2. Gifford

start: Carfraemill
distance: 28 miles
OS map: 66

This route goes from Carfraemill on the main A68 over the hills to Gifford and returns via Soutra. It's possible to avoid cycling over Soutra if you can leave some transport at its northern foot - it's no fun cycling on the A68 if you can help it!

From the Carfraemill Hotel head N and keep to the R fork after half a mile. This follows the Kelphope Burn up a quiet valley. Two miles from the fork is a sharp R up a steep hill to Tollishill. Some landowners in these parts guard their fiefdoms fiercely and you are advised to keep to the right of way. It heads NE rising all the way to Crib Law and turning NW as it does so. Some downhill now, going N, but more uphill to reach this trip's high point of over 500m on Lammer Law. From here it's a real breeze all the way down to Longyester. Turn L here going NW. If you've time to look at Gifford there's a couple of pubs, shops etc.

The road out of Gifford heads SW. Follow this A6137 to Soutra if you want but our route takes a quieter alternative. Turn L off the main road, still going SW, with a golf course on the R. Bear slightly R to go past Woodhead and follow round to Marvingston rising now to a T junction at (501 649). Turn L then in half a mile R. In a mile the road goes R and then L towards Leaston and a short way past this take a track to the L for Bankhead. At the end of a line of trees turn R and then in a few metres L through a field to Humbie Mains. Straight ahead here, L at a T junction then R to go uphill to rejoin the A6137 heading for Soutra.

If you have transport here it'll save you the haul over Soutra and, while the run down the other side might be fun, in my view it's a busy and dangerous road.

jb, gala

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