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    Road Cycling

    Tour of the Borders

    7 reviews

    Next Trip: 10th - 16th Aug 2024 Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

    From: £2,495 View Prices & Dates

    Travel Planning & Advice

    Book With Confidence

    Trip created by Craig Little
    View Craig's Profile

    Region: Multi-Location
    Trip Type: Road Cycling
    Accommodation: Classic
    Max Group Size: 8
    Confirmed: When 3 Travellers Book
    Deposit From: £642

    Grading:

    Carbon Footprint: 122kg ? What does this mean?
    Click here to find out about our carbon labelling project and what we're doing to be more sustainable.

    All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.

    Download Itinerary

    The Borders is the part of Scotland south of Edinburgh that borders England – hence the name. This part of Scotland is an under-appreciated gem of Scottish scenery, history and culture.

    Dotted with quaint villages and castles this area has spectacular scenery from rolling hills and lush glens to winding rivers and a beautiful coastline. Its quiet country roads mean it’s one of the best areas of Scotland to explore by bike.

    With one guide on the road with you and a support guide in the van, we’ll explore some of the best riding that the Scottish Borders has to offer, stopping to visit some incredible locations finishing on the beautiful east coast.

    Need a bike? See our bike hire page for details.

    Trip Highlights

    • Ride the quiet and winding roads of the Scottish Borders through glens, over hills and down leafy river valleys.
    • Discover Scotland's deep and rich history as you visit Rosslyn Chapel and other sites along the way.
    • Enjoy a visit to Tantallon Castle - a dramatic medieval fortress ruin with breathtaking coastal views.

    Day by Day Itinerary

    Day 1 – Rosslyn Chapel to Peebles

    Our first day eases us into the trip with a short ride and lots of history to discover. We meet at Edinburgh Gateway station on the edge of Edinburgh and transfer south of the city to Rosslyn Chapel. This world-famous 15th-century gothic church features unique and beautiful stone carvings. Depending on who you ask, they hold clues to either the Holy Grail’s location or the Knights Templar’s lost treasure. After a look around, we climb on our bikes and begin our ride. A short distance later, we reach the village of Temple, where we will have a quick visit to the ruined Old Kirk that dates from the 13th century. Afterwards, we spend the remainder of the day riding through rolling green countryside to the village of Peebles. (L, D)

    Ride details: 62 km/39 miles | 787 m/2,582 ft elevation gain

    Day 2 – Loop from Peebles

    From Peebles today we ride out along the banks of the River Tweed on winding, shady roads. Then the views open up as we ride into the glens toward the village of Tweedsmuir. From there we strike deeper into the hills, challenging ourselves with the infamous Wall Of Talla’s 20% gradient climb*. We are rewarded with stunning views of quiet lochs and we’ll break for a picnic lunch before continuing on. On the second half of our loop, we swing north again and continue on quiet roads through the glens to Traquair House, which is the oldest inhabited home in Scotland and has been in the same family since 1491. Here we’ll stop, with the option of enjoying a beer from their home brewery which itself dates from the early 1700s. From Traquair, it’s a short ride or transfer back to our accommodation in Peebles. (B, L, D)

    Ride details: 85 km/53 miles | 872 m/2,860 ft elevation gain *The Wall Of Talla is harder riding, however, the views and the ride down from the top make it more than worth the effort.

     

    Day 3 – Peebles to Melrose Abbey

    Today’s ride follows the River Tweed downstream initially, riding back toward Traquair. Passing it by we follow the course of the river on a tiny country lane, avoiding the busier main road. The river leads us to Abbotsford – the historic home of Sir Walter Scott who is perhaps the most famous of all Scottish writers, and arguably the inventor of the modern kilt. Here we’ll enjoy lunch in the cafe and a tour of the magnificent house and gardens. Afterwards, we jump back on the bikes and continue on the quiet backroads through green rolling countryside, passing a 19th Century Viaduct and a Roman Fort, before a short pedal to our overnight stay in the village of Melrose, home to the magnificent Abbey and the resting place of the heart of Robert The Bruce. (B, L, D)

