Bike Packing Reiver Country: The Southern Loop

Distance: ~140 Miles | Duration: 3 Days | Terrain: Tarmac roads through rugged landscape & epic moorland.

This loop covers almost 140 miles of the best road cycling in Scotland.

By the time the Tour de France arrives in 2027, you’ll be able to say you have ridden a section of Stage1.

Embark on this three-day odyssey through the “Debatable Lands” of Southern Scotland. This route traverses the historic heartland of the Border Reivers—the lawless clans who once ruled these rolling moorlands.

You’ll ride some of the very roads set to host the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ,.

We recommend staying at the  cyclist freindly independent hostels in Newcastleton and Moffat.

 

Day 1: Innerleithen to Newcastleton (53 Miles) (climb 3330 ft)

The Road to the “Bloodiest Valley”
Depart from the lush Tweed Valley, passing  Traquair House, Scotland’s oldest inhabited home. Two steady, rhythmic climbs over the Paddy Slacks  and Berry Bush will pull you into the high hills on roads regularly used by the Tour Of Britain bike race.

A few highlights include-

  • The Mid-Point: Recharge at the Honey Bee Café before tackling the classic, sweeping road to Hawick, the historic home of Borders knitwear.
  • The “Tour” Stretch: The final leg to Newcastleton is world-class. You’ll ride the exact tarmac destined for the 2027 Tour de France, passing the  Shankend Viaduct and the massive,eerie fortress of Hermitage Castle—once the “Guardhouse of the Bloodiest Valley in Britain.”
  • Overnight: Newcastleton Bunkhouse (Secure bike pods & drying rooms) or local B and B options.
  • GPX LINK      https://www.strava.com/routes/3467243718069371900 
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Day 2: Newcastleton to Moffat (43 Miles)   climb 3980ft

Moorlands & Mindfulness
A day of dramatic contrasts. Leaving the Reiver stronghold of Liddesdale, you’ll cross the remote, open moorlands to Eskdalemuir and on to Moffat.

  • The Highlight: The history shifts unexpectedly as you reach Samye Ling, the first Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in the West.
  • Its golden domes and prayer flags are not what you expect to see in this area! 
  • Top Tip for food : The Eskdalemuir Community Old School Hub Café
  • The Finish:A scenic pedal into the well appointed Victorian spa town of Moffat.
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  • Overnight:Moffat Independent Hostel with bike garage.
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  • GPX LINK https://www.strava.com/routes/3467248906038459542
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Day 3: Moffat to Innerleithen (42 Miles)  climb 1744 ft

The High Road & The Hidden Hollow

Your final day begins with a classic ascent out of the Victorian spa town of Moffat, climbing steadily toward the head of the Tweed Valley on the Iconic Devils Beef Tub steady long climb and then its pretty much a downhill finish from the top.

  • The Devil’s Beef Tub: You’ll ride along the rim of this vast, 500-foot deep natural hollow. Its name comes from the Border Reivers time who used the hidden, steep-sided basin to hide stolen cattle (their “beef”).
  • The Source of the Tweed:At the summit you reach the watershed. From here, you begin the long, glorious descent following the  River Tweed as it grows from a small spring into the mighty river that defines the Borders.
  • The Tweed Valley Finale  : The route takes you through Tweedsmuir and passing  the Wee Crook Café following the River Tweed.
  •  The final leg is a beautiful ride past the Kalzie Gardens and through  Stobo and then passing through the bustling town of Peebles back into Innerleithen.
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  • GPX LINK      https://www.strava.com/routes/3467252236021397002
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Innerleithen is south of Edinburgh on cycle route NCR1 (30 miles.)  part of NCR1 route is also used by the Tour De France in 2027 as it climbs into the Moorfoot Hills before descending into Innerleithen High Street.

The nearest railway station is at Galashiels.

Also on cycle route NCR1 (12 miles away.)

Newcastleton and Moffat have some stunning road riding as well.

We can forward a selection of addition bike routes if you wish to extend your stay longer at these locations.

The Tweed Valley Canoe Trail.

