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Lockerbie, Jedburgh, Flodden, Coldstream, Lammermuir Hills, Edinburgh, Scotland.
(4 day bike-pack)
Mon 18 Jul - Thu 21 Jul 2016

Wed 20 Jul 2016
Mon 18 Jul 2016
Tue 19 Jul 2016
Wed 20 Jul 2016
Thu 21 Jul 2016
Yesterday’s heat subsided a bit overnight and there was quite a bit of cloud around as I packed the tent away. The forecast was bad with thunderstorms on their way. I rode back towards Coldstream but before the town turned left up a road through an avenue of trees and a golf course to The Hirsel Country Park. I don’t know the park's significance but it was better than riding through the town. After the main buildings I flowed a deteriorating track to eventually emerge on to the road towards Duns. The road was mostly straight with long climbs and descents. The sky continued ominously dark but still the rain hadn't started. Before the town I crossed over Blackadder Bridge which had been extensively refurbished.

Storm clouds gather above Duns
The last time I passed there were traffic lights and it was partly crumbling. I reached Duns and stopped to buy a bacon roll £1.80 which I ate as I sat on a bench in the square under the town clock, which was stopped. Through the town I left towards the north and the B6365. The clouds became very dark and I stopped to take a photo. To the west I could see rain approaching and I didn't have long to wait. I'd packed the plastic sheet that I use for my tent groundsheet in the top of the pannier. The heavy rain arrive so I stopped, got the sheet out and sheltered under it for about 10mins while the heaviest rain and hail passed. The rain eased but didn't stop. I rode on with just my windproof top on and shorts. Further along I had to stop again and shelter under the sheet as more torrential rain hit. I returned to the ride to head up towards the Lammamuir Hills. There was a lot of water and red sandy slurry washing of the fields and across the road. Near Ellenford I was surprised to see a wooden bus shelter by the road as I didn’t think a bus route would come this way. It's a potty the weather was bad because the road riding was good and would have been spectacular in clear weather. The landscape opened up and I reached Whiteadder Reservoir and a very steep hill to lift the road above the dam. At the base there was a huge generator running and it was belching diesel fumes out across the road. I had to push the bike up the hill & over the summit was an equally steep hill down the other side. The road continued along the reservoir and across a causeway. After a short climb I turned right on to a minor road heading up by Whiteadder Water. This was the start of the pass over the summit and must be an excellent ride in good weather. The climb was mostly steady but the rain didn't help. Over the summit I descended and passed an impressive Iron Age fort on the right with a large information board. I made a very brief stop then continue the long descent. Even when I was off the hills there were still some ups and downs. I reached Haddington and rode to the Tesco supermarket to buy 2, 2lt waters at 17p each and a banana.
Through the car park was a path connecting to an adjacent road then on to West Road then further on a right turn to pick up cycle route 76 along the Haddington & Longniddry railway route. The line opened in 1846 and closed in 1968.
The first section was superb tarmac which looked new. Further on the tarmac stopped and the surface had suffered with the recent heavy rain. Some sections were mud that my tyres sank into.
Haddington & Longniddry railway route
It was mostly OK to ride on but several bikes had been through and left deep ruts in the surface. Very tall undergrowth on either side was also encroaching on the track meaning I had to weave my way through. After a mile or so I reached a road crossing with a grassed area where a table used to be. The table had been removed but this was my planned camp site. The rain had stopped and some sun was breaking through so I was able to dry some of my stuff.