return to Lauder mostly on good moorland double track.

Bunnies Bothy has a fire, big table, lots of chairs and plenty of sleeping space albeit on a concrete floor.
The two times I have visited it has had wood and coal but I will do a coal drop prior to the Saturday.
Bring an X mini II speaker if you have one (the more we connect together the longer the sounds will last) and some music of your choice on phone, mp3 etc.

[Gari]

Where's the nearest train station Ray? Sans car this year but really fancy a group ride.

[ScotRoutes]

Where's the nearest train station Ray? Sans car this year but really fancy a group ride.

Stow - on the newly re-opened Borders Railway

[Gari]

First glance (without my glasses) I thought you had written Stow on the Wold, long bloody ride that!
I shall consult Google maps, thanks.

[Ray Young]

Hi Gari, was gonna drive down but could get the train with you from Edinburgh to Stow.

[restlessshawn]

Shall I pretend I am going to turn up then have some kind of freak out / breakdown and not turn up as usual?*

*I'll try and make it honest!

[voodoo_simon]

Also international fat bike day on the 5th

[Ray Young]

Shall I pretend I am going to turn up then have some kind of freak out / breakdown and not turn up as usual?*

*I'll try and make it honest!

It's the thought that counts, honest .

[restlessshawn]

Shall I pretend I am going to turn up then have some kind of freak out / breakdown and not turn up as usual?*

*I'll try and make it honest!

It's the thought that counts, honest .

[Gari]

If I can get a train connection for the last train back to Aviemore on the Sunday I am in.
Actually I could stay over on the bothy one more night if not eh.
Just off to the station, wait one, out.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I can't believe you're having it on the 5th Ray and not the 12th with the rest of the UK ... bloody independence party splitters

[Gari]

So had a look at trains, works fine. But having spent a little time looking at maps it appears that the bothy is right on the capital trail.. I need to use up quite a few days hols before end Jan so may do some/all of the CT. Whats the first section to the bothy like Ray? Worth doing or just get the train to Stow and finish from Bunnies?

[jamiep]

I'll be getting there from Edinburgh via the CT route. But Gari TBH that part isn't very exciting - canal path out of Edinburgh, some road and some track, uninteresting off-road (but nice views from high up), bothy

[ootini]

Just had a gander at trains, apparently it is impossible to get a train from Wales (anywhere in Wales) to this Stow you speak of.

[restlessshawn]

So had a look at trains, works fine. But having spent a little time looking at maps it appears that the bothy is right on the capital trail.. I need to use up quite a few days hols before end Jan so may do some/all of the CT. Whats the first section to the bothy like Ray? Worth doing or just get the train to Stow and finish from Bunnies?

That's an idea, I could ride the CT from Melrose up to the Bothy. With pints in Lauder on the way...

[Ray Young]

Gari, what Jamiep says.

Just had a gander at trains, apparently it is impossible to get a train from Wales (anywhere in Wales) to this Stow you speak of.

Will you not be attending the Welsh one though?

[Gari]

Right then, so I shall try to book the train to Stow. I can then set off to complete the CT loop, clockwise, over a few days Sunday eve, once we're finished.

[ootini]

Gari, what Jamiep says.

Just had a gander at trains, apparently it is impossible to get a train from Wales (anywhere in Wales) to this Stow you speak of.

Will you not be attending the Welsh one though?

Welsh one ?

[Scattamah]

@Ootini - there are a number of winter social rides in different locations around the country. The Welsh one will be a lot closer for you to get to. I, for one, am looking forward to another sub-zero ride into the darkness of winter Wales.

Greetz

S.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Welsh one ?

Winter bivvy ... it's a Bear Bones tradition. Scotland, northern England and Wales*. England and Wales will be Dec 12th/13th with more details to follow no doubt.

*with any luck there might even be a shandy drinking version this year too.

[fatbikephil]

Would like to Join you Ray but annoyingly I have another commitment on the Sunday. That said if there is loads of snow that will be cancelled so I'll be there!

[Yorlin]

Hey this looks great! And yeah that bothy is on the Capital Trail (I think people stayed at it) but... is it open all the the time? I know it's not a MBA one and somewhere (I can't remember where) I read that sometimes it is closed. I could well be completely wrong!

[Ray Young]

but... is it open all the the time? I know it's not a MBA one and somewhere (I can't remember where) I read that sometimes it is closed. I could well be completely wrong!

Anybody know anything about this possibility? I have done a net search but Bunnies Bothy doesn't come up.

[ootini]

Welsh one ?

Winter bivvy ... it's a Bear Bones tradition. Scotland, northern England and Wales*. England and Wales will be Dec 12th/13th with more details to follow no doubt.

*with any luck there might even be a shandy drinking version this year too.

Ah Ok thanks.

[Yorlin]

I can not find anywhere where it said it might be closed... so I guess we can assume it's okay? I reckon the guy who planned the route for the Capital Trail might know... But isn't that Markus Stitz, and isn't he cycling round the world right now? :D

Slightly more helpful, the capital trail map is still up, and the bothy is marked on. http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=rwwsmeyynxwditmc

Found it on google maps too (not marked, just visible in the satellite) - looks a great location. I will try and find the time to have a wee look!