Scotland 2019...

Did you stay at the hotel in Auldearn (parked next to a dsiabled sign)?
 
We’re planning on riding Moffat and Selkirk tomorrow following the A708 to Selkirk followed by the B7009/B709 to Eskdalemuir..

Be careful on the B709. It's single track for much of the way and often populated by logging trucks. It wouldn't be the first time I've had to somehow paddle the GS backwards uphill to let one pass. It's very remote and great to ride though, one of my favourite roads, along with the B7068 from Langholm, just 13 miles down the B709 from Eskdalemuir, to Lockerbie.

Also, if you're going to Eskdalemuir, there's Samye Ling - http://www.samyeling.org/about/ which is definitely worth a visit and the Eskdalemuir Community Hub, if the Tibetan Tea Rooms at Samye Ling don't meet your needs. https://www.visitscotland.com/info/food-drink/eskdalemuir-community-hub-p1503091
 
A few pics from today...
 

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great bike, great pics have a top trip oop norf...
 
Did you stay at the hotel in Auldearn (parked next to a dsiabled sign)?

Wasn’t me, only disabled bay I parked next to was outside a Spar shop. Couldn’t tell you where that was though...
the only hotels we’ve stayed at so far have been the Wiltonburn Farm B&B in Hawick, tonight we’re at the Buccleuch Arms in Moffat..
 
Wasn’t me, only disabled bay I parked next to was outside a Spar shop. Couldn’t tell you where that was though...
the only hotels we’ve stayed at so far have been the Wiltonburn Farm B&B in Hawick, tonight we’re at the Buccleuch Arms in Moffat..

Good biker hotel in Moffat; have a great time.
Going for a ride round St. Mary's loch?
 
Wasn’t me, only disabled bay I parked next to was outside a Spar shop. Couldn’t tell you where that was though...
the only hotels we’ve stayed at so far have been the Wiltonburn Farm B&B in Hawick, tonight we’re at the Buccleuch Arms in Moffat..

You'll like the individual bike garages at the Buccleuch!!
 
If you're starting at Moffatt it would be criminal not to take in the road leading past the grey mares tail waterfall. Utterly joyful road to ride!
The route we took from hawick took us past this, utterly brilliant ride.

Agreed, and going up by talla resevour.

once we arrived at the hotel we went back out past the Grey Mares trail and turned left somewhere shortly after that. Ended up at the Talla reservoir and again, a stunning ride!! Will post some pics shortly...
 
The route we took from hawick took us past this, utterly brilliant ride.



once we arrived at the hotel we went back out past the Grey Mares trail and turned left somewhere shortly after that. Ended up at the Talla reservoir and again, a stunning ride!! Will post some pics shortly...

Think it's Meggat reservoir you come to first then on to Talla, the view above Talla is magnificent.
 
We set off this morning from Hawick at around 1000 in brilliant warm sunshine and bright blue skies. The weather so far has been fantastic and perfect for riding. The route we were due to take was only about a 25 mile ride and scheduled to take around 30 minutes, however due to a road closure we were diverted on a route that took almost 90 minutes but took us through some spectacular scenery. Single track roads that went on for miles and miles without seeing another vehicle, just had to be careful of sheep straying across the road...
 

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As it was just a short ride to our destination for today, we arrived in Moffat around midday. Too early to check in to the hotel (Buccleuch Arms) we had a coffee and contemplated what the afternoon could offer us. We didn't want to ride for hours as we have some fairly big mileage to cover over the coming days. Soon enough the owner of the hotel introduced himself and we started to discuss plans and routes. Dave mentioned that he had a route that would take in some great scenery and was only around 40 miles in total. Perfect we thought, so after another coffee and a quick bite to eat we set off. Dave called the route the 3 loch triangle which took us from Moffat on the A708 for around 15 miles. The ride was fantastic and we'd already ridden this road going the other way to Moffat. It took us past the Grey Mare's Tail Nature Reserve and on past the Loch of the Lowes and the Glen Cafe. Towards the end of St Mary's Loch we turned left on to a single track road towards Craigierig Burn and along the Megget Reservoir. The road climbs up to the Talla Waterfall and at the top there is a fantastic view down to the Talla Reservoir. The final leg of the ride was a quick blatt on the A701 back to Moffat where we checked into the hotel and after a quick shower, headed to the G&T bar in the town...
Tomorrow the ride starts properly and i can`t wait!!
 

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A few more pics...
 

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Enjoying the write up. The Scottish Borders have some stunning roads (both sides of the M6).
 
more great pics what was the condition of the single track road along to Talla and the 701 please ?
 
After a lovely breakfast we set off from Moffat at around 0900. Dave from the Buccleuch Arms had suggested a different route for us to take as he felt the roads through to Irvine would be busy with traffic and not that interesting.We took his advice and followed the route he uploaded into the Nav 5. All was well until we experienced our first road closure... The nav kept on asking me to do a u-turn and wouldn't re-route. Don't know why, maybe it was due to where Dave had placed the route in the nav, either way we ended up following diversion signs and never actually got back on the route... Lesson learned there - if you have a plan, stick with it!! We should have stuck with the original route we had intended to follow. I know Dave was only trying to be helpful but he was trying to show us the best roads to ride whereas our purpose of being here is to see Scotland and experience as much as we can which doesn't necessarily mean riding the best roads...
Anyway, to cut a long story short our final destination for the day was The Watermill B&B set in the Clachan of Glendaruel. A beautiful turreted old house with stunning gardens and surroundings. The 5 miles of poor single track road to get there leaves you questioning if you've taken a wrong turn as it never ends and the surface isn't great for a bike, 2 up with luggage... Nevertheless a warm welcome was waiting for us and we soon settled in for the night...
 

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