Walking

Around Cademuir Forest and Forts

Walking Route  -

Easy

This route affords great views for relatively little effort; while there are climbs on this route, they are reasonably gradual if you follow the route as is described here.

height

5.5mi

9km

trending_flat

951ft

290m

trending_flat

951ft

290m

Towns along route: Peebles

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Around Minch Moor and Plora Craig

Walking Route  -

Hard

A big forest walk exploring Elibank and Traquair Forest following part of the Southern Upland Way; look out for the Cheese Well so you can leave an offering for the fairies!

height

10mi

16km

trending_flat

2,066ft

630m

trending_flat

2,066ft

630m

Towns along route: Walkerburn, Innerleithen

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Bier Law Circular

Walking Route  -

Hard

Warning: This is a route through a forestry plantation and tracks can be as disorientating as hill routes please carry a detailed map like an ordnance survey and be prepared to turn back if there are forestry operations. 1.

height

8mi

12.5km

trending_flat

1,345ft

410m

trending_flat

1,345ft

410m

Towns along route: Walkerburn, Innerleithen

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Black and Well Hills from Durisdeer

Walking Route  -

Moderate

Please park sensitively beside Durisdeer Church. From there, walk up the signposted Core Path. There is a choice to either take the made-up estate track or a more overgrown Roman Road.

height

1mi

1.5km

trending_flat

230ft

70m

trending_flat

0ft

0m

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Black Hill and Burnhouses

Walking Route  -

Challenge

This is a long route that requires the user to have experience of reading maps. You may shorten the route by cutting through Burnhouses Dean and horses may take an alternative route at Birkenside Dean.

height

13mi

21km

trending_flat

1,771ft

540m

trending_flat

1,771ft

540m

Towns along route: Abbey St Bathans, Ellemford, Duns

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Calroust, the Castles and The Street

Walking Route  -

Challenge

This superb long circular passes over archaeology, picks up a short section of the Pennine Way and returns to the start along The Street (historic cross-border route).

height

11.5mi

18.5km

trending_flat

2,165ft

660m

trending_flat

2,165ft

660m

Towns along route: Hownam

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Dundeugh Forest & Hill

Walking Route  -

Moderate

A circular forest walk, 6km/4 miles long. Allow 2 hours to complete. Hard surface tracks, stout shoes or boots.

height

4.5mi

7km

trending_flat

492ft

150m

trending_flat

492ft

150m

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Duns Law

Walking Route  -

Easy

A short circular hill walk with beautiful views from the top of Duns Law for little effort. The route also passes the site of an old Iron Age hill fort that has a 17th century fort built within it.

height

2mi

3km

trending_flat

262ft

80m

trending_flat

262ft

80m

Towns along route: Duns

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Eildon Hills Path

Walking Route  -

Hard

The Eildon Hills are an iconic part of the Scottish Borders landscape. The views from their tops are stunning allowing the observer on a clear day to look out to the Lammermuirs, Moorfoots and Upper Tweeddale Hills.

height

3.5mi

6km

trending_flat

984ft

300m

trending_flat

984ft

300m

Towns along route: Melrose

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Hartfell Spa

Walking Route  -

Challenge

Linear upland route following Auchencat Burn. 5.5km/3½ miles. Allow 1½ hours. Grass and hard surfaced track with drain crossings and wet patches & gates.

height

2mi

3km

trending_flat

984ft

300m

trending_flat

0ft

0m

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Hollybush Circular

Walking Route  -

Hard

This circular route follows the Southern Upland Way from Gala Policies over hill farmland then returns to the town along the River Tweed.

height

8.5mi

14km

trending_flat

1,509ft

460m

trending_flat

1,542ft

470m

Towns along route: Galashiels

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Kirnie Law, Priesthope and the River Tweed

Walking Route  -

Hard

This route includes The Cuddy Brig, a forest walk, a hill walk up to the dis-used water tank (the water from here powered the turbines) and a return along the River Tweed.

height

8mi

12.5km

trending_flat

1,214ft

370m

trending_flat

1,214ft

370m

Towns along route: Walkerburn, Innerleithen

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Meigle Circular

Walking Route  -

Moderate

This route is mainly through farmland and includes a climb up to Meigle Hill that on clear days affords excellent views.

height

6.5mi

10km

trending_flat

1,345ft

410m

trending_flat

1,345ft

410m

Towns along route: Clovenfords

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Morebattle and Cliftoncote

Walking Route  -

Hard

This figure of eight hill route offers good walking and great views of the Bowmont Valley hills. Although you will follow St Cuthbert’s Way (one of Scotland’s Great Trails) for part of the route it is a hill route and you will need to be able to use a detailed map, for example, an ordnance survey sheet.

