WIld about off-road

Andy Weir is director of Ridelines, an award-winning mountain bike coaching and guiding business based out of Innerleithen. What Ridelines don’t know about biking in the valley isn’t worth knowing! Here, Andy shares a favourite off-road route into the hills for the spring.

Name: Andy Weir

Day job: Director, Ridelines

How long lived in the Tweed Valley? 18 years

Specialist subject? I should really say mountain biking!

Favourite off-road adventure for springtime? It’s difficult to choose a favourite but when it starts to get dry, the Priesthope Hill to Cairn Hill ride is a cracking big country ride. It takes you up through Caberston Forest in Innerleithen and onto Priesthope Hill. It then follows a massive horseshoe loop over many of the high hills, including Scawd Law, and on to Cairn Hill. From there, one of the longest singletrack descents in the Tweed Valley, Feed the Pony, will drop you down into Walkerburn right at the Caberston Farm Coffee Shop. It’s a physically challenging ride and feels wonderfully remote. It’s certainly one for the experienced and fitter riders – but will open up a new perspective for many visitors to the Tweed Valley.

What makes it so special? The scenery is stunning and it gets you away from the general hubbub of the busier trails in the Tweed Valley. It’s a great physical challenge getting up (with some hike-a-bike) and when you start descending, you really appreciate the effort you made to get up there! For the super enthusiastic after the café stop, there’s always an option to go back up Caberston Forest to take in more of ‘the Golfie’s’ challenging descents. If you’ve had enough, a laid-back pedal along the beautifully scenic Tweed Valley Railway Path will take you back to Innerleithen.

Who would you most love to spend a day on bikes with and why? My wife and son. I’m really lucky that I get to ride with lots of awesome people as part of my job and also get to ride with some brilliant friends, but I don’t get to ride with my family so much. So, I’d love to combine my favourite thing with my favourite people.

Dream riding destination if ever enticed away from the Tweed Valley? … but the Tweed Valley is the dream and I’m living the dream! It’s riding bikes that I love, not necessarily the destination. With so many fantastic places to ride bikes, it would be churlish to pick just one. The Tweed Valley is amazing though, it has a little something for everyone.

Further info

  • Ladies! Saddle up for two days of mountain bike shenanigans and a legendary treasure hunt around the beautiful Scottish Borders at FNY: The Hunt. Alongside the riding, the weekend line-up includes an epic raffle, outrageous costumes, inspiring films and guided rides from those who know the Tweed Valley best. This year's theme is famous iconic women from history – so expect plenty of inspiring stories about the women who have lived, and played, in this unique corner of Scotland.

  • Take inspiration for your next mountain biking adventure from our 10 Classic Bike Routes Guide. Featuring everything from river-level pedals to hilltop descents, there’s something here for riders of all abilities.