[Closed] Edinburgh to Hawick by bike?

Presume your route is off-road? Road will be quickest.

Many cyclists use roads and live. A7 is probably fairly busy, old 7 is hilly as ****!

That route is almost perfect. The only change I would make is to avoid the section of the A7 around Gorebridge - mibbe take some of the back roads through Carrington etc. Some of that is actually signposted as NCN1.

I hope you like hills too.....

Mountbenger to Hawick is a great route.

Brilliant as long as you make it out of edinburgh ok and, as druidh says, you like a good hill or two.

Don't understand why cynic-al is saying that, must be having another inbred moment.

I've cycled to Gorebridge before, that'll be easy and safe enough, I think I'll shorten the section on the A7 to between Powdermill Brae to d turning before North Middleton.

Is it legal to cycle on the A7? I presume it's dangerous.

I remember that section being fast but open. I'll be wearing something bright for the journey. I'm glad for the warning of those hills.

Thanks.

The A7 is one of my favorite roads to cycle on. Either to or from Embra.
I think its supposed dangers (as if any road is dangerous in itself :roll:) is because there's the odd car that tries to cross the centreline on a twisty corner at the same moment another is doing the same thing.
Never had any particular issue cycling on it though

West Kipper what's the ride on the A7 all the way down to Hawick like? Would you recommend this more direct route?

The A7 is mostly a twisty, undulating road with moderately busy(being the main route down to the borders), fast traffic. There are quite a lot of blind bends which is where it gets its dodgy rep from.
I should temper the above post by saying I'm a thick-skinned, bolshie road cyclist and I'm perfectly comfortable mixing it with fast traffic- I dont always appreciate like I should that some aren't.
I should also say that it could be boring if you're doing that road on a MTB, but equally it is probably the shortest, most direct route.

I do have a road bike and a full face helmet and body armour, how's tat for a combination.. lol. Hmm.. I'm tempted by both route..hmm.. still a wee while to decide.

The B709's a fantastic road... Though I have to admit I've never cycled it, I'd make a rubbish roadie but once you add an engine it's brilliant. Great views, and it's mostly a fairly interesting, meandering road though there's one very dull straight section.

Would suggest the A7 to Heriot then the C road that follows the A7 onto Clovenfords, thro the Selkirk via Yair and then back onto the A7 to Hawick.

Call me a softie but if I was in the Borders, riding the length of the A7 would be well down my list of things to do.

+1 wonnyj

I like the A7, as a very fast A road - easy to average 70+ from the M6 to Selkirk... not for cycling at all though.

A nicer route (not sure about the Edinburgh to Lauder piece, but Lauder to Melrose on the SUW, and then Melrose to Hawick via Lillesleaf is country roads and very rolling.

+ 1 lilliesleaf, that's my home village 8)

wonnyj

Was it you that my son and I chatted to on the Eildens over Christmas, we were sledging with a crazy spaniel, and you'd been for a 'loop'?

No buddy, i didn't really get out over christmas as much as i would have liked. The Eildons are great for biking though, especially approached from the Bowden side. Pretty full on sledging I'd imagine.

Cdaimers route is possibly as-the-crow-flies shorter, maybe more interestng too.

... though I still like the A7 (despite b r's attitude) for cycling on.
I typically use it on a regular 120 mile loop, and always enjoy moseyin' out of Galasheils heading back to Edinburgh.

The A7 is suicidal.. fast cars, blind corners, narrow lanes.. scary combination.

"fast cars, blind corners, narrow lanes"
You are describing roads in Scotland in general.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport-environment/scotland-s-road-fatalities-at-lowest-since-records-began-1.1036373

I find the A7 wide, well surfaced and with good visibility. Were you on the A7

cycled it a few times and motorcycled it a lot.

I certainly don't mean the whole of the A7, but there were a few places I didn't like at all should I encounter an aggressive driver, especially with how fast cars are travelling. Though fatalities has fallen, accident has increase for motorcycle and cyclist user also that's with many people being more frugal at our current times with high petrol, and less money to go around. There's a drop in car usuage after about 50 years of constant increase.