For details of previous years, hover over “Rides Archive”, then select from the drop-down options.
July 2018
Sunday 15th – the fitness group went to Belhaven via Carberry, Edgehead, Fala, Humbie, Longyester and Stenton, back by Haddington, Redhouse, Longniddry and the coast road (62 miles). The intermediate group went via the Wisp, Gorebridge, over the Granites to Heriot, then over Gilston to Soutra; back via Humbie and Cousland (53 miles).
Thursday 12th – evening ride to East Linton in a figure-of-8 loop via Pencaitland and back by Haddington and the coast (46 miles)
Sunday 8th – the intermediate group rode from Queen Margaret University to Shawfair and onto the cycle path to Roslin, then went via Auchendinny, Penicuik and over the moor to Whitmuir and back via Gladhouse Reservoir, Temple, Gorebridge, Dalkeith and Inveresk (55 miles). The fitness group rode out through Tynehead and Heriot to Innerleithen for coffee, then along the south side of Tweed, round Cademuir to Lyne Station, and home by the Meldons, Gladhouse and Temple (74 miles).
Thursday 5th – evening ride to Papple via Tranent, Pencaitland and Gifford, back through Haddington, over the Yak and along the coast road (45 miles).
Sunday 1st – the fitness group went via Danderhall, Sheriffhall and Mayfield to Gorebridge, over the Granites and left to Heriot, then via the coach road and a stretch of A7 to Stow, over the moor to Lauder for coffee, and back via Carfraemill, Humbie, Tranent and Fa’side Hill (69 miles). The intermediates went through Pencaitland, Samuelston, Moreham and Traprain Law to Tyninghame for coffee; back via Athelstaneford, over the Yak to Haddington, then Samuelston, Longniddry and along the coast (55 miles).
June 2018
Thursday 28th – sparsely attended but fast evening ride to North Berwick, back by Tantallon, East Fortune and Longniddry. (45 miles)
Sunday 24th – the intermediate group went out through Tranent, Pencaitland and E Saltoun, round the back of Gifford to Stenton, through the Biel estate to Tyninghame, then on to Smeaton nursery for coffee and home via Markle, Athelstaneford and Coates (53 miles). The fitness group went over the Meldons for a cafe stop at Dawyck, then back by Dreva, Broughton, West Linton and Bonnyrigg (70 miles).
Thursday 21st – evening ride through Dalkeith to Temple, Middleton, Pathhead and Cousland, then a loop round by Tranent and Longniddry and back along the coast (55 miles)
Friday 15th to Sunday 17th – the 2018 Portovelo weekender was held in the North Pennines, based at Dufton Youth Hostel. Thirty cyclists travelled down on Friday, most by car but quite a few taking the train to Carlisle or Penrith and then cycling to Dufton (up to 55 miles); many then went up Great Dun Fell, a punishingly steep climb starting just a couple of miles from Dufton and rising over 630m in 4.5 miles (12 miles there and back). On Saturday, faster and slower fitness groups did a clockwise circuit up the Eden Valley to Melmerby, over Hartside Fell to Alston, up Killhope Cross and along to St John’s Chapel for coffee; the faster group continued via Rookhope to Cuthbert’s Hill, down Crawleyside to Stanhope, then up Unthank Bank to Middleton-in-Teesdale for lunch, while the slower group took a more direct route to Middleton via Daddry Shield and Newbiggin; both groups then rode back over the fells to Brough, and returned to Dufton via Great Musgrave, Warcop and Hilton (97 miles; 75 miles). The intermediate group went south through Murton, Warcop, Whitby and Ravenstonedale to Orton for coffee, back by Appleby-in-Westmorland (55 miles). Fuelled by a big meal out at the local pub on Saturday evening, all three groups followed the same Sunday route: a loop south to Sedbergh via Appleby and Kirkby Stephen, returning on a minor road parallel to the M6 to Tebay, then through Orton and back over the moor to Appleby and Dufton (53 miles).
Sunday 10th – the fitness ride went out through Tranent and Morham to Spott and over Crystal Rigg to Whiteadder resevoir, back over Redstone Rigg to the Gifford cafe and then straight home (67 miles). The intermediates group went out through Tranent, East Saltoun and Gifford, round by West Barnes to Tyninghame cafe, and home by Tantallon Castle and the coast road (55 miles).
Thursday 7th – sunny evening ride through Cousland and Humbie, over Soutra and back by Tynehead, Crichton and Edgehead (42 miles).
