There are many great places to ride in the world, but not many that can beat Scotland.
I have cycled and guided in many places around the world. I have pedalled over big mountains and majestic peaks, through stunning gorges and lush valleys. There have been ancient villages perched upon crags, overhanging vertiginous slopes and forests filled with the scent of eucalyptus and the stench of wild boar.
I have, over the years, been quite literally spoilt for choice, but when it comes down to it and I am asked my favourite place to ride my answer is always Scotland. Why? The climbs are never as long, the climate is never as predictably good and there is not the culture and history attached such as somewhere like the Col du Tourmalet.
You may be reading this and thinking I don’t need to explain my riding venue of choice. You may have ridden over the Bealach na Ba and dropped down to the Applecross peninsula, where the Atlantic crashes into a rugged and wild coast line. You may have ridden through the Caledonian forest in Deeside and tackled some of the climbs that test the legs of even the fittest cyclists. You may have even just taken a leisurely ride around the roads and trails of Tayside and enjoyed the huge range of options of routes.
If you have then you may already have a sense of what I am talking about. When I am asked to elaborate, as I often am, I struggle to put it into words. There isn’t one particular reason, but more a feeling of belonging. Whenever I ride outside of Scotland, however enjoyable it may be, I never really feel like I am part of the landscape. Such a feeling obviously largely comes down to familiarity, but there is more to it than that. I feel a connection with the landscape, the history and the terrain.
Once, many years ago now, I went on a week-long cycling trip to the Alps with some friends. The riding was stunning. We climbed many famous cols and ventured from France into Switzerland and Italy before returning back into France. The whole week I had grin from ear to ear and didn’t want to go home, but like any holiday the fun has to stop and home I went. The following weekend I ventured out on my home roads for a ride from Perth to Loch Tay and over Ben Lawers.
The mercury was hitting 30 degrees and as I rode along, on roads I had ridden many times before I had the grin back again. It took a trip to France, and the spending of a lot of money to bring me to the realisation that I loved cycling in Scotland. It was at that moment I decided I wanted to get more people to come to Scotland to ride their bikes. I gave up my day job and got myself qualified and after some hard work I was running my first trips in Scotland. Since then I have guided riders from the States, Europe and Australia and also from all over the UK on what I consider some of the best cycling routes in the world.
For many it has been a revelation. They hadn’t previously considered that Scotland might be a place they could enjoy cycling. The variety of landscapes on offer in Scotland, from the Outer Hebrides to the trail centres in the south of Scotland, from the Angus Glens to the wild north coast, there really is something for everyone and every style of riding.
It is actually quite incredible and we need to celebrate it more. I will still continue to ride and work as a guide around Europe and as I do so I will continue to appreciate how lucky I am to be able to experience these places on a bike, but more so my appreciation of these places will reinforce my love of riding in Scotland.
Where to Ride? Dalkeith to Humbie Hub
Suitable for?
Hilly road ride
Distance 30 miles
Description The Humbie Hub is a community owned social enterprise venture to the south-east of Edinburgh. It opened two years ago and comprises of among other things a café, accommodation, studio sace and a grocery. For cyclists however it is the café that is the big draw and on a weekend it is a big draw for riders from around the Edinburgh area.
This route heads out from Dalkeith to Cousland avoiding the busy A7 and A68 and instead taking smaller and quieter roads. A good option to return and make a circular route is to head back via by Falla and Pathhead.
