Road cycling heaven

Quiet roads, dramatic climbs. Sweeping descents and miles of natural beauty. Explore the best of the Borders on skinny wheels

Call us biased, but we struggle to think of many roads in Scotland we would rather cycle than those in and around the Tweed Valley. Several of them have hosted stages of the Tour of Britain – and for very good reason!

Quiet, scenic roads can be pieced together here for every level of rider. Local classics include the Borderloop4 – a suitably hilly 80km circuit that starts and finishes in Peebles – or the attractive Tweed Cycle Route which runs for 150km from Biggar to Berwick-upon-Tweed. 

For a taste of the men’s Tour de France 2027 route itself, check out the gorgeous Peebles to Gladhouse Reservoir via the Granites route on the Bike Valley Trails website. Taking in Innerleithen, the dramatic Moorfoot Hills and a wonderful section of the Eddleston Water Path to return, it’s an absolute beauty.

For those with more time to spend in the area, there’s the mighty Border Loop – a 400km circular that passes some of the many castles, historic abbeys and great houses that tell the story of the area’s turbulent history. And for a three-day tarmac adventure that samples a further section of the men’s TdF stage in 2027 (Hawick to Newcastleton), take a look at the excellent Bikepacking Reiver Country: The Southern Loop.

Another great way to experience road riding in the Tweed Valley is to sign up for one of the major sportive events that take place each year. Every summer, Peebles Cycling Club runs the Tweed Valley Sportive – or Le Tour de Tweed Valley in 2026 – the perfect preparation for the annual edition of Tour O The Borders in September. This spectacular, closed road sportive attracts thousands of riders and is one of just three closed-road events north of the border. Starting in Peebles, the routes (Challenge, 88km; Full 120km) travel through the south of Scotland’s most spectacular landscapes, with several punchy climbs and exhilarating descents – including the swoopy Devil’s Beeftub into Moffat!

Image credits: Marc Marshall; Ian Linton; Gareth Easton.