    Ride details: 49 km/30 miles | 423 m/1,387 ft elevation gain

    Day 4 – A Border Raid to Bamburgh

    Today we make a raid on the border! This morning we’ll follow quiet roads which wind through a patchwork of green fields, it’s a beautiful ride where you can admire the views and listen to the birds singing in the hedgerows as you go. We cross the border and enter the Northumberland National Park, enjoying lunch in the historic market village of Wooler. This afternoon our ride takes us to the beautiful coastal town of Bamburgh. You’re free to explore with a short walk or a stroll on the beach below the impressive castle which dominates the landscape. (B, L, D)

    Ride details: 83 km/52 miles | 841 m/2,760 ft elevation gain

    Day 5 – The Holy Island of Lindisfarne

    This morning we take a short transfer up the coast and cross the causeway to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Cut off from the mainland twice a day by the tides, it’s one of the most important centres of early English Christianity. Depending on the tides we may get a chance to visit the Priory and the beautiful historic buildings. Back on the mainland, our ride winds north through the countryside towards the border. Cycling west we will cross the border twice more as we pass through Coldstream before arriving at our hotel for the evening. (B, L, D)

    Ride details: 58 km/36 miles | 518 m/1,700 ft elevation gain

    Day 6 – The Lammermuir Hills and North Berwick

    Today we cycle over the Lammermuir Hills, which form a natural boundary between the Scottish Borders and East Lothian, enjoying some longer climbs and sweeping descents. After lunch in a local village pub, we will visit Athelstaneford, part of the Scottish Saltire Trail before arriving at the coastal town of Dunbar, the birthplace of the legendary naturalist John Muir, whose love of wilderness continues to inspire us today. (B, L, D)

    Ride details: 74 km/46 miles | 1,025 m/3,370 ft elevation gain

    Day 7 – Tantallon Castle and Depart

    This morning we’ll visit Tantallon Castle, a 14th-century fortress regularly under siege until the 1700s. We will then transfer to the golf village of Gullane for tea/coffee and cake, before travelling on to Edinburgh Gateway Station, where the trip ends. (B)

     

    X
    Road Cycling
    Tour of the Borders

    To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:

    Fields marked with * are mandatory

    The phone number field is not required but if you would like us to give you a call to help find the trip for you, then enter your telephone number including the country code.

    Trip Dates & Prices

    All payments taken in local currency GBP

    Trip Dates for 2024AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
    10th Aug - 16th Aug 20246 places leftAvailable £2,495Book Now
    21st Sep - 27th Sep 20248 places leftAvailable £2,495Book Now

    Trip Details

    Accommodation Read More

    This trip features some of the best small hotels and food along the route we travel, all hand-picked by us. Accommodation is in a choice of double or twin rooms with ensuite facilities.

    Single Rooms

    There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you request a double room for single occupancy, a supplement of £525 is charged.

    Due to the nature of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis.

    Meals Read More

    This is an ‘All Inclusive’ trip. Breakfast will be provided each day at your accommodation and lunch will be either a picnic along the route or at a local cafe. Drinks and snacks are provided throughout the day as you require. Evening meals are also included throughout, included dinners are two courses as standard. Special dietary requirements are of course catered for.

    On this trip, we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guides will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations.

    Inclusions Read More
    • 6 nights accommodation in small hotels
    • All meals during the trip, from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7
      (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
    • The services of an experienced and knowledgeable guides / driver throughout
    • All transport throughout the trip starting and finishing in Edinburgh
    • Entrance to sites as stated in the itinerary
    Trip Grading Read More

    Blue Graded 4-6

    Blue graded trips are suitable for people with a good level of bike fitness, who regularly enjoy cycling and may have joined a multi-day cycle holiday before.

    Distances each day will be between 35 – 45 miles, cycling at around 12/13mph. Each day will be rolling and hilly terrain and there will be notable climbs most days. Some of these will be more testing and some riders may opt to push or ride in the support vehicle. Some climbs are also followed by exciting descents. We will be in the saddle for 5 – 7 hours each day plus the odd longer day. There is also time each day for breaks and lunches, plus some visits to sites of interest.

