Northumberland and the Borders - Intro

Please note that the text below is mine and is not for reproduction without my express permission. I will tart this page up and index it as I get the time.
List of Recomended Drives:
The Northumberland Coast and the Cheviot Valleys
The Tweed, the Moorfoot Hills, and the Lammermuir Hills
The Tweed and the Cheviots
The Kelso Monster (and the Monster’s tail)
The East Roman and Kielder Loop
The West Roman and Kielder Water Loop
The Extended Roman and Kielder Loop
Index of all roads tested
Complete Road Index

The Borders and Northumberland: Introduction

For ease of geography I have sectioned this chapter as anything inside the M74 to the west, the sea to the east; going south to the A69 and the Edinburgh to Glasgow (M8) motorway to the north.

Overlooked, perhaps due to the attraction of the Scottish Highlands further north and the mountains of North Wales, the Scottish Borders have to be one of the best driving destinations in the country. The selection of roads available is outstanding, whether they are chasing up valleys, over hills, or alongside reservoirs. Also, due to the winter shooting and fishing seasons, border tourism spreads evenly throughout the year. This keeps traffic quiet in the summer and positively sleepy in the spring and autumn.  Remember though, that at certain times of the year there will be a huge number of suicidal grouse on the roads, and the odd kamikaze sheep. The A68 and A7 are the best known routes south to north across this area, but have become victims of congestion and subsequently dangerous. Both roads are now littered with speed cameras and unmarked police patrols. Turn off one of these roads at any point, and it is more than likely that you will be able to plot a great route to your destination across some quiet roads. Alternatively spend a weekend or longer in the area to find out that beyond just the roads; there is some great fishing; peaceful cycling routes; and over 1500 miles of walking tracks to be explored, as well as seemingly countless numbers of castles, stately homes and Abbeys.

Road are the purpose of the this guide, however, and amongst the best in the region is the famous “Devils Beef Tub Road” (the A701), which follows the Tweed up to its source and is entertaining all the way from the outskirts of Edinburgh to the hairpins dropping into Moffat. As an alternative route from the M74 to Edinburgh, the A701 has no peers. Linking the A701 up with the A72 to Peebles, the A707 to Selkirk, and then the A708 back to Moffat, creates a fantastic half-day or even full days driving; providing some fast sweeping driving with some tight and twisty (and in places very bumpy) sections. At the quieter times of the year traffic numbers on these roads can be counted on one hand. Also, due to the laid back nature of the area, even traffic seems to be no problem; pull up behind someone slower than you and it seems that more often than not the left indicator will go on and you will be waved by: very civilised.

Another great run to take is an off-season drive along the banks of Kielder Water then up to Saughtree and north on the B6357 towards Jedburgh. The road starts wide and sweeping at Kielder, before closing into a narrow section alongside a bubbling creek. The openness of the road means that it can be driven with maximum visibility and whilst probably not best suited for a wide car, for one such as an Elise, it is the ultimate in point and squirt driving. After Saughtree the B6357 climbs up a narrow Cheviot valley on another fantastic good-visibility road that seems designed purely for the British sports car.

As mentioned earlier, the roads in this area not only feel endless and are perfect for the driving enthusiast, but the Scottish Borders Tourist Board also makes the area extremely attractive to the weekend visitor. Top motoring attraction and a must visit is, of course, the Jim Clark Room in Duns, a small homage to the late great racing driver. The bike fraternity is also represented with a statue commemorating the life of Jimmy Guthrie, Manx TT and 1930s world champion. This can be visited at the Wilton Lodge Park just outside Hawick. Anyone who manages to get bored with the roads that the Borders have to offer can switch to four-wheel drive at a number of off-roading centres. The Clifftop Discovery company offer guided “safari style” Land Rover tours along Berwickshire’s dramatic cliff tops, with exclusive access to private coastal farms. At a more relaxed pace, the School of Casting, Salmon and Trout Fishing, the oldest established fishing school offers courses for the beginner and novice. The Scoutscroft Dive centre offers scuba diving (as well as watersports and boat charters) for those who only want to view the fish rather than catch them. If you want to try your hand at shooting, Braidwood Shooting Clays in Selkirk offer a clay target shooting school for all experience levels, and the Scottish Archery Centre will let you loose with a crossbow and air rifle, as well as giving archery lessons.

Aside from these attractions and activities, most of the main towns in the area have historical landmarks and sights, usually covering the bloody history of the area. Melrose, Peebles, Kelso and Coldstream in particular carry the majority of the tourist attractions including the Mel Gibson (or William Wallace if you are a Scot) monument situated just outside Melrose. A recommended way to visit Scotland’s historical castles and buildings is to buy an Explorer Pass from any Scottish Tourist Information Centre. This will allow entry to 69 sites including Edinburgh Castle. To the east of the area the battlefields of Otterburn and Homildon Hill are on some of the roads recommended in the guide.  Running along the south of the area is Hadrian’s wall, a must see visitor attraction; and whilst it’s very straight, a driving visit cannot be complete without a stomach churning drive along the path of the original roman road, now the B6318. In fact, 2000 years on, this road is still known locally as the military road. The Kielder Water Experience and associated attractions are also located on the recommended roads and are well worth a visit. On the coast, Lindisfarne (Holy Island) and Bamburgh Castle are also popular: a trip made even better if you stop at nearby Seahouses for fish and chips.

The best sources of information about the area are available at www.visitscottishborders.com or by ringing the central tourist information number 0870 608 0404. Tourist information centres are also available at most of the towns and are on the whole excellent. Details of the Explorer Passes are given at www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/explorer/ and are available at Scottish Tourist Information Centres.

List of Recomended Drives:
The Northumberland Coast and the Cheviot Valleys
The Tweed, the Moorfoot Hills, and the Lammermuir Hills
The Tweed and the Cheviots
The Kelso Monster (and the Monster’s tail)
The East Roman and Kielder Loop
The West Roman and Kielder Water Loop
The Extended Roman and Kielder Loop
Index of all roads tested
Complete Road Index
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Copyright Tom Rootes 2011