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Description:-
TAKE A OS MAP.
Hard epic day using Clennel Street(think it was once a roman road) at the start and the the return back from Alwinton to Border ridge.
Start at Cocklawfoot with a long hard climb to the Border Gate/ridge(1) takes about 1hr.
Then head right along part of the Pennine way on mostly natural lime stone flag stones to almost to the top of Windy Gyle 615m(2). At the gate near the cairn take a left for a thrilling descent(300m) to Trows, a little soft/rough for the first 150m then grass track turning in to tractor track near the bottom.
Turn left and head up the good forest track for a 20 - 30 min climb to clennel street crosses this track, turn right and go over Middle hill down to a gate and in to the wood climb up the track to a fork(was soft and wet) take the left forkdown through the woods just at the bottom out of the woods take a left go over foot bridge(3) and keep to the left of Fairhaugh 10 to 15m up forest track small wooden marker post on the right signals where you want to head down sigle track through woods and along next to Usway burn(good fun) once you reach Batailshiels(keep to the left/top side) you then go down to shillmore on good landrover track. head left along front of Shillmore(not on the road) to follow single track then then down on to a track that goes up(and I mean up) to Pass Peth. Then down to Alwinton(there is a PUB) head along main street take a right the a left and head up Clennel Street. This is a long gradual climb on a mixture of surfaces. When track reachs its peak near Nettlehope Hill take left fork in the forest track follow this when you reach a track on the left(6)( goes back down to Fairshaugh) go straight on through the wood(this is soft and wet) until you arrive at the edge of the wood(7) for a another good descent down to the Usway Burn.
Climb back up on to the forest tarck(8) you where on before you have a choice to continue up Clennel street(I did this the 1st time) but you end up having to push the bike up a step slope to the left of Hazely Law the alternitive is to take a right and head up the forest track up a long steady climb but always on the bike to the high point, descend a little and look for a clearing on the left /wooden marker post and head back to join Clennel street(9) and back to the Border Gate/Ridge. The climbing for the day is over and remember the loong climb at the start ths is now a joy to go down!!
enjoy MurB