I have a weekend on the Boarders coming up. Been to Golfie twice and wondering where to try next? Been looking at Thornielee and Yair. Staying slightly south of the valley so Yair potentially slightly closer but not much in it. Which would you choose if you only had 1 day? Or somewhere else?

Have you rode the Plora craig side? ie the uplift side, there’s some fantastic trails over there.

I was at Yair yesterday – slippery, but everywhere is at the mo.

Go ride at Yair – more than enough for a days’ riding.

Thornielee is great. Tiny next to Golfie etc but good riding.
Yair would be my choice as I’ve not ridden it but reports are good. Plenty there as well.

I bloody love Yair – the trails there are spaced in such a way that it feels more like a proper ride than the shuttling stuff in Inners and the Golfie.

Can’t comment on the conditions, I live in the Central Belt so haven’t been able to visit for the last two weeks.

Yair would be my suggestion. It is a bit more of a ride than a straight up and down like golfie. Very different terrain as well which makes for some nice variety

Yair and Thornie always seem like a step up from most of the Golfie stuff . If your riding yair park at the north car park (Caddonfoot i think) then head to the southern car park and start from there. The climb out of the car park is a brute but you will get to get to 2 hoes bro at the bottom turn left and push back up and do Raeless revenge . Again turn left and follow the fire road which climbs a wee bit for about a mile or so then head up to the left to get to the 3 brethern . From there youve got the top of Double Decker which is a bit of a handfull near the bottom.
Turn right then look to the hill on the left and cross the wee burn. head up the switch back climb to the top then turn left. Head down the land rover track and take the second on the right about 200 yards look for a break in the trees and thats your final 10 minute push to get to the wee cairn in the forest . Look to your left and follow Forbidden fruit to the bottom and your car. Forbidden fruit gets really steep right at the end so pick either the left or right line but not the middle unless you want a trip to A&E.
Also dont rule out a morning at Cademuir beside Peebles , wee short trails like Thornie but not as steep.

to the left to get to the 3 brethern

When you get to the Saddle, turn hard left and go down “Off The Saddle”. Then back up and follow the route described.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Especially stanfree – very helpful! I will print that out and take it with me 🙂

Yair, Thornielee or Bowhill for South end of the Valley, was at Yair recently

Yair video

Cool Breeze, 2 Hoes Bro, raylees revenge, Hot Spaghetti, Double Decker and Yair Man all personal favourites not keen on Forbidden Fruit but its all down to preferences and choices.

Trailforks is likely to have ride reports available that may mention conditions – they are subjective but may give an idea…

Double Decker – a handful at the bottom is it heck as like. If you’d written that with forbidden fruit. Quarry descent to DD is one of my favourite trails in the valley of all the ones I’ve ridden. I do love Yair though and would choose it over all the others I’ve done if I HAD to pick only one.

Which would you choose if you only had 1 day?

Thornielee and Yair

Do both. Thornielee can be done in 2 – 3 hours. And Yair is as long as you make it.

Pop up to Yair in the morning, do like a 8-12, grab some lunch, and spend the afternoon doing laps at Thornielee. It’s only one spiral fireroad to the top, which takes about 30 minutes.

Double Decker – a handful at the bottom is it heck as like. If you’d written that with forbidden fruit.

Kind of meant that the top is a balls out blast where as the bottom is pretty packed with wee drops etc , but each to their own.

Another vote for Yair.
I like it that much we’ve just bought a house thats a 6 mile pedal away.
Can’t wait to move.

Noooooo I’m so jealous, that’s where we want to move to!!

Yair it is then! Can’t wait. Arrived in Morebattle today. Prob won’t ride tomorrow. Any locals want to ride Monday?