Immerse yourself in Scottish history and traditions on this guided journey through the Scottish Borders. Travel by e-bike and on foot through the surprising variety of landscapes, rolling hills, windswept moorlands and remote valleys. Explore private art collections and experience the architectural grandeur of magnificent castles, historic manor houses and the ruins of 15th century abbeys, steeped in heritage.
- Duration
- 5 nights
- How We Travel
- Electric biking
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Activity Level
Graded between 1 (easiest) and 5 (most challenging). Click for more details
- Bike Type
- Front suspension electric mountain bikes
- Price
- £5,875 per person
- Group Size
- Up to 14 guests
Journey Highlights
- Spend five nights at Thirlestane Castle immersed in the opulent interiors and 13th century history of a grand Scottish stronghold.
- Experience candlelit feasts and whisky tasting in the state dining room and a traditional bagpipe performance and history lesson from a Scottish Piper.
- Cycle between the hauntingly beautiful red sandstone ruins of the Melrose and Dryburgh Abbeys.
- Hike to the iconic triple peaks of the Eildon Hill panorama, and cycle through the Lammermuirs, for unbroken views across the rolling Borders landscape.
- Ride through valleys and silent glens for a wild-foraged riverside lunch.
- Access the world-renowned Bowhill House and Gardens art collection at the magnificent seat of the Dukes of Buccleuch.
- Visit Scotland’s oldest inhabited fortified castle and hear the legend of the locked Bear Gates.
Good To Know
- Some sections, particularly through the Traquair Estate or the Lammermuirs, include significant climbs.
- Day 5 sees a total ascent of 1,060m. While the e-bikes provide essential support, a moderate level of cycling fitness and good balance for descents are required.
- Unlike many of our cycling trips, this trip does include driven transfers each day, to the start point of each ride, and from the end point of each ride. Only one ride begins at Thirlestane Castle.
- There is the option to go fishing on the Tweed, which is not included in the cost. It is subject to availability as well as the fishing season (Feb-Nov) and requires advance booking.
Welcome to The Slow Cyclist
I first explored these borderlands in the autumn of 2025 and was enchanted by the silence of the glens and the sheer history embedded in the stately homes, abbeys, and castles of the Scottish Borders, charmed by the wild Scottish landscapes I travelled through and the rich history I found around every corner. Whether cycling the high ridges overlooking St Mary's Loch or enjoying a G&T in the rose garden at Thirlestane, this corner of Scotland offers natural peace. We’ve been exploring roads less travelled for 10 years, and it feels right to bring you to the vaulted cellars and grand dining rooms of this evocative Scottish landscape.
Oli BroomFounder, The Slow Cyclist
The Journey
For this new journey, we head to the rugged beauty of the Scottish Borders. We’ll be based at the magnificent Thirlestane Castle for five nights, exploring a landscape of ancient abbeys, rolling hills, grand stately homes and the sparkling waters of the River Tweed. Our route takes us through the heart of the Scottish Borders and into the wilds of the Lammermuirs. We’ll visit Melrose and Dryburgh Abbeys, encounter world-renowned art at the Bowhill House and Gardens gallery and savour the finest local hospitality, from state dining rooms to foraged, riverside picnics.
Is It For Me?
Our journeys are built around friendship, exceptional hospitality and the great outdoors. Slow Cyclists are curious travellers with a bit of juice in their legs, approaching our time on a bike - or on foot - as an opportunity to explore rather than test our fitness. That’s not to say we don’t pedal hard sometimes, just that we are often distracted by the food, history and people that make a place special. When we see something interesting, we tend to stop and take it in rather than race by. If this sounds like you, we're pretty sure you'll love your time exploring the Scottish Borders with us.
When To Go?
We welcome guests between April and September. While summer months are the warmest, all seasons in Scotland bring their own charm and a fair chance of rain. You can expect lush greens in early summer and the dramatic purple of heather on the Lammermuirs by late August. When travelling through the Scottish Borders, it is important to dress for changeable weather. Even in summer, conditions can shift from sunshine to rain in minutes, so bringing multiple layers is essential.
