Anyone been on this road a few times and care to comment on what it's like for cycling on? I recall it being fast and a bit bendy and was wondering how much leeway the average motorist was allowing.
How far north? Much of it isn't particularly enjoyable, the back road to Heriot avoids the worst (narrow/bends/fast drivers) bits and runs parallel for much of the way. At Heriot you'd have to rejoin the A7 for about 5km though, or you could detour up Heriot water and then north on B roads or smaller to Loanhead/Newtongrange area IIRC.
gtf?
Dont do it. The back road described above is the much better option - exposed and hilly though.
gtf indeed al!
Crouch/smee - thanks for confirming my suspicions. I saw the wee backroad too, but am also considering the road over Langshaw to Lauder and then the A68.
A68 is just as bad. If I was trying to get from Gala to Edinburgh I would go for the back road to Heriot, then go to the Middleton to Inners road, then follow ncn route 1 into Edinburgh.
Aye - but I'm not trying to get to Edinburgh 😉