Earlier this year we visited the Northshields Rings near Portmore Loch. At the time, we were warned off coming back by someone from the estate. He said that we should keep away from the tracks going through the middle of the woods, but it was fine to stay on the peripheral paths, including making a circuit of it via Boreland Farm. Today was our belated return to try out that circuit.
We had chosen a pretty benign day for the trip – temperature about 10 degrees C and no wind, with occasional sunny intervals. However, there had been lots of rain the preceding week, so mud and puddles were to be expected.
Our cycle up to Gladhouse was fairly uneventful, but passing the reservoir, we spotted a cormorant out on the water, swallowing a trout in flagrant disregard to the close season. There was also a solitary small dark coloured diver that we had noticed another time but hadn’t been able to identify. It was a bit dull at this point, and the bird was quite far out, so it wasn’t worth stopping for a photo. We just carried on heading for Portmore.
Once we reached the bottom of the track leading to Portmore, I heaved the heavy hybrid bikes over the locked gate and we set off up the rocky path to the loch. It was lovely and calm, and on reaching the loch, we paused for a moment to look at the hillside beyond the far end of the water, where we were heading; hoping the path didn’t take us too far up the hill.
Heading south along Portmore Loch
After cycling around the edge of the loch to the south end, we continued to follow the path through a field. Our back tyres slipped on the muddy grass, and we wished we had wider tyres, or maybe even proper mountain bikes for this trip. Beyond the next gate we stopped to check out an interesting-looking structure, which appeared to be a decaying old railway truck lying on its side.
Just the iron framework left from this old truck
Then it was back on the bikes, across a small ford and up a muddy slope to the top of the next rise. From there, the view to the south opened up, with our path running in a picturesque way along the side of a narrow grassy valley and down towards Boreland Farm. There was also a rounded hillock to our right, so we went up there for a better view, at which point a pair of ravens flew overhead in the direction of the nearby hilltops (Brown Dod and Dundreich).
Paused to enjoy the scenery
We took our time returning to the bikes, trying to make the moment last. We were really enjoying this outing, as it’s increasing rare for us to find a “new” track this close to home, far less one as nice as this. But once back on the bike, I let gravity take hold on the downhill ride that followed, and made a quick but bumpy descent towards farmland.
Downhill… Whoo-hoo!
Looking back the way we came
After the next gate, we reached Boreland Farm quite rapidly and stopped to consult the map. I decided not to go right past the farm cottages, but instead made a detour via Skiprig, which took us to a road leading to Portmore estate. However, we followed the road away from Portmore in the direction of Eddleston, as our destination was the Scots Pine cafe just outside the village.
Welcome though the tea and cakes were, we had another reason for visiting the cafe. On our previous visit the week before with the Lothian Cyclists, one of the party had forgotten to pay. So we volunteered to go back and pass on the overdue cash on her behalf. That made a great excuse for today’s outing and much more fun than going there by car!
The return leg saw us heading back uphill from the cafe towards Portmore House. Before reaching the house, we turned off left and followed a track that went quite steeply uphill and into the woods. After a while, the path became familiar from previous excursions in the area, and in due course brought us back to the north end of Portmore Loch. A quick, bumpy descent ensued, after which the bikes were lifted back over the locked gate and we were heading for home.
As the sun was now shining, we had hoped to stop and photograph the small diving bird at Gladhouse, but this time it wasn’t in its usual spot. Next time maybe. So there was nothing left to do but head home for a warm shower and a late lunch, and to reflect on what was a really enjoyable ride. Definitely one to do again!