Scotland, A7 and Forth Bridge

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cumbriabeems

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Hi Folks,

May bank holiday, decided to escape the Lake District crowds and head to Scotland. We've never tried the A7 from Carlisle before so this was the route.
Aiming to have a look at the Forth Bridge and all around it.

Ready to set off !
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Crossing the border. We only live 25 miles or so south of Carlisle so its not far.
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The A7 is a lovely road, and at that time, very quiet. Some nice scenery. Stopped in this layby for a picture, and decided to follow the narrow road to the castle shown on the roadsign. This is just north of Langholm.
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Hermitage Castle turned out to be a very impressive building!
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Just after the Castle the road heads back north to Hawick. Its one of those single track with passing places roads, but a very good surface and quite wide. A great road. Then time for elevensies in Hawick.
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Just north of Selkirk (lovely spot) and Galashiels (also) we stopped in a layby and had a chat with an American guy who was on tour with his 1200GS. He had been away 14 months so far - South America and the whole of Europe !
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Later on, crossed Forth Road Bridge (shaky pics - off back of bike!)
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And arrived in North Queensferry, which is a lovely spot with good food.
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Good views of bridge here, being right beside / under it. As are some of the houses !
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A big paint job going on at the moment, hence all the scaffolding and sheeting.
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Just about to leave and heard a whistle :augie
Sounded a bit like a steam train :eek:
It was too !
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Looking the other way - the road bridge.
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After this, the camera battery went flat, but went back via A702 through Biggar (another nice spot) and onto motorway back to Carlisle and then home.

A great day out - just over 300 miles. Looking forward to the next trip up north !

David & Lyn
 
Nice pics - next time try the B709 - leaves the A7 at Langholm and follows an incredibly twisty route more or less parallel to the A7, emerging just before Edinburgh. No traffic and a Tibetan Monastry to boot!

For the way home the A701 is a far quieter and better road than the 702.

Enjoy!
 
701

Hi, Looking at the map I dont know why I didnt see the A701 before.

Looks great, will try it next time.

As we like going to Scotland quite a lot, we are always looking for more enjoyable alternatives than the M74.

Next time then, its on the cards !!

Cheers

David
 
Looks like you had a great day - I think the roads around that area are brilliant - I feel a visit to Scotland comin shortly :aidan
 
Thanks for that:thumb2

Great pics of the bridges- don't fancy living under one though, never realised there were houses there.
 
Thanks for that:thumb2

Great pics of the bridges- don't fancy living under one though, never realised there were houses there.

Quite noisy with all the trains going over which make quite a rumble. But one of the best views in the world.
 
Superb photos.

I seem to miss all this good weather and I live up here!!!!
 
Certainly

Will certainly be back very soon. Although we live in a fantastic area too, we love Scotland with its excellent roads.

Whats the area around Ayr like? We have an idea to go to Dumfries then across and up to the coast.

Like a good few people I imagine, we didnt bother with the Scotland below Glasgow, and just wanted to get to Loch Lomond etc and then see the sights past there, but so far we have been very pleased with Galloway area.

Anyone with any goods tips, let us know

Cheers

David & Lyn
 
Friends of mine used to live right under the rail bridge - was kinda cool seeing the trains rumbling across. They now live just off the mian road as it enters the village you can sit out in their garden and watch the sea, between both bridges.
 
I passed you guys must have been just after you took your pic at the border, I was on the GSA heading south.
I went across to dumfries then up the A76 through kirconnel and Sanquar to Ayr , stopped at Prestwick for a bite to eat, and returned by the A713 down by Galloway forest park.
Aparently they closed the road due to an accident not long after I came through helicopter from Prestwick attend , there were no serious injuries.
Strangly where I stopped along that road to take a couple of pics there was a police notice asking for witnesses to an earlier accident
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7382841.stm
these guys had a lucky escape
 
OK

I do remember waving to you as you passed.

Give us a shout some time and we will have a bimble round the Lakes with you some day. Or even better - in Scotland

David
 


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