    Travel – Arrival and Departure Read More

    Your Guide will meet you at Edinburgh Gateway Railway Station at 11.00am on Day 1 of your trip.

    You will be returned to Edinburgh Gateway Railway Station at 1.00pm on the final day of your trip.

    Edinburgh Gateway Station has both rail and tram links from central Edinburgh:

    By rail: It is a 10 min train journey from Edinburgh Waverley or Edinburgh Haymarket with no changes.

    By tram: It is a 30 min journey on the tram route heading west from the city centre towards the airport.

    By taxi: It will take approximately 30 mins from the city centre.

    Please get in touch with us if you need any further advice.

    Bike Hire / Bringing Your Own Bike Read More
    Bike Hire

    We have an excellent fleet of bikes available to hire including road bikes, mountain bikes, and E-bikes.
    Find Out More

    Bring Your Own Bike

    You are also more than welcome to bring your own bike. If you’re bringing your E-bike along for the trip, please ensure it has a removable battery. Due to limitations around charging, E-bikes with non-removable batteries cannot be accommodated.

    If you choose to do so, please ensure it’s in excellent working condition and has been recently serviced either by you or by a reputable bike shop.

    In addition, please bring the following:

    • Multi-tool, including a chain tool
    • Mini pump and/or CO2 canisters
    • Two spare tubes and a puncture repair kit

    Because we will need to load your bike onto one of our trailers, please ensure that:

    • Your rear wheel is clear of any obstructions; including lights, mudguard or panniers
    • Your tyres are no wider than 45mm

    Due to the nature of our trips, we are unfortunately unable to carry bike boxes or bags with us, so please make prior arrangements if necessary.

    If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our friendly and knowledgable sales team are always delighted to answer any queries you may have.

    Photo Gallery

    Make This Trip Private

    Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your prefered departure date and we'll take care of the rest.

    Speak to an Expert

    Chris Page

    Our friendly office team hail from across the world but share a passion for the outdoor and wild spaces of Scotland. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service and are more than happy to chat through options and provide help and advice. Get in touch to find your perfect adventure.

    Ask Chris a Question

    Meet Your Guide

    Difficulty Grades Explained

    Blue Graded Road Cycling Holidays 4-6

    Blue graded trips are suitable for people with a good level of bike fitness, who regularly enjoy cycling and may have joined a multi-day cycle holiday before.

    Distances each day will be between 35 – 45 miles, cycling at around 12/13mph. Each day will be rolling and hilly terrain and there will be notable climbs most days. Some of these will be more testing and some riders may opt to push or ride in the support vehicle. Some climbs are also followed by exciting descents. We will be in the saddle for 5 – 7 hours each day plus the odd longer day. There is also time each day for breaks and lunches, plus some visits to sites of interest.

    Compare road cycling grades

    Trip Reviews

    Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 7 reviews of Road Cycling – Tour of the Borders

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    Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.

    That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.

    MH

    Mary-Jane Huntley

    Reviewed on 28/08/2023

    Age: 60 - 70
    Trip Date: 19/08/2023
    Trips Taken: 1

    The Bottom Line

    The Bottom Line

    I really liked that we were on a bike for the entire day. When I go on an active vacation, I want to be active all day. I enjoyed our stops at historical sites. Not only active but educational as well.

    DH

    Douglas Huntley

    Reviewed on 28/08/2023

    Age: 70 - 80
    Country: United States
    Trip Date: 19/08/2023
    Trips Taken: 1

    The Bottom Line

    The Bottom Line

    I had a great experience. The riding was just what I wanted, challenging at times but reasonable. I wanted a Scottish experience and that’s what I got. The guides were the key to the success of the tour. They were outstanding in every way.

    SD

    Stephanie Douglas-Parkin

    Reviewed on 28/08/2023

    Age: 60 - 70
    Country: United States
    Trip Date: 19/08/2023
    Trips Taken: 1

    The Bottom Line

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