Bronze In The Borders

A group approaching Drumlanrig Castle

This weekend I was working for Adventure Expeditions in the Borders on a Bronze D of E exped. It meant that I left a relatively dry Fort William to a very wet southern Scotland. I took my mountain bike so I could quickly get about (but also I hoped to get in some trails during or after work, on the weekend). The Saturday took everybody to Drumlanrig Castle, and the complex woods behind. The woods contain the tracks for the groups as well as lots of waymarked walking trails, and mountain bike trails - green through to black.

Drumlanrig Castle, with Drumlanrig Woods behind

A couple of groups approaching the Castle on Saturday

The mountain bike tracks in the Drumlanrig Woods got my attention

I did most of the walking trails during work on the Saturday, and did the blue and red bike trails on the Sunday after work - great fun - and lots of navigating in thick woods!

The Woods were more beautiful than I was expecting

Cat's new shelter turned out to be a hit - here are a couple of teachers having a snooze in midge nets

Cat had bought Adventure Expeditions a new shelter, which turned out to be a big hit in the rain of Saturday night. The teaching staff used it the most, to keep them comfortable as they snoozed.

The top of the steep track on Sunday

So as it turned out the bike was a winner for the weekend. I managed to find all the groups fast on both days, and did lots of bike trails - racking up 70km over the weekend. Now I'm thinking about upgrading my bike so I can comfortably get down the Nevis Red from the Gondola at Nevis range.