height

9mi

14.5km

trending_flat

1,837ft

560m

trending_flat

1,837ft

560m

Towns along route: Morebattle

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Newmill from Teviothead

Walking Route  -

Moderate

This is a hill route following old rights of way over Commonside Moor south of Hawick. The name Commonside suggests that there would have been common grazing rights for people in this parish at one time.

height

7.5mi

12km

trending_flat

886ft

270m

trending_flat

918ft

280m

Towns along route: Teviothead

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Penchrise Hill

Walking Route  -

Moderate

A gentle climb up to a prominent hill south of Hawick. Penchrise Hill (Pen) has a summit height of 439m/1440ft and rises above Slitrig Water to the east and Barns Loch to the west. In accordance with hill bagging lore the hill is classed as a Hump or Tump (400-499).

height

5mi

8.5km

trending_flat

820ft

250m

trending_flat

820ft

250m

Towns along route: Hawick

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Rhymer’s Route

Walking Route  -

Hard

Although quite a long route there is an interesting variety of terrain from town to hill to farmland and woodland.

height

9.5mi

15.5km

trending_flat

1,574ft

480m

trending_flat

1,574ft

480m

Towns along route: Melrose, Newstead

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Soonhope and Lee Pen

Walking Route  -

Challenge

This linear route is a hill walk with great rewards both in terms of views and a stunning open ridge walk culminating down the steep slopes of Lee Pen.

height

8.5mi

13.5km

trending_flat

1,902ft

580m

trending_flat

1,968ft

600m

Towns along route: Innerleithen, Peebles

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The Glen and Birkscairn Hill

Walking Route  -

Hard

Once you have left the attractive cottages and houses in The Glen this route is essentially a hill walk and you will need your ordnance survey map or equivalent.

height

12mi

19km

trending_flat

2,001ft

610m

trending_flat

2,001ft

610m

Towns along route: Traquair

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The Minto Hills

Walking Route  -

Moderate

A circular route passing through the Minto Hills with the option of ascending to their summits; also passes through the settlement of Minto.

height

5.5mi

9km

trending_flat

689ft

210m

trending_flat

689ft

210m

Towns along route: Denholm, Minto

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The Three Brethren

Walking Route  -

Moderate

One of Scottish Borders’ iconic hills (465m), topped with three impressive cairns demarking the meeting of three estates – Buccleuch Estate, Yair Estate and Selkirk Burgh.

height

6.5mi

10.5km

trending_flat

1,607ft

490m

trending_flat

1,607ft

490m

Towns along route: Galashiels

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Tynron Doon

Walking Route  -

Easy

Linear forest track and open hill walk. 4.5 km/3miles long, taking around 1½ hours to complete. Hard surfaced tracks and open hill tracks, soft in places with gates.

height

1mi

2km

trending_flat

66ft

20m

trending_flat

33ft

10m

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Venlaw and Soonhope

Walking Route  -

Hard

A short circular with a big punch (it feels longer than it actually is) in a popular glen in Peebles due to great views south over to Hundleshope Heights; includes a short steep climb and descent.

height

3.5mi

5.5km

trending_flat

558ft

170m

trending_flat

558ft

170m

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Vertish Hill and Willistruther Loch

Walking Route  -

Moderate

A circular route through woodland and farmland over Vertish Hill and out to Willistruther Loch. Vertish Hill has much interest concerned with the annual Common Riding and there are interpretation boards for your perusal.

height

6mi

10km

trending_flat

1,115ft

340m

trending_flat

1,115ft

340m

Towns along route: Hawick

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Wanlockhead to Beattock

Walking Route  -

Challenge

This route is one of 12 sections of the Southern Upland Way. You will have seen the golf ball on the top of Lowther Hill as you came in to Wanlockhead the day before and now you will be climbing up to it.

height

19.5mi

31.5km

trending_flat

3,050ft

930m

trending_flat

4,034ft

1,230m

Towns along route: Wanlockhead, Beattock

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Whitmuir Loch, Lindean Loch and Selkirk Hill

Walking Route  -

Easy

A good circular exploring the countryside east of the town passing Selkirk’s old racecourse, Whitmuir Loch and the east end of Lindean Loch before returning to the start up Selkirk Hill.

height

6mi

9.5km

trending_flat

722ft

220m

trending_flat

722ft

220m

Towns along route: Selkirk

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