Isolation Cycle 78; Herring Road into Lammermuirs...

4 Weeks ago...

Another sunny day and out cycling keeping away from folk and staying safe, each day we usually have a planned route and today G had suggested the re routed line of the old Herring Road through Crystal Rig Windfarm, usually this re route is near unrideable as so wet and no route of the path has been cut through making it enjoyable to cycle, with the current drought we hoped it would be better...

One old section still not bothering worth doing is here where it climbs south up beside the Redscar burn in Ox Cleugh, so best taking the track that loops around easter hartside...

On top of easter hartside at the end of the easier track we rejoined the heather moor and the original route, the V grooves cut into the peat from years of pack horses that carried the salted Herrings to market towns in the Borders...

South up onto Crystal Rig...

Here is where the fun starts as the route disappears with the construction of Crystal Rig I wind farm,

A few markers give a rough route and even dry we had to walk a few sections,
Now we were on 3" plus wheels today and full Fatbike wheels would have made things easier here but hauling a full Fatbike up here just for a mile or so benefit when we were up for the day and doing a good 30 miles and several thousand feet of climbing we opted to ride plus wheels,

Though be good to return here in mid winter and ride this one section on full 5" fat bikes just to prove what they are capable of!...

Up here it is hard to imagine an estimated 20,000 people used the Herring Road annually in the 18th Century...

Walking across a section I disturbed some Grouse chicks, they have an amazing camouflage ...

Soon we were onto maintenance tracks and would soon leave the route of the Herring Road to continue our big day loop...

Wee film, Song is `Owls and Vultures` by Luke Janela