Tandem Bicycle Tours, Inc.

The Borders, Scotland

Highland Cattle

Scones & Clotted Cream

Piper

Some Highlights of this Tour:

This tour takes us to the Borders region of Scotland. It is a land of rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, lovely villages, stately manors, historic castles and abbeys, and much more! Join us as we cycle through this region of the U.K located along the border of Scotland and England.

• Cycle through the rolling hills and by beautiful lochs of the central region between Scotland and England
• Walk along Hadrian's Wall built during Roman times
• Visit Holy Island of Lindisfarne and its ancient priory in Northumberland
• Explore Gretna Green, in Dumfires & Galloway, called the most romantic place in Scotland
• Tour the magnificent Floors Castle, Traquair House, the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland, or Sir Walter Scott's palatial estate of Abbotsford.
• While haggis might not sound tempting, you might enjoy tasting some of the Lowland Scotch whiskies, called the "Lowland Ladies" for their lighter, smoother and more fruity notes.

September 6: Arrival Day
After arrival in Glasgow, we'll transport you 80 miles south to the town of Newton Stewart where our adventure begins and where we spend the first two nights. There's so much to see and do in Scotland's largest city, you might like to plan a few days in Glasgow before the tour start. After arrival in Newton Stewart we'll assemble bikes, have introductions and a short briefing, followed by a welcome drink and dinner together.
Lodging: Creebridge House Hotel

September 7: Newton Stewart Loop Ride
35 mi - 1,133 ft gain
Newton Stewart is an important market town, serving as the centre for a large rural area that includes the vast and sparsely populated forest land to its north and the broad peninsula of the Machars to its south. The town lies on the west bank of the River Cree and close to the Galloway Forest Park, with internationally recognised biking trails amidst some of the most dramatic scenery in the south of Scotland. Close by to Newton Stewart is Wigtown the gateway to and main centre of the Machars Peninsula. Wigtown enjoys its status as Scotland's "book town." And just a mile farther on, the Bladnoch Distillery distills its own malt whisky, where tours are available for about 25 pounds Sterling.
Lodging: Creebridge House Hotel

September 8: Newton Stewart to Gatehouse of Fleet
45 mi - 2,710 ft gain
Today's ride takes us south through the former fishing village of Creetown, and then east toward Gatehouse of Fleet, by the 15th century ruin of Cardoness Castle on our way to the Gatehouse of Fleet. Creetown is known for its annual Country Music Festival and as a location in the filming of the 1973 horror cult film The Wicker Man. For the most part, today's Gatehouse of Fleet is a slightly sleepy and very attractive village. We'll stay just outside of town an an original 18th-century mansion that's been converted to a hotel and golf resort.
Lodging: Cally Palace Hotel

September 9: Gatehouse of Fleet to Dumfries
44 mi - 2,198 ft gain (0.5 mi unpaved)
On our way to Dumfries today, we pass by the Threave House with its beautiful gardens. Built in 1872 on rising land to the east of the valley of the River Dee Threave House commands excellent views west to the hills of Galloway. Dumfries was founded as a Royal Burgh in 1186 on the east side of the lowest crossing point of the River Nith and is a historic market town nicknamed the Queen of the South. Dumfries is also famous for Robert Burns, Scotland's National Bard, who spent the last years of his life here.
Lodging: Woodland House Hotel

September 10: Dumfries to Gretna Green
38 mi - 943 ft gain
Our ride today takes us by Caerlaverock Castle ruins, one of the most attractive and interesting castles in Scotland, lapped by the waters of its broad inner moat. Our destination today is Gretna Green, known as the marriage capital of the UK. In 18th century England an Act of Parliament forbade marriage under age 21 without parental consent. The new law was rigorously enforced, and clergymen faced stiff penalties for breaking it. This Act however did not apply to Scotland where anyone 16 or over could marry with or without their parents' consent. Just over the Scottish border, Gretna Green soon became a haven for fleeing couples who married wherever they could find two witnesses to make their ceremony legal. To this day Gretna Green sees over 5,000 couples tying the knot each year!
Lodging: Gretna Hall Hotel

September 11: Gretna Green to Twice Brewed (aka Once Brewed)
43 mi - 2,155 ft gain (0.7 mi unpaved)
Today we make our way to Twice Brewed, also known as Once Brewed, as we leave Scotland and cross the border into England. We pass by Longtown on the banks of the River Esk which boasts the largest sheep market in the UK. A highlight today is Birdoswald Roman Fort, one of the best preserved of the 16 forts along Hadrian's Wall. The fort is situated in a commanding position on a triangular spur of land bounded by cliffs to the south and east overlooking a broad meander of the River Irthing. Just a short distance from Twice Brewed is Vindolanda one of Europe's most important Roman archaeological sites. The site itself comprises nine forts built on top of each other. Extensive remains of the extramural settlement lie just west of the fort with buildings lining a main street. These include houses, shops, a tavern and a bath house. The on-site museum provides a magnificent display of the many fascinating objects found during the excavations. Your entry fee to Vindolanda is included.
Lodging: Twice Brewed Inn