The Cycling & Walking
This journey is taken mostly by electric bike with one planned walk. For cycling we use front suspension hybrid electric bikes. Cycles are 10 – 45 kms, on a mix of quiet tarmac roads, with some off-road and forest tracks with a few long hills, both up and down. Some tracks have sections that require good balance due to loose gravel. A moderate level of cycling fitness is required, but this journey is suitable for almost all levels of cyclist, and we can be flexible with routes, depending on the confidence of the group. We’ve only included one short 4 km walk, but you will have some free time to explore the beautiful grounds of Thirlestane Castle on foot.
Find out more about our activity levels here.
Food & Drink
The food on this trip celebrates all the wonderful varieties of the Scottish larder. You will experience a castle-made BBQ in a Victorian kitchen, a dinner which showcases the best of local Scottish produce, such as quality beef, lamb, fish, and seasonal game at an 18th century coaching inn in Lauder, and the grandeur of a welcome dinner in the castle's state dining room. Highlights include a whisky tasting and leisurely picnics, the chance to try traditional Scottish food such as neeps, tatties and haggis, as well as a traditional processional into dinner led by a Scottish piper.
Flora & Fauna
The Scottish Borders are a mosaic of wild habitats, from the manicured beauty of estate parklands to the untamed uplands. In the ancient Caledonian pine and oak woodlands of the Ettrick Forest, you can see red squirrels and in the heather-clad expanses of the Lammermuir Hills, curlews and skylarks. You may even be lucky enough to see mountain hares and roe deer along the ridgelines. The River Tweed is home to the Atlantic salmon, and you might spot the turquoise flash of a kingfisher or the white chest of a dipper among the stones. The Scottish Borders offer a quiet wilderness that rewards the slow and the observant.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Tuesday 8 June - Arrival & Estate Warm Up Ride
Afternoon cycle 12 kms
You will arrive at the grand gates of Thirlestane Castle in the early afternoon. Once you've settled in, there will be a light lunch awaiting you in the refined comfort of the Panelled Room. After a short briefing and bike fitting, we’ll head out for a warm-up ride around the estate, concluding with relaxed G&Ts under the "fairy tree". This evening, we gather for a welcome dinner with your hosts in the castle's state dining room, a banquet hall lined with Maitland family portraits and offering stunning garden views. Dine like former residents around a beautifully decorated table for a truly atmospheric meal.
Day 2 - Wednesday 9 June - The Abbey Ride
Morning cycle 25 kms - Afternoon walk 4 kms or Afternoon cycle 17 kms
After breakfast in the castle's Victorian kitchen, we'll cycle off-road along the scenic Southern Upland Way. On our way to explore the storied ruins of the border abbeys, look out for the incredible Leaderfoot Viaduct and catch a glimpse of the statue of William Wallace. Following lunch, we head to the picturesque Eildon Hill to take in the iconic views in a landscape central to this journey. This evening we'll relax back at Thirlestane Castle with a BBQ dinner.
Day 3 - Thursday 10 June - Heart of the Borders & The Piper
Morning cycle 26 kms
We start our day with a short transfer to the heart of the Scottish Borders and the southernmost part of our journey. We'll visit the Bowhill House and Gardens for a tour of the Buccleuch family's outstanding art collection, with paintings ranging from an exceptional series of family portraits by Thomas Gainsborough and Sir Joshua Reynolds, to fine landscapes by Claude and van Ruisdael. We'll enjoy a wild-foraged lunch beside the enchanting Tweed River with optional fly fishing for salmon in the afternoon. This evening features a special highlight: a Scottish piper will play everyone in for dinner and share insights into the history of the pipes before we dine in the grandeur of the State Dining Room of Thirlestane Castle.
Day 4 - Friday 11 June - Traquair Estate & The Tweed
Morning cycle 18 kms | Afternoon cycle 17 kms
We begin today with a transfer to the small village of Heriot, then cycle through the coniferous Traquair Estate for a tour and lunch at Traquair House, Scotland's oldest inhabited fortified house and the home of the famous Bear Gates. For dinner, we take a short stroll into Lauder for dinner at an 18th century coaching inn.