 
The River Tweed is one of Scotland’s great rivers and is now home to the South of Scotland first canoe trail.
Paddlers can follow the advice/maps provided and paddle approx. 30 miles down the River Tweed in stages passing iconic landmarks ,places and people with the stories/history that have shaped this area..
A lot of work has gone into this trail officially launched  in April 2025 to help make life easy for you and help you make the most of the journey, taking time seeing things/visiting places as well.
Boats can be left at secure stop points overnight or during the day so you can make way to your accommodation/explore the area as well.
We are paddler friendly with an overnight stop point 800m away and a drying room ready for you to dry kit.  (Innerleithen is midway on the route}
If you are a novice then local companies will be on hand to hire boats and guide you down one of the six bite size sections some of which are more suited to novices or more experienced paddlers may prefer the grade 2 rapids.
You could also base yourself here at Innerleithen and paddle sections of the river over a few days.
What a great way to get away from it all….a peaceful and rewarding experience. 
 
 
Pic with permission of Go Tweed Valley

 

Scottish Road Cycling Holiday based at  Cleikum Mill Lodge. 

This area has some of the best road cycling in Scotland on quiet roads with some views justifiably amongst the best Scotland.  The Touro the Borders has helped promote this area with its famous ride the Talla Classic on closed roads , but the cycling can be enjoyed  on virtually traffic free roads all year round with just you and the open road.  Its an addictive experience the back drop is stunning.

We have compiled a selection of the best road rides in the area see image below , including the “Talla Classic” use this link  Download gpx ,maps and instructions here. 

 

 

Its hard to choose a best ride but my 3 must do rides are listed here below,

Moffat Circular.

  • Distance: 110km   
  • Elevation gain: 1630m

Scottish Borders Cycling at its best. This route goes through the Grey Mare’s Tail nature reserve and passes the UK’s 5th highest waterfall at 60 metres high. This is a stunning glacial valley and home to golden eagles, osprey, peregrine falcons and feral goats! One of the best rides in the area. Quiet roads and magnificent scenery throughout. Moffat is ideally placed halfway for food and drinks.  Download gpx ,maps and instructions here.

                 

 

Tibetan Monastery Ride .

  • Distance: 95km
  • Elevation gain: 1510m

A true back country ride through Eskdalemuir Forest to Samye Ling Monastery. This Tibetan Buddhist Monastery was set up in 1967 and was the first centre of its kind in the west. This is an easy to navigate out-and-back route through some truly stunning countryside. Lots of climbing but the gradients are not too steep. The community hub cafe at Eskdalemuir is cycling friendly at the turning point (seasonal opening hours) and if its shut their is a drinking water tap at the back.   Download gpx ,maps and instructions here.


Peebles to Manorhead

  • Distance: 34km
  • Elevation gain: 348m

A shorter ride exploring one of the most scenic valleys in the Scottish Borders, this out and back ride follows the course of the Manor Water on a quiet road to the end of the valley at Manorhead. Steeped in history and epic landscape this ride is one to take your time and take in the surroundings as the landscape changes as you ride to the end of the valley.  Download gpx ,maps and instructions here.

 

 

 

 

Cleikum Mill Lodge: Tweed Valley Mountain Bike ride of the week.

Cardrona to the Glen Estate via Orchard Rig.

Start the ride from our front door. A non technical ride suitable for mountain bikes and gravel bikes. 

This ride climbs through Cardrona Forest before emerging onto open moorland at the top of Beards Hill from where you are rewarded with stunning views over Traquair and the Tweed Valley below. Drop down into the Glen Estate on a fantastic stretch of grassy single track that descends over Orchard Rig. Return by road past the historic Traquair House.

Great for… fast grassy descent, amazing views, non-technical. Also fantastic  when the heather is purple in August/September , the descent will make you whoop! and smile, a lovely ride and an enjoyable alternative to Glentress Trail Centre.

Watch out for… the descent from Beards Hill across moorland at Orchard Rig can be wet and have muddy sections in winter , so maybe feel a bit more technical on a gravel bike in places with skinny tyres.