Cycling in Northumberland and the Borders
Just 1 mile from the border between Scotland and England, our bed and breakfast in Town Yetholm provides great accommodation for cyclists.
Local bike rides
There are miles of quiet, empty roads to explore in Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, and we are very happy to suggest possible routes.
Mountain biking
You can go mountain biking along many of the tracks in the Cheviot Hills, and there are some great routes up to the Border Ridge and over into Northumberland. In addition, the 7stanes mountain biking centre at Innerleithen is about an hour’s drive away, and is renowned for its four downhill trails, all of them orange-graded Bike Park Extreme.
Tour cycling and long-distance routes
The Borderloop is a 245 mile (395km) circular journey by bike along the quiet lanes that criss-cross the beautiful Scottish Borders and takes in Melrose, Peebles, Hawick, Kelso and Eyemouth. There are several possible shortcuts offering alternative itineraries. The route is moderate with a few steep sections and will take around 7 days to complete depending on your ability and how often you stop to admire the view. Rutherford House is well placed for the Borderloop as the route passes right by our front door!
The Four Abbeys cycle route is a nearby 56 mile (90km) circular route linking the four main abbeys in the Scottish Borders at Melrose, Dryburgh, Kelso and Jedburgh.
The Kirkpatrick C2C, South of Scotland’s Coast to Coast cycling route, offers 175 miles (280km) of varied cycling from Stranraer on the west coast to Eyemouth on the east coast. The Explorer Itinerary takes 8 days and passes through nearby Kelso and Coldstream.
Facilities and services for cyclists
We have secure storage for bicycles at the back of the house, and can provide you with a key so you can come and go as you please. There is an outside water tap in our courtyard for cleaning off mud.
We enjoy cycling so have got tools for cycle repairs and maintenance, including tyre levers, puncture repair kit, lubricant and a pump for presta and schraeder valves. Please ask if you need to borrow anything. Hopefully you won’t need them, but we also have first aid supplies available. We’re happy to suggest possible routes.
For accessories, spares and repairs, our nearest (and highly recommended) cycle shop in Simon Porteous Cycles in Kelso, which is 7 miles away from Yetholm.
For lunches and snacks, Yetholm’s community-owned village shop is a one-minute walk from Rutherford House across the green. It sells a great selection of food including sandwiches, oatcakes, rolls, dips and pate, cheese, crisps, nuts, biscuits, cakes and chocolate. You’re welcome to store food in our fridge. Alternatively we can make up a packed lunch for you.