Day 5 - Saturday 12 June - The Lammermuirs
Morning cycle 27 km | Afternoon cycle 29 kms
Our final and most challenging day takes us into the moorland of the Lammermuir Hills. Starting on the edge of Greenlaw Moor, we will climb to the Whiteadder Reservoir for a remote picnic lunch via the Herring Road. In the afternoon, the landscape changes dramatically as we head north to Garvald. We return to Thirlestane for a whisky tasting in the vaulted cellar and a final celebratory dinner in the State Dining Room.
Day 6 - Sunday 13 June - Departure
After a relaxed morning breakfast served in the Victorian kitchen, you are free to depart at your leisure. Taking with you memories of the rugged and historic Scottish Borders.
Practical Information
Guiding & Support
Our attention to detail sets us apart. You will be looked after by two of our local guides throughout. Each guide is fluent in English and is very familiar with the region you'll be travelling through. We’re sure you will become firm friends by the time you leave. As well as the two local guides, our exceptional professional support team will look after you every step of the way.
Accommodation
Our home for this journey is the magnificent Thirlestane Castle, a 16th century landmark and one of the oldest inhabited castles in Scotland. Set within a quiet meadow landscape on the outskirts of the charming town of Lauder.
Accommodations are located in the castle’s South Wing, which has been finished to a 5-star standard. The wing consists of eight ensuite bedrooms split into five private apartments, each decorated in a classic yet contemporary style with exceptional views of the parkland. Every apartment features its own kitchen and sitting room, offering a personal space to relax with a cup of tea. Beyond your private suite, you will have access to the castle’s grandest historic spaces, including the State Drawing Room with its world-renowned plasterwork ceilings, the portrait lined State Dining Room, and the atmospheric vaulted cellars for evening whisky.
Bikes & Safety
We take your safety seriously. You must wear a helmet when cycling, and we cannot accept bookings from anyone unwilling to wear one. The bikes you'll be riding are front suspension electric mountain bikes. You will be given a brief lesson in how to use them effectively before we start cycling. If you have any technical issues during your time with us, from squeaky brakes to punctures, please let us know and we’ll fix it. We will be cycling on roads, albeit relatively quiet ones. But as always, we're not here to race; this is a journey to take time over.
Packing & Reading
Well in advance of your travels, we will send you an online travel guide including various details you need to know in advance. This will include a suggested packing list as well as some of our favorite books about the Scottish Borders. We recommend starting with Alistair Moffat’s The Borders for a sweeping history of the region, or his more focused work, The Reivers, to immerse yourself in the tales of the legendary clans that once ruled these valleys. For a touch of local lore, Walter Scott’s Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border offers a beautiful window into the ballads and stories that define the landscape you will be cycling through.
We partner with Trust My Travel so that, in accordance with travel industry regulations, your funds are 100% protected.
Pricing & Booking
Price
£5,875 per person
Extras |
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|---|---|
| Single Occupancy Supplement | £995 |
We are often told how nice it is that almost everything is paid for up front. So, while you are with us you can forget about your wallet, relax and enjoy yourselves. Included are:
- Support team and vehicle
- 2 x local guides
- 5 x nights accommodation
- All meals, snacks and drinks
- All activities
- E-bike and helmet hire
- 100% financial security
- 1% donation to local causes aligned with our values
- Flights
- Personal costs
- Travel insurance
- Visas (if required)
For private groups a 30% non-refundable deposit is required from the group leader and, thereafter, from each member of the party. A minimum of 50% of the party are required to book and pay their deposit within one month of the group leader. The balance is due 10 weeks before the departure date. If you are travelling on one of our scheduled journeys, we require a 30% non-refundable deposit on the core trip price (i.e. not on any extras) at the time of booking. The balance is due 10 weeks before the departure date. Please make sure you are familiar with our standard terms & conditions before booking.
You will receive two emails shortly after booking. First, a payment receipt, then a second email explaining next steps. Within two working days you will then be contacted by a member of our Guest Services team who will look after and advise you in the lead up to your travels.