Sunday 3rd – the fitness group went out by Cousland and Pathhead onto the old coach road to Clovenfords, along the south of the Tweed to Innerleithen for coffee, and home by the Granites (70 miles). The intermediates took the cycle path to Penicuik, visited Penicuik House (18th Century Palladian mansion), then went via Rosebery reservoir, Temple and Gorebridge to Vogrie House (1876 Victorian baronial); back by Edgehead, Mayfield and Whitecraig (50 miles).
May 2018
Thursday 31st – evening ride along thecoast road to Aberlady, over Camptoun hill to Haddington, down Bangley Brae to the level crossing and home via Prestonpans (37 miles).
Sunday 27th – the fitness group went up the Wisp to Gilmerton then via cycle path to Roslin, through Carrington to the Granites, left to Heriot, over Soutra to the cafe, and home through Humbie, the Saltouns and Dalkeith (60 miles). The intermediate went onto the Lammermuirs via Tranent, Haddington, Garvald, then down the Rig to Gifford, and home through the Saltouns, Pathead and Dalkeith (56 miles).
The fitness group approaching East Saltoun, May 2018
Intermediate group on Redstone Rig, May 2018
Thursday 24th – evening ride through Dalkeith and Mayfield to Newlandrig then Crichton, Fala, Humbie, Bolton and home through Prestonpans (43 miles).
Sunday 20th – the intermediate group went to Whitmuir via Sheriffhall, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik and West Linton, back by Eddelston, Gladhouse, Carrington and Dalkeith (52 miles).
Thursday 17th – evening ride through Elphinstone, Pencaitland, Bolton, Haddington and Aberlady then home along the coast road (42 miles).
Sunday 13th – a combined fitness/intermediate group went through the city to Balerno and along the Lang Whang (where a few peeled off to West Calder for shorter rides home) to Carnwath for coffee, round by Dunsyre and Dolphinton, home by Blythe Bridge, Leadburn and Bonnyrigg (70 miles).
Heading out on the Lang Whang, May 2018
Thursday 10th – evening ride up Carberry to Pathhead, Fala, Tynehead and Middleton to Temple, back by Gore Glen, Newbattle and Dalkeith (38 miles).
Sunday 6th – a large intermediate group went to Innerleithen via Vogrie and Gorebridge, then back up the Granites and home by Middleton and Carrington (63 miles). The fitness group went up Carberry then to Garvald via Longyester and up into the Lammermuirs, down the Rig for coffee in Gifford and home via Longniddry and the coast road (58 miles).
Thursday 3rd – Evening ride up Fa’side hill and onto Gifford via Pentcaitland, return via Haddington and Macmerry (37 miles).
April 2018
Sunday 29th – the fitness group went through Tranent, Pencaitland and Gifford, up the Rig and on past Whiteadder to Ellemford, across to Longformacus, back down the Rig to Gifford again for coffee, then home via the Saltouns and Carberry (66 miles). The intermediate group went up Carberry to Humbie, Soutra, Heriot and Innerleithen for coffee, back via the Granites, Middleton, Borthwick castle and Edgehead (68 miles).
At the top of the Rig – the Portovelo fitness group, plus a Pentland velo group, April 2018
Saturday 28th – a mixed group of adults and children left the bandstand and rode up the Innocent Path to the Meadows where we continued, with thousands of others, to Holyrood via George IV Bridge and the Royal Mile for Pedal on Parliament.
Thursday 26th – Evening ride up Carberry and on to Humbie, Gifford then Papple, back via Haddington and Bangley Brae (42 miles)
Sunday 22nd – the intermediate group went up Carberry, then via Middleton, the Granites and Heriot to Soutra, back via Humbie (49 miles); the fitness group went to Dawyck via Carrington, the Meldons and Stobo, back over Dreva to Broughton, then home through Blyth Bridge, Leadburn and Bonnyrigg (66 miles).
Thursday 19th – the first evening ride of the year went to Gladhouse via Lasswade and Mount Lothian, and returned via Borthwick and Carberry (38 miles).
Sunday 15th – the fitness group went to Lauder via Crichton, Heriot and Stow, back past Thirlestane Castle, Carfraemill, the A68 to Fala, the ford road and Pencaitland (62 miles); a large intermediate group went to Gifford via Cockenzie, Longniddry, Haddington and Morham, back through East and West Saltoun, along the Pencaitland cycle track, then via Ormiston and Cousland (45 miles).
Sunday 8th – the intermediate group went to Tyninghame via Tranent, Haddington and East Linton returning by Hailes Castle, Samuelson and Tranent (48 miles); the fitness group went through Aberlady, Athelstaneford and North Berwick to the cafe at West Barns, back via Dunbar, Spott, Pencaitland (68 miles).
Sunday 1st – the intermediate group went to Humbie via Smeaton, Pathead, Crichton, the A7, Gilston and Soutra, back through Peaston and Cousland (44 miles). A smaller fitness group went to Dunbar, starting up Fa’side then through Macmerry, past Butterdean wood, Haddington, Hailes castle and Binning wood; home via E Linton, Markle and Aberlady (62 miles).
March 2018
Sunday 25th – a beautiful spring day saw the fitness group ride down to Innerleithen via Dalkeith, Middleton and the Granites, back by Peebles, the Meldons and Carrington (68 miles); the intermediate group cycled to Humbie for coffee, did a couple of loops up to Longyester then to Gifford and rode home via Bolton and Pentcaitland (47 miles).
Fitness group at the top of the Granites, March 2018
Ordering cakes at the cafe in Innerleithen, March 2018
Sunday 18th – a small group of (fool)hardy riders set out in blizzard conditions and got as far as N Berwick, there and back by the coast road (38 miles).
A day for the hard core cyclist only – braving the blizzard, March 2018
Sunday 11th – the fitness group went via Edgehead and Fala to Humbie, then through Stobshiel, Gifford and Stenton to the Store cafe near Dunbar, back by Traprain Law, Samuelston and West Linton (66 miles). The intermediate group did a circuit to Penicuik mostly on cycle-paths, getting there via Queen Margaret University, Rosslyn and Auchendinny, returning via Loanhead, and with coffee at the Secret Herb Garden (35 miles).
Sunday 4th – after three days of brutal conditions during the week, just one group went out to North Berwick via Prestonpans and Drem, home by the coast road (39 miles).
February 2018
Sunday 25th – another cold and sunny day saw the intermediate group going to Smeaton nursery tea room via Haddington, back by Athelstaneford (56 miles); the fitness group (plagued by punctures) went to the Scots Pine near Eddleston via Edgehead, Middleton and Gladhouse, home by Leadburn and Bonnyrigg (47 miles).
Sunday 18th – the intermediate group went via Carberry and Cousland to Humbie Hub for coffee then (despite puncture problems) on via Longyester to Gifford and home via Bolton and Tranent (48 miles). The fitness group went through Eskbank and Carrington to the Granites, Heriot and Soutra, then home via Humbie (50 miles).
Sunday 11th – very cold but sunny as both groups started out on the coast road to Longniddry, then through Huntington and Haddington; the fitness group went via Papple then back down to E Linton and Tyninghame for coffee, home via Markle and Athelstaneford (50 miles); the intermediate group went to Gifford for coffee, back via
Samuelston, West Saltoun and Cousland (41 miles).
On wintry roads between Haddington and Papple, February 2018
Sunday 4th – the intermediate group headed south-west through Sheriffhall, past Temple and Gladhouse to Eddleston for coffee at the Scots Pine, then over to Whim and back through Leadburn and Bonnyrigg (43 miles); the fitness group went east through Prestonpans, via Coates and Bangly Hill to Haddington, up Beech Hill to Garvald, round the back of Gifford to Humbie for coffee, then home via Peaston and Carberry (47 miles).
January 2018
Sunday 28th – a wet and windy ride to Whitmuir for the fitness group, via Bonnyrigg, Rosslynlee, Penicuik and the moor, back by Howgate, Temple and Carrington (46 miles). The intermediate group went through Drem, East Fortune, Whitekirk and Tantallon to North Berwick and coffee in ‘Cake’ before coming home via the coast road in the wind and mizzle (also 46 miles).
Sunday 21st – on a very cold day, both groups played it safe with a main-road loop along the coast to N Berwick, then round by Tantallon to Tyninghame for coffee; the intermediate group came straight back by E Linton, Haddington and Tranent (47 miles), while the fitness group went a longer way via Pencaitland and Dalkeith (55 miles).
Sunday 14th – the fitness group went out of town via Cameron Toll, Loanhead, Lasswade and Gorebridge, then onto the A7, via the Tynehead road to the A68 and through Fala to Humbie for coffee; back by Samuelston, Longniddry and the coast road (49 miles). Meanwhile, the intermediate group went via Carberry hill to Humbie, did a small loop via Blegbie and on to coffee in Gifford, some via Longyester; then home was via East Saltoun, Pencaitland and Tranent (46/50 miles).
The intermediate group takes over the Lanterne Rouge, Gifford, January 2018
Sunday 7th – very cold, and both groups went, at their respective paces, to the Tyninghame cafe through Tranent, Haddington and East Linton; home via North Berwick and the coast road, but somehow recording slightly different mileages (49 / 50 miles).