September 12: Twice Brewed to Gosforth
41 mi - 1,861 ft gain (1 mi unpaved)
We cycle to Gosforth, England, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Newcastle is one of the most iconic British cities, famous for its nightlife, coastal area, Newcastle United football club, and of course the "New" Castle for which the city is named. Grey Street, considered one of the most beautiful streets in all of England, is the city center where you will find shops, pubs and neoclassical buildings including the stunning Theatre Royal. In Tynemouth, along the coast, Tynemouth Priory and Castle is worth a visit.
Lodging: Holiday Inn Gosforth Park

September 13: Gosforth to Bamburgh
61 mi - 1,637 ft gain (4.6 mi unpaved)
Heading north today, we follow the coast toward the village of Bamburgh. We'll ride along Druridge Bay on the North Sea stretching from Cresswell in the south to Amble in the north. Northumberland Coast Country Park is situated on the bay, and part of the bay is owned by the National Trust. Leaving Amble we pass by the magnificent cross-shaped keep of Warkworth Castle, crowning a hilltop rising steeply above the River Coquet. Then its on to one of the strongest and most impressive fortresses in Northumberland, located in our destination town, Bamburgh Castle.
Lodging: Victoria Hotel

September 14: Bamburgh to Berwick
36 mi - 1,247 ft gain (3 mi unpaved)
Continuing north, we make our way to Berwick-upon-Tweed, a small town in Northumberland, just 2.5 miles from the Scottish border. Famous sites here include Lindisfarne Priory, the original home to the Lindisfarne Gospels, one of the most important centres of early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon Englandlocated on Holy Island. Berwick remains a traditional market town and also has some notable architectural features, in particular its medieval town walls, the Georgian Town Hall, Elizabethan ramparts, and Britain's earliest barracks buildings.
Lodging: Marshall Meadows Manor House

September 15: Berwick to Dryburgh
49 mi - 2,282 ft gain (0.2 mi unpaved)
Leaving Berwick-upon-Tweed we head inland making our way to Dryburgh and back into Scotland. We first pass through Norham and its 12th century castle ruin, once among the most important strongholds in this once turbulent region. Located in England, it was frequently attacked by the Scots - it was besieged at least 13 times, once for nearly a year by Robert Bruce. Dryburgh Abbey ruin lies just a few hundred yards north of the village of St Boswells, yet its location, surrounded on three sides by a loop in the River Tweed, means that by road the journey is one of several miles. Dryburgh Abbey is considered one of the most beautiful of the Border Abbeys, with much of the domestic architecture remaining visible.
Lodging: Dryburgh Abbey Hotel

September 16: Dryburgh Loop
Rest Day/Optional Ride, 35 mi - 1,829 ft gain (0.3 mi unpaved)
Our optional loop ride takes us by the ruins of Roxburgh Castle as we head toward Kelso, set within a bend in the River Tweed. At its heart lies the largest Market Square in Scotland, a cobbled area that gives Kelso a distinctly continental feel. At the centre of the Square is the marking in the cobbles showing the Bullring, where bulls were tethered during cattle markets. Kelso is a great shopping town to this day. We'll also cycle past the expansive Floors Castle, an estate of the Earls and Dukes of Roxburghe, self-described as "the gem of the Scottish Borders."
Lodging: Dryburgh Abbey Hotel

September 17: Dryburgh to Cardrona
28 mi - 1,648 ft gain (0.4 mi unpaved)
A shorter day of cycling today, to give us time to visit Melrose Abbey and Abbotsford (entry fees included). Shortly after departing Dryburgh we come to Melrose, an ancient settlement on the south side of the River Tweed. Melrose Abbey is an architectural ruin on a grand scale with lavishly decorated masonry. The exterior of this magnificent abbey is decorated by unusual sculptures, including hobgoblins, cooks with ladles and a bagpipe playing pig. Leaving Melrose, just two miles farther on is the palatial estate of Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott.
Lodging: Cardrona Hotel

September 18: Cardrona Loop
53 mi - 2,785 ft gain (0.3 mi unpaved)
Just a short distance from Cardrona we come to Peebles, an attractive and bustling town whose center lies in its main shopping street, formed by High Street and Eastgate. This area was largely built in the second half of the 1500s, on a spur of land between the River Tweed and the Eddleston Water. We'll also ride by Traquair House, the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland. Dating back to 1107 and originally a hunting lodge, Traquair House has hosted no less than 27 Scottish kings and queens.
Lodging: Cardrona Hotel

September 19: Cardrona to Edinburgh
49 mi - 2,275 ft gain
The last ride of our tour takes us to Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city. While our Scottish Borders tour ends here, Edinburgh has tons of sites such as Edinburgh Castle, Calton Hill, the Royal Mile, the Royal Yacht Brittania, Dean Village, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and MORE! Edinburgh is a walkable city and you might like to spend a few extra days visiting!
Lodging: Murrayfield Leonardo Hotel

September 20: Departure Day

We are now taking bookings for this tour. Tandem Bicycle Tours strives to find quiet, paved secondary roads/bike paths for cycling and to avoid busy roads as much as possible. Since this tour is in 2026, we are still finalizing details. This tour may change marginally to improve the trip experience. However, the description listed here is a very good approximation of this tour.

If you are interested in this tour, please Contact Us for more information or check out our info page to see what's included on a Tandem Bicycle Tour. If you would like us send you the booking form or have additional questions, please get in touch via email at TandemDoc@me.com.

Dean Village, Edinburgh

Cycling in the UK

St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh