Skip to content

Borderloop

Cycling Route

Borderloop

Cycling

The long and turbulent history of the Scottish Borders has bequeathed a legacy of romantic castles, historic abbeys and great country houses that lie like jewels flung from a generous hand among a landscape celebrated in song and legend.

The Borderloop is a circular journey by bike along the quiet lanes that criss-cross this beautiful region, with several possible shortcuts offering alternative itineraries. Break up your journey into stages to eat, stay and relax in the land’s handsome towns and villages along the way. The route is moderate with a few steep sections and will take around 7 days to complete depending on your ability and how often you stop to admire the view.
This route requires the relevant experience to undertake such a distance. Please allow at least 2 days to complete it.

Further information:
Buy the Borders Sustrans Cycle Map
Downloads:
Melrose to Eyemouth.gpx Border-Loop-Eyemouth-to-Kelso.gpx Border-Loop-Kelso-to-Hawick.gpx Border-Loop-Hawick-to-Peebles.gpx Border-Loop-Peebles-to-Melrose.gpx borderloop.pdf
height
Distance:
189.5mi / 305km
trending_flat
Total climb:
16,548ft / 5,045m
trending_flat
Total descent:
16,548ft / 5,045m
Towns along route:
Melrose, Duns, St Abbs, Eyemouth, Coldstream, Kelso, Hawick, Broughton, Innerleithen
Difficulty:
Challenge
Our best efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of data, however the data and geographic information contained along route lines and on maps should be used for informational purposes only.

What you'll see

Image of Melrose

Melrose

Towns & Villages

The trail starts in Melrose beside the magical Eildon Hills.

Image of Duns

Duns

Towns & Villages

The town of Duns was once a thriving livestock town with a large market square.

Image of St Abbs

St Abbs

Towns & Villages

St Abbs is a remote but beautiful fishing village on the southeastern coast of Scotland.

Image of Eyemouth

Eyemouth

Towns & Villages

The historic town lies on the East Coast only 5 miles north of the border with England with a population of about 5000.

Image of Coldstream

Coldstream

Towns & Villages

The town of Coldsstream lies on the north bank of the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders.

Image of Kelso

Kelso

Towns & Villages

The large town of Kelso lies near to the meeting point of the River Tweed and the River Teviot.

Image of Hawick

Hawick

Towns & Villages

Hawick is the largest of the Border towns with a long history stretching back to the 1100’s.

Image of Broughton

Broughton

Towns & Villages

The small village of Broughton in the Scottish Borders Broughton sits near to the Biggar Water, near where it flows into the River Tweed.

Image of Innerleithen

Innerleithen

Towns & Villages

The small town of Innerleithen sits at the confluence of the River Tweed where it meets the Leithen Water. Inver is a common prefix for…