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Ayr, Cumnock, Biggar, Peebles,
Innerleithen, Melrose, Dryburgh Abbey, Kelso, Duns, Dunbar, Scottish
Borders.
(5 day bike-pack)
Fri 07 - Tue 11 Mar 2014 |
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I’d bought rail tickets to get to Ayr
earlier in the week. My plan is to start cycling from Ayr on the
west coast of Scotland and cycle east through the Scottish Borders
area. My first train was the 08:15 Virgin Pendoleno from Preston to
Glasgow. The weather forecast said good weather but I cycled to
Preston in torrential rain. The Virgin train cycle compartment was
at the front and the door has to be opened specially. |
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Bike on
the Virgin train to Glasgow |
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Mine was the only bike on board so I
strapped it to the wall and found a spare seat in the next carriage,
even though my cycle reservation comes with an automatic seat
reservation. We reached Glasgow on time at 10:35 in pouring rain. I
like the character of Glasgow Station and especially the clock
suspended from the roof. My next train was the 11am Scotrail train
to Ayr. |
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Glasgow Railway Station |
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There wasn’t a cycle reservation
option available for but again, mine was the only bike on board. The
journey was a mix of windy sunshine and hammering rain. The train
had terminated when we reached Ayr and I took my time getting stuff
ready for the ride. My objective for the day was a camp a few miles
east of Muirkirk on the A70. For the first part of my ride the A70
wa very busy and I’d planned to follow as many minor lanes to the
south as I could. It was very windy as I set off but lucky for me it
was a westerly coming in off the sea. I was surprised how cold it
felt even though there were patches of sunshine, which didn’t give
any warmth. |
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After a couple of miles along the busy
stretch I turned right to follow a minor road. It now became
difficult in the cross wind. When I turned east the wind was a help
but the road wasn’t in a good condition and the constant undulations
made it slow going. When I reached Hillhead I decided to rejoin the
A70 for it’s better gradients and smooth surface. The traffic wasn’t
as bad as I’d expected. I continued to Cumnock which was the largest
town on my route but didn’t have anything worth stopping for. |
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I stayed on the A70 as I climbed a
hill out of the town and in the distance saw a very dark sky. I was
expecting a soaking but soon snow flurries were blowing across the
road. It didn’t last long and I was soon out into open countryside.
There seemed to be some large areas of opencast workings visible
from the road. After about 9 miles I reached Muirkirk. The first
building I came to was a garage and combined shop. I went in to buy
an overpriced 1.5lt bottle of water for £1.09. Further along the
road was an information board with the village’s timeline and a
monument to some previous skirmish or battle and also a wooden pole.
I left the village and continued for a few miles to my planned camp
stop near an abandoned railway line.An access track to some distant
buildings took me the other side of the railway and I was able to
cross a river via a wooden footbridge onto the embankment which is
now used as the route of the Ayr Way footpath. |
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Whittle Wanderer
