Riding the East March
Distance: 72 miles; Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Information
Campaign friendly premises
Fuel and food
Safety camera location
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Route information
Leave Berwick upon Tweed northwards and take the A1 Berwick bypass towards Newcastle.
Turn right onto A6105 signposted Duns.
Pass through Chirnside and continue to Duns.
Continue on A6105 towards Greenlaw.
At the A697 turn right and then almost immediately left again onto the A6105 - signposted Gordon.
Continue on the A6105 to Earlston.
At the junction with the A68 turn left signposted Jedburgh.
At the roundabout, take the first exit and continue on the A68 towards Jedburgh and St Boswells.
At St Boswells turn left onto the A699 signposted Kelso.
As you enter Kelso cross the River Tweed and turn left for the town centre. In the Town Square take the second junction on your right. At the next junction continue straight ahead. At the mini roundabout take the first exit and continue to another. At this mini roundabout continue straight onto the B6461 signposted Swinton and Berwick.
At the A697 turn left and then immediate right onto the B6461 (passing 'Sheriffs' on your left).
Continue on the B6461 through Swinton and Fishwick.
At the A1 turn left to return to Berwick upon Tweed.
A6105
Watch the line of the verges and walls - great clues to be had of where the road is going.
Foulden - well worth a stop on the nearside with great view across open countryside. Watch as you leave the village you could get pulled into a left hand bend that tightens quickly. Just before you reach Chirnside, you’ll pass Edington Mains Farm on your left - once occupied by the great Jim Clark OBE.
Chirnside - Nice borders village and the resting place of Jim Clark. ‘Jimmy’, who was twice Formula 1 World Champion, died at the wheel of his Lotus-Cosworth on 7 April, 1968 at the Hockenheim circuit. Pay attention to the Memorial Clock at the Crosshill. The Jim Clark Memorial Rooms in Duns just up the road are well worth a visit.
About 4 miles out of Chirnside watch as you negotiate a rise after a farm on your left. BEWARE - the zone of invisibility ahead hides a sharp left hand bend.
Duns - Plenty of rest and refreshment available around the town centre for you and your machine. Border Bikes at the Industrial Estate on Station Road extend you a warm welcome (coffee machine and shiny things).
The run through Greenlaw and Gordon to Earlston is very readable with long straights to adjust your speed for the predictable bends. A slightly tighter series as you approach Earlston.
A68
Earlston - R & R opportunities again at Rutherfords and the adjacent Rhymers Tower Coffee Shop and Restaurant. Don’t be fooled by Rhymers size there is plenty room inside and Bikers are welcome. Watch out for the loose surface car park. You’ll need one of our pucks.
As you pass Newtown St Boswells a Safety Camera monitors speed.
A699
The run through to Kelso is enjoyable, read the lines provided by the hedging and telegraph poles. Think about your position and level the speed on approach to bends.
Kelso provides further retail therapy opportunities - a bit more selection and a nice ‘centre’ feel around the old market square. A big selection of ‘fuel’ stops.
B6461
Great opportunities to concentrate on honing your skills and enjoy this flowing rural road - lines are in the main predictable - just pay attention to the paint and signage. Great clues from hedge lines. Watch some of the nearside road surface that on occasion is broken up. Rural Roads = MSP - but not too many sheep on this occasion.
Around the junction for Brigham and before Eccles - watch out for a left hand bend that tightens quickly on you and has a badly broken surface at times.
It’s a great road back to the A1 through Leitholm, Swinton and passing Paxton - just keep up the concentration towards journeys end.
A1
Berwick bypass - remember the limit on a three lane carriageway - 60mph for bikes. A Safety Camera, which can operate both ways, is located on the central reserve between the junctions of A6105 and B6461.
ENJOY
