Distance & Time: 6.6 miles/45 Minutes

Approx. Breakdown: Segregated, Shared Path (91%), Quiet Streets (9%)

Description: From Tweed Green, head toward Priorsford Bridge and join the recently added active travel path alongside the River Tweed, heading towards Walkershaugh and The Gytes. This new section forms part of the upcoming River Tweed Trail and leads you to the A72 and a new ‘Toucan’ crossing. You can read more about this excellent piece of infrastructure here.

The route continues through the Hydro Hotel grounds and, after a short road crossing, into the woods. You pass under the A72 via a newly refurbished railway tunnel - now illuminated, which really does help. From here, the path offers a delightful, easy to follow few miles, with the Tweed never far away. Just watch out for birch roots breaking through the surface in Eshiels Wood.

Arriving at Cardrona Village, you cross the roundabout and follow the quiet estate road through the village. With a 20mph limit, it’s generally safe for cyclists. Eventually, a blue sign directs you out of the village and through the golf course (stop for a shot on the pump track if you fancy), before crossing the river via the 2013 Woodend Bridge.

From here, follow the popular trail all the way to Innerleithen, ending at Traquair Road. A left turn takes you into town; right leads towards Traquair and Walkerburn. You can read more about the game-changing impact of the Tweed Valley Railway Path on this blog.

Parking: There isn’t any formal, public parking in Innerleithen that I have found, which is perhaps surprising for a town now synonymous with bikes. Many local businesses do however provide places to park & chain a bike such as the Co-Op, Traquair Arms, Haus & Co, Loulabelles, No1 Café and St. Ronan’s Hotel. Locally based business Enduro Sports Organisation have a really cool bike parking hangar outside their office on Chapel Street, but as far as I am aware it’s for their staff only.

Fuel: Lots of cafes, who will gladly fill a water bottle if you need it as well as selling you some coffee and sweet treats. We could do with a Scottish Water tap here, given the town’s busy status as an outdoor capital of sorts. If you need any running repairs then you’ll find a Grease Monkey Station at the Co-Op and no fewer than four busy bike shops.

Car Count: Low. Even the shared section through Cardrona is fairly quiet and the roads wide enough to let cars pass safely.

Map: Sustrans have provided the map below.