On a few of our recent mini-adventures (Southern Upland Way, St Cuthberts Way, Justice Trail) we have met the Borders Abbeys Way (BAW) walking route. We even followed a section of this route partway between Melrose and Selkirk on one ride and this piqued our interest. So here we are, in Selkirk, to see if the route is a "goer" on our bikes.
As with many of these long distance trails we have enjoyed, we will ride it as out and back sections. We parked up in the centre of Selkirk with todays ride taking us over to Hawick and back, but first, we headed East for a few km's on back roads to meet the "end point" of our previous 'tester' ride on Lindean Moor. The section of the BAW back to Selkirk was a little gem following singletrack paths through the Selkirk Hills.
Back into Selkirk and todays ride started proper as we headed out through the grounds of The Haining and this intriguing wall in a field (apparently a Dovecote - remains of)...
As we crossed rolling farmland we soon realised this was definitely a walkers route but nothing we could not handle...
Farmland turned into Sitka Spruce as we climbed on to Woll Rigg after joing forces with the Cross Borders Drove Road (another future route idea) and a little 'incident'. A large fox ran in front of my bike, I stopped, Jill didn't and rear-ended me. A little manipulation on one bent rotor and off we went again. Our next sighting was best described as "maybe one for the Stone enthusiast rather than the general public"...
Route followed the Thief Road smack through the middle of Woll Golf Course - although none of the golferists seem to mind our incursion.
Some really nice trails took us across Askirk Hill but the mist decended - waving goodbye to views and the Cross Borders Drove Road we plunged down into Hawick.
We returned to Selkirk via a different route, initially following the old Waverley railway line then minor roads and tracks until we were back at The Haining and the waiting van and ice cream. The route was fine on the bikes - a few stiles but nothing mental. Looking foward to the next leg once we can get back over this way.
Have always thought about doing route on a bike so will watch with interest on your next update. Cheers
Been a while since we updated this little trip report so let's get it up to date.
We did complete the loop earlier this year but I couldn't get the photos to upload on the forum at the time so gave up.
Seems more stable now.
Hawick to Jedburgh
Finding ourselves with a spare long weekend (and dry weather forecast) we quickly made a booking with Sheila at Hundelee House (Jedburgh) for a couple nights and headed over from Ayrshire with the bikes. On the way over, we popped into Ancrum and borrowed the key for a mooch inside the Monteith Mausoleum that we had only ever seen driving by on the main road.
Back on the Borders Abbeys Way and we set off from Jedburgh up over Black Law and some great rolling singletrack towards Bedrule. Soon hit a tricky style crossing - one of the BAW signature features, unfortunately.
After a look at Bedrule Kirk we continued along tracks and field edges before climbing through an interesting glamping site (Ruberslaw Wild Wood) then dropping again, down toward Denholm. Staying true to the Borders Abbeys Way trail, we hugged the river paths from here all the way to Hawick and right into the town centre.
For a bit of variation for the return, we climbed south out of Hawick up steep urban pathways and lanes onto Millers Knowes. Then Borders backroads to Cavers and sneaked through the estate for a look at the old Cavers House ruins before retracing our steps back to Jedburgh and the welcoming arms of Sheila at the BnB.
Jedburgh to Kelso
Full Scottish then headed North from Jedburgh out towards Nisbet where we picked up the old Waverley railway to Roxburgh. Had time for a small detour up to the Waterloo Monument.
From Roxburgh we followed a pretty tricky riverside path along the Teviot to Kelso and a quick looksee at the abbey. Sarnies consumed and it was back to Jedburgh along back roads as we attempted to outpace the rain clouds chasing us.
Kelso to Melrose
Our final leg (as we had previously ridden from Melrose to Selkirk) and we opted to start from Melrose (as it's closer to home) and the magnificent abbey.
Climbed out of Melrose up past the Rhymers Stone and over to Newtown St Boswells on quiet tarmac before picking up some delicious narrow single track along to Dryburgh.
Then it was along the Tweed (avoiding Mertoun House estate) before branching away from the river and staying a bit higher through rolling farm land. Eventually dropping down past the race course and through the housing estates of Kelso.
Opted for an alternate return (mostly back roads) that took us past Floors Castle and back via the magnificent Wallace Statue and it's view of the Eildon Hills before dropping down past the Leaderfoot viaduct and back to the waiting van.
And that was the Borders Abbeys Way!
We enjoyed it, definitely not designed with biking in mind for many parts but that's the fun of it for us, we don't mind a bit of scrambling, lifting, hiking as long as the countryside and views are there to rewards us. Takes me right back to my early days of 80/90's biking and why I fell in love with my "ATB".
Cheers
Vincent and Jill
Some excellent photographs there, thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the update. Still haven't done it myself.