Road Trip Part 1 - Scotland, 7 Stanes Newcastleton

Sitting at work on Monday looking at the forecast for the week ahead and Tuesday was looking very good so me and Angus took a day off and headed for the border / hills.
We set off at 6.30am in the pitch black and by the time we reached the Scottish border it was a very cool 2 degrees but the sun was blazing away.
We arrived and parked up at Newcastleton village 8.20am and headed up the new track / route to the 7 Stanes red route. The trails are in good condition and very few puddles. The section around the top of the quarry is closed but you rejoin on shortly afterwards from the fire road. The wooden bridge is also closed over the pond. The top skills is now also closed as the new skills park has opened up just above Rock Uk.
We forgot just how hilly the route was or we are just getting fat and unfit! On the way back down we cut over to the new skills park. The first two sections on red technical trail were just too technical for us. The other reds, blues, and dual were very good fun. We could not get away with the pump track, far too flat and too small to gain any speed. After climbing back up to top six times were we done and headed back to the village and got packed away. Some photos below of the fun and games.
Part 2 - road trip to Kielder - Lonesome Pine to follow asap -

1/2 mile in and he has a front puncture!