Driving Routes from Edinburgh

[m5pot]

Hi folks,

There hasn't been a new thread about your favourite driving routes from Edinburgh for a wee while. I don't know many myself (only the road to Carter Bar and back up / Trossachs loop via Callendar/Dukes Pass). Ideally can be done in a few hours/day trip. Please post your suggestions below!

Cheers

[m5pot]

Just back from a run around the Trossachs. The road are terrible to say the least, uneven road surfaces and suspension flooring potholes. Loose gravel everywhere too. Be careful out there folks, roads have deteriorated massively.

[Stu_g87]

A703 down to Peebles, continuing onto A708 past St Mary's Loch to Moffat, then back up A701 to Edinburgh is a favourite of mine.

[Skornogr4phy]

A70 to Carnwath, left to Dolphinton then back home along the A702 is excellent for a high speed run. Not very technical, but the A70 section in particular is well sighted and with not much traffic.

The road from Gifford to Duns was amazing when I did it a few weeks ago. Not quite wide enough for two cars, but extremely well sighted so you can play around a bit. The road next to it to Preston might be good as well.

The coast road up to Kirkcaldy and beyond can be good fun if you get a nice quiet day.

[Brads67]

Re the Gifford road, make sure you take the Longformacus road. It truly is awesome.

Fife coast road from the bridge to Dundee is worth a blast.

Pathhead Through Haddington over to Aberlady is worth a shout as well.

[Malcster]

For me, Balerno to Carnwath (A70) then hook a left onto the B7016 to Biggar, then back up the A702... or back the same way.

For a longer day away, this has long been a favourite of mine:
https://youtu.be/xkAT82-R0S8

[Davie]

I'm just near the bridges, Fife side... favourite of mine is up the M90 to Milnathort then up jump off on the B996 to Bridge of Earn, skirt round Perth then out the A85 to Crieff then back south on the A822 continuing past Gleneagles through Glendevon to Rumbling Bridge then pick up the A823 past Knockhill. About 85 miles and as long as it's 'off peak' then the roads are usually quite and most are in ok condition, few ninja pot holes to avoid in Glendevon however.

Moving to East Lothian soon so very apt thread as I have a lot of exploring to do down that neck of the woods both in the car and on the mountain bike so will be watching this thread and noting ideas for an early morning run. Have done a few runs down the A702 towards Biggar, then the A701 to Moffat and back up the A708, sometimes cutting north to the 701 again via Megget and Tala though again, needs to be off peak or else the Qashqui association tend to hamper progress!

[Brads67]

It`s the filth you need to be watching for down East Lothian mate.

There are no fun roads now without the constant threat of a life destroying conviction by the SNP`s Gestapo.

[Davie]

Brads67 said:

It`s the filth you need to be watching for down East Lothian mate.

There are no fun roads now without the constant threat of a life destroying conviction by the SNP`s Gestapo.

Pretty much par for the course everywhere these days... if it's not the Old Bill then it's wheel ruining potholes however that said, there's plenty routes that can be great even at lower speeds, even just for the scenery if nothing else. One of my most enjoyable drives was Aberdeen to the central belt via Glenshee in a 32bhp diesel Transit Connect, courtesy of Enterprise... no worries about smashing the 14" steel wheels and so slow that you could drive at 110% and still be well under the limits.

Had a run today... bridges > Bo'ness> Kincardine > Culross and back... nice to get out, even in a diesel estate with a sleeping baby on board!

[Skornogr4phy]

The road through Glenshee is stunning, but a bit more of a trek than these other roads. Worth it if you have a couple of cars to make a day of it though.

[m5pot]

Thanks for all the responses guys, keep them coming! Some great suggestions which I look forward to trying out if the sun decides to make an appearance.

[Skornogr4phy]

It's not really a route as such, but the Lang Loan road just off the Edinburgh bypass is fun if you need to go that way. Lasts no more than 2 minutes but has a mega dip with two challenging corners. It is never busy as it doesn't really go anywhere.

[paul450]

Stu_g87 said:

A703 down to Peebles, continuing onto A708 past St Mary's Loch to Moffat, then back up A701 to Edinburgh is a favourite of mine.

Just done this today,first run out with the car this year