borderduc
Desmodromically delirious
For the benefit of Duc owners coming up from England who might not know Scotland well I'd suggest the following route if you're coming up from the E coast of England.
Starting from Newcastle, don't be tempted to take the coast road (boring and infested with tourists, lorries and speed cameras) but take the A68 to Jedburgh. This basically cuts straight into the heart of the Borders and in no time you're romping through the countryside on a flowing road. Eventually reach passport control (!) at the top of Carter Bar. Feel free to stop here and take in the almost 360 degree view while you grab a coffee and put 50p in the piper.
Moving swiftly onwards (you will too) don't be tempted to carry on down the A68 (yes, it's got a couple of beautiful 180 bends on the descent but further ahead lies a welcoming forest of Gatsos). Rather, just after leaving Carter Bar take a left onto the A6088. Take a flight over the high, open moors before dropping down to Bonchester Bridge (tight steep bend on exit !) and a few miles of yeehaa later reach the outskirts of Hawick. If you're heading for Edinburgh take the A7 northwards. This is a great biking road, especially between Galashiels and Gorebridge on the south side of Edinburgh.
If you're heading towards Glasgow and the West of Scotland from Hawick take the A7 a few miles to Selkirk and then veer left on the Peebles road, which runs along the Tweed valley. Keep going past Peebles towards Lanark/Carluke on a superb flowing road, then pick up signs to get you to your destination.
Beats thrashing mindlessly up the A1 coast road !
Starting from Newcastle, don't be tempted to take the coast road (boring and infested with tourists, lorries and speed cameras) but take the A68 to Jedburgh. This basically cuts straight into the heart of the Borders and in no time you're romping through the countryside on a flowing road. Eventually reach passport control (!) at the top of Carter Bar. Feel free to stop here and take in the almost 360 degree view while you grab a coffee and put 50p in the piper.
Moving swiftly onwards (you will too) don't be tempted to carry on down the A68 (yes, it's got a couple of beautiful 180 bends on the descent but further ahead lies a welcoming forest of Gatsos). Rather, just after leaving Carter Bar take a left onto the A6088. Take a flight over the high, open moors before dropping down to Bonchester Bridge (tight steep bend on exit !) and a few miles of yeehaa later reach the outskirts of Hawick. If you're heading for Edinburgh take the A7 northwards. This is a great biking road, especially between Galashiels and Gorebridge on the south side of Edinburgh.
If you're heading towards Glasgow and the West of Scotland from Hawick take the A7 a few miles to Selkirk and then veer left on the Peebles road, which runs along the Tweed valley. Keep going past Peebles towards Lanark/Carluke on a superb flowing road, then pick up signs to get you to your destination.
Beats thrashing mindlessly up the A1 coast road !
