Sportive Spotlight – The Scottish Borders

The Borders is an area of Britain where brave Morris dancers daily patrol the remnants of Hadrian’s Wall for incursions by any kilted invaders offering deep fried Mars Bars and the right to vote to schoolchildren.

OK, so it’s not quite that bad.  I’ve probably lived north of the border far too long.  Even if the national urge to deep fry everything isn’t a cliché  – my local chippie offers “Deep Fried Confectionary of your choice – add 20 pence” – the locals aren’t that bad really(though the ruling Scottish Nationalist Party genuinely does intend to give 16-year-olds the right to vote in next year’s independence referendum).

The Borders – the area of rolling hills, forests and picture-postcard towns that extends from where Cumbria and Northumbria end to just north of Peebles and Jedburgh – is actually something of a hidden gem.  Rich in history – most of it revolving around bloody skirmishes between Romans and Picts, Romans and Celts and, more recently, English and Scots – it is relatively undiscovered by the hordes who descend upon the Lakes, Yorksire Moors or Peak District further south.

And that means quieter roads and unspoiled countryside – the perfect ingredients for some memorable cycling adventures.

A number of sportives and cycling festivals have been established there recently, and there are three in particular that have caught Bikesoup’s eye:

Newcastleton Cycling Festival, 5-7 April

Newcastleton is a small Scottish village(pop. 850) that sits almost exactly on the border, just off the A7 and not far from the magnificent Kielder Water(Europe’s largest man-made lake). This will be its second cycling festival, featuring four sportives – two on the Saturday 6^th on the English side of the border(42 and 83 miles), and two the next day on the Scottish side(45 and 75 miles).  The routes feature climbs, sweeping descents and long, remote stretches where the ghosts of William Wallace, Roman Centurions and Rab. C. Nesbitt can sometimes be heard rustling through the bracken.

But the real eye-catcher takes place on the Friday night – the Copshaw Cracker.  This is a demanding, four-mile hill climb over open moorland from Newcastleton to the village of Langholm, with an ascent of around 800 feet.  Riders will set off TT-style at regular intervals and be expected to ring the Bagdad Bell, owned by a local pub landlord, at the finish.  There’s a £50 prize for the fastest.  Last year’s winning time was 20 minutes, so you have been warned.

Entries for the sportives cost £20 per day or £35 for both.  Entry to the Copshaw Cracker is £3 in advance, £4 on the day.

To enter or find out more, go to: http://www.sip-events.co.uk/border-classic-sportive.html

For information about the village and accommodation, go to: www.visitnewcastleton.com

Tour O’ The Borders Sportive, Sunday 14 April

This starts and finishes in the picturesque Borders town of Peebles, and takes in some magnificent, deserted back roads that meander over over seven hills and four valleys. To get a flavour, check out the video here:

There is a choice of two routes:  70 miles with 4,800 feet of climbing, or 49 miles with 3,654 feet of churning in the small ring.

It’s not cheap – entry fee is £35 – but as well as the thrill of the ride, it promises “a great goody bag, a T-shirt that fits” and “awesome macaroni pies” at the feed stations.  (But no deep friend Mars Bars.)  If the organization is as impressive as the official website, it shouldn’t be long before this event is giving more established rides a run for their money.

To register or find out more, go to: http://tourotheborders.com/

There’s plenty of accommodation in the surrounding area.  In Peebles itself, on the High Street just a short coast away from the start/finish, is the Tontine Hotel (www.tontinehotel.com) which offers bed and breakfast from £55 per person per night and, most importantly, has safe storage for bikes.

For other options, check out the website of the Scottish Borders Leisure Cycling Project, an impressive initiative to attract more cyclists to the area.  The site contains information about cyclist-friendly routes, restaurants and accommodation.

Tweedlove, 24 May – 2 June

This is ten-day celebration of road and mountain-biking that takes place in and around the Tweed Valley and proudly boasts: “100 per cent made by riders, for riders.”

Among the events confirmed so far is the Glentress Seven, where riders have to complete as many 11 km (with 450m of elevation) circuits of one of the UK’s premier MTB trail parks as possible in seven hours.

As well as the cycling, there is a photography and film competition, family rides and skills and coaching courses.

Entries and more information are available now at: http://tweedlove.com/

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