The capital trail is probably one of the best routes to try out in Scotland for a beginner, in terms of the terrain you will come across it is probably starting to get closer to an intermediate route, but if you are up for a bit of a challenge then its a pretty good route to choose, even though this route sometimes feels like you are really in the middle of nowhere, in reality you are never really that far away from somewhere. If you are an absolute beginner I don’t want you to be surprised, so although I’m saying this is a good beginner route, you will want to have the mentality that this ride will put some challenges in your way. There is lots of climbing, but there is also lots of descending. There will be times when you will likely have to do some hike a bike. So although a beginner route its a beginner route for Scotland, so if you have never ridden around Scotland I do think this is a good option. Maybe not for someone who has never been on a bike packing trip, though.

The main section that is pretty much a non-ridable mess in the old drove road towards Peebles, it’s mostly just a long hike a bike all the way up and the ride down is OK at a certain point, but that’s the trouble section of this route.

I had a good adventure along the capital trail, the lowlands of Scotland are probably a little less looked at when thinking about riding in Scotland, but it has its own charm to it and definitely worth a go. If you have maybe 2/4 days that’s probably a good time frame to go for, and hopefully you will get the weather, but remember it’s still Scotland and the weather can change quickly. So be prepared for all eventualities.