'A-Road' Adventures

It doesn't take much to get inspired when you have a bike. I work funny shifts, which means I am often free when others aren't. Last week was no exception, when my Girlfriend and I decided to take a short day trip in search of said inspiration. Her ancestral line is complex and takes in parties from the depths of the Bavarian Forest through to the Clan Douglas. The clan had a stronghold in the Scottish Borders, where they controlled several areas of land. With this in mind we set out to find Morton Castle near Thornhill in Dumfries and Galloway.

The very act of jumping on a bike is like taking a vow, a commitment to adventure if you will, so it really doesn't matter where you may find yourself. I have always been a fan of the Scottish "A class roads". They provide just the right amount of challenge versus ease. As always on a motorcycle you must remain tuned in and aware of your fellow road user but on the A -Roads you can indulge in an element of switching off. The terrain is not so demanding and the long sweeping corners are less likely to throw up a surprise. The greatest gift to travel and adventure is the manual transmission of two wheels. It differs completely from boring old automobile gearing, with a motorcycle you have the opportunity to relish every single cog. Stretch it out on occasion, or quickly blip through it, kicking it down as you enter a bend with no apparent apex.

On leaving my home and taking the swiftest way south I must pass through a village called Forth. Upon the hills of Forth stand several giant Wind Turbines. These vehicles of pollutant abatement stand like grey sentinels on the hillside, their ever watchful eye, fixed on the horizon and unblinking, is a stark contrast to their perpetual blades. Beyond them, cresting the hill, two more sentinels await, yet this time they are the bleary red eyes of the last traffic lights for miles. As is their wont, they will signal you to cease your inertia, even if nothing is coming the other way over their decrepit bridge, a last-gasp attempt to stymie your freedom and impose order upon you! Beyond them is nothing more than the twists and turns of the lengthening A-Roads to the south.

Across hills and down braes the roads ride, treasures everywhere should you be inclined to stop and look. Bolts of heather and deciduous trees, grown bulbous and bloated from their deep drinking of pure Scottish waters line the roads and appear in patches upon the hills. Their branches crowd the roads and entice you further along their green corridors.

Ever onward, even beyond your destination. Morton Castle is not easy to find, the very reason it was constructed in the first place. Its greatest appeal being its remote location. I had to double back on myself after overshooting its hidden entrance. For any future adventurer note it lies almost in a straight line, across the A76 and the River Nith, adjacent to the more accessible Drumlanrig Castle. Which in itself is also worth a visit for its wonderful and expansive grounds. We stopped for a quick snack in the cafe there and strolled the old woodlands of the estate.

Back to the original destination, Castle Morton is up the hills and along a far more treacherous B-Road. My front wheel slipped away from me on a patch of soft mud as I made my approach, I was able to maintain my equilibrium however. Beyond the mud covered potholes and loosened detritus, the final acts of the Castle's defenses lies a beautiful 12th-century ruin on the shores of a tranquil Loch. I'm not entirely sure if the Loch is man-made, perhaps an extension of the fortifications? You can walk the Morton trail, following the path of my partner's forefathers, across the hills through Nithdale, or you can sit on the banks of the water and watch raptors soar elegantly on the perfect thermals. Truly a magical place, we have been trying to figure out if we have any claim to the land since our return. Sometimes however the land lays claim to you, taking you in and showing you its secrets. Follow the roads I say, but never fear to venture off them. The land will show you its secrets but don't expect to be invited!