CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.

Riding to St. Abbs this weekend

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  1. amir
    Member

    It's not a smooth climb from St Mary's Loch but not too bad. The steepest bit as I remember is by the dam for the upper reservoir. The descent to Talla reservoir is a wee bit scary and all that braking strains the wrists. After that it is a very nice descent along the Tweed until the Meldons.

    Potential cafe stops are:
    Innerleithen (some good'uns here but best to take a lock)
    Loch of Lowes Cafe (requires a diversion of 2 or 3 miles)
    Dawyck Gardens (I think we can get in without paying entry)
    Peebles (requires a diversion)
    Eddleston cafe or pub (the former has awful coffee!)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. amir
    Member

    Here is a possible route. 140km from Dalkeith.

    On the way out I have put the route through Temple rather than following the NCN strictly because the road is better.

    The diversion around Gladhouse and Temple on the way back is because the straight through route is closed.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Is there not that wee hut café on St Mary's Loch, where we stopped on the Moffat Toffee, Amir?
    Friend and I made mistake of dropping into the "pub" in Eddleston once, only to be shooed out as they weren't a pub but more of a high-end restaurant and didn't want us messing up the place.
    The café in Innerleithen, "Whistlestop" I think, is very nice and does good coffee, cake and eats and they are cycle friendly. Will lend a lock if you ask them.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Also I believe Broughton (c. 2 mile detour) has a fairly good café

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. amir
    Member

    Yes that hut is what called the loch of the lowes cafe. We'd have to be early though to beat the bikers! The Broughton cafe sounds like a good idea as well. Never been in there.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I thought Loch of the Lowes was up in Dunkeldshire? At least the one I visited to see the Ospreys was. Perhaps there's more than one.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. cb
    Member

    The wee extra bit of loch, under the bridge at the south end of St Mary's Loch is Loch of the Lowes. Dunkeld version is 'Loch of Lowes'.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. kaputnik
    Moderator

    That'll be me telt then!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. amir
    Member

    Thanks for clarifying cb. I hadn't picked up on"the" difference.

    There's an outside chance of seeing an osprey at this loch too.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. Tom
    Member

    Sounds good and I'd love to come but I'm helping the girls at their car-boot stall at Newcraighall. We will have some bike stuff there - drop bars, wheels, stems etc.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. amir
    Member

    Car boot sale could be fun - enjoy!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. amir
    Member

    Better get the details sorted:

    - which day is preferred? Seems to be Sunday based on previous comments (also airshow is on sat). Weather is down as showery on both days, with similar wind (15 mph w to sw).

    - of course we can change the route at the start or during

    - who's intending to come???

    - proposal for start place and time - Eskbank Toll, bench below the two, formerly three, craws at 9am

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Sunday suits me, yes, I'm helping someone shepherd an ERC familiarisation ride on Saturday morning.

    I'm intending to come.

    Not familiar with 2 or 3 craws, is it a pub?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. amir
    Member

    "Three craws sat upon a wa',
    Sat upon a wa', sat upon a wa',
    Three craws sat upon a wa',
    On a cauld and frosty mornin'. "

    These (sculptures) are opposite to the Justinlees Pub at the Toll. One has been nicked!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    2 Craws

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5491&page=2#post-61680

    Was 10:00 that time, but was shorter.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Ah, I recall the nursery rhyme, just didn't realise where it was.

    The first craw, couldnae flee at aw, couldnae flee at aw, couldnae free at aw. The first craw, couldnae flee at aw, on a cold and frosty mornin'.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. PS
    Member

    I think I'm on for this on Sunday.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Oh no. I'm wrong.

    I think the first craw fell and broke his jaw, the second craw couldnae flee at aw, so the third craw flew to tell his maw.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    Well the third one has flew.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  20. Numptie
    Member

    Just back from hols and read the post, What date are we talking about, is it this Sunday?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  21. amir
    Member

    Yes. Any good for you?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  22. Numptie
    Member

    Yes, sounds good! Not done a lot of cycling over the last couple of weeks so could do with burning off a few calories after over indulging the food and drink. See you all at Eskbank tomorrow 09:00AM. I'll same my energy for the ride by watching the road race on TV (any excuse!)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  23. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Some quality headwind work, tailwind TT work, hill work and descending work today. Managed to dodge nearly all the rain, except minor soaking through Penicuik right at the end, but managed to out-run the rain clouds which opened up on Marchmont about 15 minutes after I got in.

    All three of the main climbing sections (up to Granites, up to St. Mary's Loch from Innerleithen and then up to Megget then Talla were done into a headwind, so I think an extra large dinner is deserved.

    Café stops at Whistlestop in Innerleithen (always recommended) and Laurel Tree (?) in Broughton. Two or three daft passes on A701 towards Leadburn and one alongside Megget Water, but otherwise fairly light on the traffic.

    Not a huge amount of wildlife seen, discounting dead rabbits and hares in Glen Trees, and a bit windy for bird spotting.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  24. PS
    Member

    A fine ride today. Particularly pleased that three cars seemed happy enough with our TTing speed on the A701 to sit behind us for 3 miles without overtaking. 101.3 miles in total for me - time to do some stretching!

    Posted 12 years ago #

  25. Numptie
    Member

    Found that really tough, especially the uphill sections into a headwind. Thanks to the other guys for waiting on the slow coach. Stayed dry for 87 miles then got soaked on the final mile home to Gorebridge. The headwind made it so much more difficult, St Abbs was a doddle compared to this. Thanks for the day out.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  26. amir
    Member

    Fortunately I avoided that last shower.

    We ate pretty well at our cafe stops. First in Innerleithen for cake and coffee then in Broughton for something mote substantial. Numptie & I had macaroni cheese!

    For garden lovers, there is a splendid one next to the Broughton cafe

    Posted 12 years ago #

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