Thinking of giving myself a week to ride home (Oxford way) from Edinburgh at some point this summer.

Off-road as much as possible of course, bikepacking / B&B.

Any tips on routes or general advice? I like the idea of using ancient routes – drove roads, for example – where possible …?

(I see there’s the Cross Borders Drove Road, for starters, which looks rideable enough?)

The CBDR is what I would suggest, but avoid the bit between Harperrig and the Cauldstane Slap. You could start in the centre of Edinburgh, head out on the WoL to Currie/Balerno then over the Red Road and Monks Rig to Ninemileburn. You can get to Carlops then take the old road to West Linton that runs on the north side of the current road.

You could take the Capital Trail as far as Melrose.

Bikepacking Scotland: The Capital Trail

And then pickup the St Cuthberts Way to the coast.

Home

And then the Sandstone Way to Hexham.

http://www.sandstoneway.co.uk/category/Full-Route/routes

The CBDR could also be used to get you down to the SUW, and then across to the St Cuthbert.

Terrific, thanks both, and useful links, b r