Great Winter Ride: Scottish Borders

Scotland is not the first place that comes to mind when you consider destinations for great winter rides. But if you Know where to go, have the right kit and the right attitude, you could find some spectacular riding there. Here’s what you could do...

- Mikko Nieminen

Not all roads lead to Moffat. But a motherlode of great biking roads are within a stone's throw of the pretty Dumfriesshire town. You can pick and choose from fast and furious A-roads, twisty rollercoaster-like B-roads, and secret single tracks seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

There's plenty to choose from round here, but this time we wanted a great ride for the cold season. Something that has a good chance to be rideable any time of the year. To get the route right, we asked Dave Smith from the Buccleuch Arms hotel in Moffat to help us. Dave knows the area like the back of his hand, and regularly devises riding routes for his guests, so it took him no time at all to come up with this, the MSL Great Winter Ride in the Scottish Borders.

It's all about the base

There are plenty of good places to stay in the Borders region, but our first choice is always the Buccleuch Arms in Moffat.

The place gets busy with fellow motorcyclists because the Smiths who run the place are bikers themselves, and provide garages for bikes, routes of the area, and all manner of bike-related services you might need on your trip.

The rooms, food and drink are good, too, but the best thing about the Buccleuch is the world-class service from the whole team.

For further information, visit www.buccleucharmshotel.com

Easy riding

The route is a circular one, and can be ridden in either direction, but Dave - who also offered to lead the ride - suggested we do it clockwise, and I feel that doing this worked well as it saves my favourite bit until last... not that the rest of the route isn't great, but it's always good to know that something extraordinary is just round the corner.