As I write this, it is raining. Worse still, the temperature has dropped, and there was a slight chill in the air this morning. Damp and chilly – not the sort of weather that inspires motorcycling, but there is still time for one last tour in 2023. The riding season is not over yet.
Having recently spent a week based out of Moffat (Scotland) reviewing the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE and the Honda XL750 Transalp, we spent hours riding any road we could find in a 100-mile radius.
The midges had all gone. The roads were quiet, and accommodation, while not cheap, was at least easy to find.
Where to Stay in Moffat
The Balmoral Hotel in the High Street looks to be the best B&B value, while The Buccleuch Arms Hotel remains the most popular with bikers, partly thanks to their secure motorcycle storage.
There isn’t much variation in prices for pub-based bed and breakfast stays – around £80 per night – but an Airbnb looks to be a good way to get the price down.
I found a two-bedroom cabin in a holiday park in Lochmaben near Lockerbie with two bathrooms and all the other facilities for the same £80 per night. As that is for the cabin, splitting that cost between two of you over three nights makes a sizeable dent in the overall cost.
When importing GPX files, your GPS or Phone navigation app will recalulate the route based on your navigation preferences. We add waypoints to hopefully minimise any differences, but it is always worth double-checking.
If you have a route that you would like to share, get in touch and with the Editor, and we will do our best to include it. Download, ride and enjoy. What could possibly go wrong? All the motorcycle touring routes are GPX 1.1 version files.
All of the motorcycle touring routes are provided “as is” without guarantee, liability or any assurances. The lawyers said we had to include that sentence. All we can tell you is that we had an excellent time planning and riding them.
110 Miles Around Moffat - Scotland
Where To Ride
Essentially, anywhere and everywhere. The A702 is a great road to ride. The cheapest petrol we found was in the Supermarket in Dumfries, and we stumbled across that because we were following our noses looping around the available roads.
Pick a direction, take a side road, and you are almost guaranteed a great ride. Even when every day is a good day, one day stands out the most in my memory.
Glen Café and Tweedmuir
Start by heading north out of Moffat on the A701, the main road running north. Twenty-five miles later, you will pass through Broughton, where the shop in the middle of the town is excellent for coffee and a bacon roll.
Continue on the A701 through Blyth Bridge to Leadburn, where the A701 magically changes to the A6094 after crossing the A703 – I’ve no idea why.
Two miles after Leadburn at Howgate, pick up the B6072 and on to the A7 for a short run to the southerly turning for the B7007 and B709 towards St Mary’s Loch.
On the A708, as you pass the south end of St Mary’s Loch, heading south, the Glen Café is on the right-hand side of the road. Popular with bikers, the cakes are homemade, and the views across the Loch are worth taking a moment to enjoy.
You now have a choice: either continue south on A708 to Moffat or continue with the route – as planned – and ride north back along the A708 and find the turn-off to Tweedmuir.
You will know when you have the right road, as an old-style AA box is set back into the junction.
The sign says that the road is unsuitable for coaches and caravans – shame 😊– but the warning is to stop people in inappropriate vehicles trying to reach the breathtaking views across the Glens and Megget Reservoir. The road is narrow in places, but tarmac end to end.
Our thanks to the retired Fireman on the Harley we met at the Glen Café who told us about this road. He has ridden it several times, and it is available on Google Maps Street View if you want to check it out. It is breathtaking.
The road doesn’t have a number. The GPX route has the turn-in point and several additional waypoints marked on the road. Hopefully, your GPS processes the route correctly.
The Tweedmuir road exits onto the A701. Turn southward (left), and 15 invigorating miles later, you will return to Moffat.
One Last Tour
As I write this, it is the middle of September, and I can see autumn coming. There is still at least a month left before I need to get the Keis Heated Jacket and Gloves out of storage.
Meanwhile, most tourists have gone home, and beautiful early morning rides happen at a reasonable time of day (8am).
Whereas we’ll continue riding through the dark and damp months, there is still time for one last tour.
What could possibly go wrong?
