Decent routes starting from Edinburgh?
Discussion
You could take the A8 out of Edinburgh and join the M9 towards Stirling, then follow signposts for Callander/Crianlarich and end up on the A82 (excellent road esp out of tourist season!)
Before Glencoe village there's a right turn which takes you to the Clachaig Inn. http://www.clachaig.com/
Pretty basic pub grub but usually a good atmosphere (not been in for a while though)
Continue past Glencoe village and at the roundabout head towards Oban. You could stop off here for a wander. Otherwise continue on the A85 back towards Stirling. Although it's a city it's a small city and the castle is definitely worth a look round.
Before Glencoe village there's a right turn which takes you to the Clachaig Inn. http://www.clachaig.com/
Pretty basic pub grub but usually a good atmosphere (not been in for a while though)
Continue past Glencoe village and at the roundabout head towards Oban. You could stop off here for a wander. Otherwise continue on the A85 back towards Stirling. Although it's a city it's a small city and the castle is definitely worth a look round.
You could go in the other direction. This first route would be a superb test of man and machine, with fewer speed cameras and very little traffic.
A68 then A696 south to just short of Belsay (surely one of the great drives).
B6309 through Stamfordham to the Military Road at Harlow on the Hill.
B6318 (Military Road) west to Stagshaw roundabout.
A68 north to the border at Carter Bar (a small bit of retracing your steps here, but since it is one of the best roads in the country, that is no hardship) (an alternative would be to continue on the Military Road to Chollerford then take the B6320 back to the border).
A6088 north west to Bonchester Bridge.
B6357 south west all the way to the M74 (it has been a while, but I recall this as the best road I have ever driven in the UK).
M74 north to Moffat (slightly boring as roads go but good for motorway, watch out for policemen).
A701 to Edinburgh (a corker, up through the Devil's Beef Tub).
OR
A1 to Haddington
B6369 to Gifford
B6355 to Chirnside
A6105 through Duns to the A68
A68 south to Newton Saint Boswells (drab stretch)
A699 to Selkirk
A708 to Moffat (1)
A701 back to Edinburgh
This second route is something of a Jim Clark special.
(1) it is possible to turn off the A708 and go past Megget and Talla Reservoirs, connecting up with the A701. However, this would be to miss the very best of the A701 and the Megget road is very minor indeed.
There are loads of interesting pubs and towns and villages on these routes.
A68 then A696 south to just short of Belsay (surely one of the great drives).
B6309 through Stamfordham to the Military Road at Harlow on the Hill.
B6318 (Military Road) west to Stagshaw roundabout.
A68 north to the border at Carter Bar (a small bit of retracing your steps here, but since it is one of the best roads in the country, that is no hardship) (an alternative would be to continue on the Military Road to Chollerford then take the B6320 back to the border).
A6088 north west to Bonchester Bridge.
B6357 south west all the way to the M74 (it has been a while, but I recall this as the best road I have ever driven in the UK).
M74 north to Moffat (slightly boring as roads go but good for motorway, watch out for policemen).
A701 to Edinburgh (a corker, up through the Devil's Beef Tub).
OR
A1 to Haddington
B6369 to Gifford
B6355 to Chirnside
A6105 through Duns to the A68
A68 south to Newton Saint Boswells (drab stretch)
A699 to Selkirk
A708 to Moffat (1)
A701 back to Edinburgh
This second route is something of a Jim Clark special.
(1) it is possible to turn off the A708 and go past Megget and Talla Reservoirs, connecting up with the A701. However, this would be to miss the very best of the A701 and the Megget road is very minor indeed.
There are loads of interesting pubs and towns and villages on these routes.
Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 7th October 15:29
r129sl said:
You could go in the other direction. This first route would be a superb test of man and machine, with fewer speed cameras and very little traffic.
A68 then A696 south to just short of Belsay (surely one of the great drives).
B6309 through Stamfordham to the Military Road at Harlow on the Hill.
B6318 (Military Road) west to Stagshaw roundabout.
A68 north to the border at Carter Bar (a small bit of retracing your steps here, but since it is one of the best roads in the country, that is no hardship) (an alternative would be to continue on the Military Road to Chollerford then take the B6320 back to the border).
A6088 north west to Bonchester Bridge.
B6357 south west all the way to the M74 (it has been a while, but I recall this as the best road I have ever driven in the UK).
M74 north to Moffat (slightly boring as roads go but good for motorway, watch out for policemen).
A701 to Edinburgh (a corker, up through the Devil's Beef Tub).
OR
A1 to Haddington
B6369 to Gifford
B6355 to Chirnside
A6105 through Duns to the A68
A68 south to Newton Saint Boswells (drab stretch)
A699 to Selkirk
A708 to Moffat (1)
A701 back to Edinburgh
This second route is something of a Jim Clark special.
(1) it is possible to turn off the A708 and go past Megget and Talla Reservoirs, connecting up with the A701. However, this would be to miss the very best of the A701 and the Megget road is very minor indeed.
There are loads of interesting pubs and towns and villages on these routes.
A68 then A696 south to just short of Belsay (surely one of the great drives).
B6309 through Stamfordham to the Military Road at Harlow on the Hill.
B6318 (Military Road) west to Stagshaw roundabout.
A68 north to the border at Carter Bar (a small bit of retracing your steps here, but since it is one of the best roads in the country, that is no hardship) (an alternative would be to continue on the Military Road to Chollerford then take the B6320 back to the border).
A6088 north west to Bonchester Bridge.
B6357 south west all the way to the M74 (it has been a while, but I recall this as the best road I have ever driven in the UK).
M74 north to Moffat (slightly boring as roads go but good for motorway, watch out for policemen).
A701 to Edinburgh (a corker, up through the Devil's Beef Tub).
OR
A1 to Haddington
B6369 to Gifford
B6355 to Chirnside
A6105 through Duns to the A68
A68 south to Newton Saint Boswells (drab stretch)
A699 to Selkirk
A708 to Moffat (1)
A701 back to Edinburgh
This second route is something of a Jim Clark special.
(1) it is possible to turn off the A708 and go past Megget and Talla Reservoirs, connecting up with the A701. However, this would be to miss the very best of the A701 and the Megget road is very minor indeed.
There are loads of interesting pubs and towns and villages on these routes.
Edited by r129sl on Tuesday 7th October 15:29
I'm actually from close enough to the A68 to justify going out west on any day... but I'll bear them in mind 
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