We partner with Trust My Travel so that, in accordance with travel industry regulations, your funds are 100% protected.
Flights
You are responsible for booking your own flights. They are not included in the cost of the trip. We will let you know when the flight schedule is released. If you would like help researching and booking your flights we recommend contacting Liz Rees (+44 (0)1214334452 or liz.rees@travelcounsellors.com) who helps many of our guests with their supplementary transport requirements. Please let her know your departure dates and preferred airport.
Transfers
We will provide one transfer for the group on arrival and another on departure. We will arrange a suitable meeting point at Edinburgh Airport for the arrival and departure days. If you require alternative transport options because you are arriving or leaving earlier or later please contact us and we can arrange this for you at an additional cost.
Protect the Planet
We are thrilled that increasing numbers of our guests are choosing to get to and from their Slow Cyclist adventure in creative ways for environmental reasons. We understand that this may not always be practical, but we urge you to consider doing so if you can. If you choose to take the train to Edinburgh, a transfer to the start point can be arranged, or alternatively, it is possible to drive yourself and park at the castle. Of course, you are welcome to undertake the research and book travel yourself, or Liz Rees can organise your journey for you.
The Scottish Borders have existed as a distinct, contested frontier since the 2nd century AD, when the Roman Empire constructed walls to define its northern borders. Since then, the region has endured a turbulent history, frequently changing hands between Scottish and English control, defined by centuries of cross-border warfare and shifting allegiances. In the 12th century, the "Great Abbeys" of Melrose and Dryburgh brought monastic order and spirituality to the frontier; their red sandstone arches today stand as masterpieces of Gothic architecture and silent witnesses to the "Rough Wooing" also known as the eight-year war invasion of the 1540s.
The architectural heart of this history lies in the evolution of the Border stronghold. Thirlestane Castle, your base for this journey, began as a 13th century fort built to defend the route to Edinburgh, but by the 1670s it was transformed into a palace of Baroque opulence, boasting Europe’s finest decorative plasterwork, a signal that the age of the lawless "Reiver" was ending.
A key part of the Borders’ identity was its fierce loyalty to the Stuart crown, nowhere more evident than at Traquair House, Scotland's oldest inhabited home, which famously closed its Bear Gates in 1745, vowing they would only reopen upon a Stuart restoration. This era of refinement extended to Bowhill House and Gardens, the magnificent seat of the Dukes of Buccleuch, which became a repository for world-renowned art and a symbol of the massive landed estates that defined the rural economy.
In the shadows of the iconic Eildon Hills, the 19th century brought a "Golden Age" of industry, where the sparkling waters of the River Tweed powered mills that produced world-renowned wool and cashmere, turning the Borders into a global center for weaving and textile craftsmanship.
From the tranquil riverside paths of The Yair to the high ridges of the Lammermuirs, the region remains a proud landscape where the grit of medieval fortresses meets the living art and heritage of the modern Scot.
The hills of the Scottish Borders have long served as a touchstone for those tracing their ancestral roots, particularly for the millions of Americans whose surnames and family lore began in these historic Marches. This landscape remains a site of pilgrimage for many US descendants seeking a connection to the "Old Country" and the resilient spirit of their ancestors.
Unique Experiences
Travel is so often commoditised and unimaginative. We are the antidote, taking time to create beautifully crafted, one-of-a-kind experiences to places that excite us.
Community & Connection
We cherish personal relationships and friendships and seek to strengthen cross-cultural bonds, respecting and supporting those who enter our orbit. All must feel our impact is positive.
Dedication to Excellence
We design experiences with passion, flair and innovation. We seek continual improvement, to offer the best experience possible.
Care for the Planet
We travel with a light footprint and we seek ways to protect and celebrate Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystems.
Charitable Giving
Each year, we donate 1% of our revenue to a variety of causes across our destinations and in the UK, each aligning with our values.
Where It All Began...
It all began with a 28,000km cycle to Australia. Founder Oli Broom fell in love with watching the world roll by under his wheels and wanted to share that joy with others. Read more.