Cycle to Cardrona

 As my October adventure I set out on a two day cycle "adventure" from Edinburgh to Cardrona - just over 40 miles of riding each day. I deferred the start from the weekend to midweek in search of some reasonable weather.

First headed along the canal to Balerno where I had a coffee break of a takeaway coffee and sausage roll from Scotmid - no sit in cafe available. Then onwards into the Pentlands and over the Red Road and grassy descent down Monks Rig to Nine Mile Burn.

Then a nice back track to West Linton and another Scotmid break for a chicken sandwich again sitting outside. From there I picked up the Borders Drove Road which was a nice remote mix of trails and tracks into Peebles. Tea and Pain Au Chocolat before a final road circuit of Cademuir and on to Cardrona.

Squeezed in a very quick swim at the pool and enjoyed a really excellent dinner. They were very busy and short staffed by managed admirably. Oh - and they had a bike store and a hose to wash down the bike which was quite handy.

A nice vegetarian cooked breakfast the next day and a fairly early start in cold dull weather. Route home was via Granites and Cycle Route 1. This was a bit dull due to over familiarity, tiredness in the legs and too many cars driving too fast and close. 

Coffee stop wasn't until Eskbank where I got a MacDonalds coffee and then a Costa coffee and panini near Newcraighall.

Arrive home just after lunchtime. Day 1 was good due to interesting route with Day 2 a bit of a grind.