Heading over to Peebles soon with a group of riders & a couple of us were considering a ride over to Minch Moor bothy for an overnight.

I've got an OS Landranger map of the area & a gps unit but almost no local knowledge. Can anyone recommend a route in the area or maybe even have a gps file they's be willing to share?

What sort of distance do you want to do? Are you interested in trail centres?

Hi Ray

Nothing epic, probably about 20-30km outbound from Peebles & 20-40km return.
Don't mind trail centres, it's the reason for the group visit really. Would be good to see some natural stuff though.

Will sort some suggestions for you.

Thanks Ray, much appreciated

Hi Wotsits, given the distances you want to do I think you will need to use some of the Innerleithan xc route to pad things out if that's OK. A natural return on day two can only mean one thing, the descent down to Peebles from Birkscairn Hill, a classic. The most natural route will have some bikehike to bring you out at Birkscairn Hill or take a more direct route and again pad the miles out on the Innerleithan xc route. I'll send gpx tracks for you if you can pm me your email address.

Sounds good Ray, i'm not adverse to a bit of H-a-B.

I'll send you a pm now

Do as much of Glentress as you can bear, then take the black route to the lowest point on Deliverance. There's a wee path out of Glentress past a farm and many gates, then you can descend to the main road. Head past Cardrona and take the back road to Traquair and then the Innerleithen XC. You can either climb up to the bothy, or you can climb beyond the bothy to Minch Moor and then descend Plora Craig and take the fire road at the end of it back down to the bothy.

Second day as Ray said.

Last time I was at Glentress, we got chatting to a couple of guys - turned out one of them was a guide who was taking the other on some natural trails. They turned off the black route not far after the mast (just before the boundry trail starts). The guide said there was a natural route across the hills from there that took you to Innerliethen - they were then going to go from there and do part of the Southern Upland way across the 3 Brethren toward Selkirk before looping back round to Innerliethen again. Does anyone know this route?

Hi Wotsits, email sent for you.

Thanks for the routes Ray & advice Alastair, much appreciated!

Will let you know how i get on..

Rudedog i've no idea about the route you've mentioned, hopefully someone else can help. Otherwise i'll try to ask someone when i'm up there..