I'm trying to plan a route for this ride which I hope will happen in August. I've tried basing it loosely on the AMR Cross Border Challenge in 2011. That's out over Redstone and down to Duns then a bit of a detour by Fogo Abbey to Coldstream on back roads. That's already 50 miles. Riding to Ladykirk and Norham Bridge for the crossing back into Scotland would make for a very long day out. A quicker route to Norham would require some A class road work. This is the AMR Cross Border Challenge route for info.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
To England and back
(41 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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Not sure if these links will work, as the URLs got a bit long after footling around with the Google Maps routes a bit.
From Peter's Yard...
Posted 12 years ago # -
I like the idea of going out and back by Garvald rather than Gifford. It would be much easier and might allow more time to explore a bit further south of the border. But I would prefer personally to avoid A roads south of Duns.
Posted 12 years ago # -
How about crossing the Tweed at Norham and returning over the chain bridge at Horncliffe (or vice versa)? Or must you go through Coldstream?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Ive never done the climb from Garvald up the way, so I'm happy to give that a try. Redstane is sooooo last month!
Posted 12 years ago # -
If I can join you, could we make a couple more food stops please? On a 200km Audax I usually have a large feed at 9am and then another meal at 5pm (when we stopped in Garvald. I started to flag on the ride after Garvald, and didn't eat at that pub as I thought you guys were not going to stop for so long.
Posted 12 years ago # -
It is a good idea to feed properly (and not ice cream). I find it most effective to have a whopping big muesli breakkies quite early in the morning, topping up with liquid calories through the ride and bars, and light meals at appropriate points. I can't cope with big meals and I always get paranoid about getting stuck if I stay too long (have to persuade the body that it's not time to go to bed).
Posted 12 years ago # -
@amir,
I'm quite the opposite. I have a huge porrage breakfast, but have to stop for large meals, usually at ~9am, midday, 5pm and then something light when we finish.
Dave C
Posted 12 years ago # -
Is that only when you are doing a lot of exercise?
I often get around 100 mile at high speed sportives with just the drink and a few bars/cakes. Much more 100 miles and it does help me to have something a little more substantial, otherwise I flag a bit. I guess you have to be careful what you eat as some foods are a better source of short-medium term energy than others.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I tend to breakfast well, eat light (coffee and cakes rather than meat and potato) during and eat well after when doing a long ride. I wouldn't fancy a big feed before heading up a steep hill...
Posted 12 years ago # -
I believe I am going to acquire or produce rowies aka Aberdeen rolls aka butteries for my next long ride.
I hadn't encountered them until I met Shire folk here in Embra, but they're oldschool fishermen fuel - basically a declaration of war on your health, unless you happen to have legitimate need of massive doses of salt and calories.
That or I go for the Camelbak adapted to supply cassoulet, as mentioned on Twitter.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Cyclops' is a good suggestion - Norham and Chain Bridge. Chain Bridge has the double decker bus cafe at the Honey Farm and a historic toll bridge to have a gander at. Rode the A road between Duns and Norham in December and they were perfectly fine - long sight lines, not much traffic.
Not sure why the AMR route cuts across at Longformacus rather than using the road between Duns golf course and Longformacus. For my money the southern road straight on at the top of Redstone Rigg (the "Duns Road" on Google Maps rather than the B6355) is better than the B6355 - three long steady climbs and three long descents, with views of the Cheviots and Tweed Valley.
The B6355 may be a better bet on the return as the climbing is steadier and kinder to tired legs (apart from the sharp one at Whiteadder and the long grind up to Redstone Rigg).
Posted 12 years ago # -
Anything over 50 miles needs a supply of brown bread, peanut butter and jam sandwiches to be nibbled regularly in small doses. I swear it's the perfect mix of calorie types and fats.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I believe I am going to acquire or produce rowies aka Aberdeen rolls aka butteries for my next long ride.
Wilmington's Coo should have a recipe, that's his neck of the woods.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"peanut butter and jam"
Combined?
Posted 12 years ago # -
The Honey Farm is a stroke of genius. It's been mentioned before and may meet the many and varied dietery needs of the group. It also has a collection of vintage vehicles.
If you say the A road from Duns to the Chainbridge Honey Farm is reasonably safe then that sounds like a plan to me.
The other interest I should declare is a hope that some old farm chimneys can be spotted. There are several in the area - three east of Duns.
I don't mind which route we take outwards but I think the triple climb back from Duns via Longformacus should be avoided.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"I don't mind which route we take outwards but I think the triple climb back from Duns via Longformacus should be avoided."
We'll be doing those on the Erit Lass
Posted 12 years ago # -
Combined?
Recommended.
Posted 12 years ago # -
If you're coming back from the Chain Bridge Honey Farm via the B6355 why not go via Chirnside and Preston and avoid A roads almost entirely? Unless you really want to go via Duns on the way back as well.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I would say club sandwich for peanut butter and jam.
Posted 12 years ago # -
amir "We'll be doing those on the Erit Lass"
Don't remind me.
One of the early astronauts chose liquidised peanut butter and jelly for his space meals. He never got to eat them as he fell ill and they had to be consumed by his replacement.
Cyclops, I'll work that in to my map.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Possible route. Lunch at Norham, afternoon tea at Garvald?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Route looks good. Think I'll be needing lots of food.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Absolutely lovely part of the world, Northumberland at it's finest. Etal is lovely too and has a great teashop as well as a fine pub, the Black Bull. I can recommend the Chainbridge honey farm's honey mustard it is truly a wonderful confection and delicious with cheese or ham...as well as in salad dressings. The shop also has a very good selection of unguents and salves made from honey bee products like beeswax, the cafe is also very good and their coffee is excellent...recommended. Have a great time.
@chdot yes, peanut butter and jam on the one piece, not everyone's cup of tea, so to speak, but very edible.
Posted 12 years ago # -
+1 for the Honey Farm which we visited in the car on our way back from Alnwick yesterday. The cafe serves soup, sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee on an old London bus. There are lots of old vehicles sitting around and the chain bridge is only a short walk away. Next year we do need to try to get there by bike. And I saw six new farm chimneys from the A1 past Berwick Upon Tweed.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'm having a crack at the cross-border raid tomorrow. Roslin-Loanhead-Ormiston-Gifford-Whiteadder-Horncliffe-Kelso then over the Granites and home.
For halfway foodstops I was planning on the fancy-looking http://collingwoodarms.com/ but this Honey Farm place sounds interesting too.
I prefer to have a full meal rather than cake when on 100+ rides, so I ask: can the Honey Farm provide this?
Posted 9 years ago # -
If I recall the cafe is on a double decker bus, seemed more tea and scone maybe also sandwich than pie, pie pie wonderful pie 22/7
Posted 9 years ago # -
The Honey Farm bus café is more coffee, rolls, soup, cakes and scones than sit down meals. For that there are hotels in Duns which might be a better alternative. Or places in Berwick upon Tweed.
Posted 9 years ago # -
The Cedar at Grantshouse is okay. Not sure how complete the meals can be. I never eat too much on any one stop.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Check if the honey farm cafe is open before committing to it as I'm not sure it does in the winter
Posted 9 years ago #
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