Gala Circuit

This route is a challenge and includes Neidpath Hill, Clovenfords, Ladhope Woodland and Langlee Woodland.

Starting from the Gala Policies, a pretty woodland park purchased by the Council for people to enjoy, you will follow the Southern Upland Way before turning up to Neidpath Hill, topped with old stone cairns. Clovenfords housed a vineyard for 90 years from 1869. This whole route takes in sections of the other Galashiels paths and you have the option of shortening your day by returning to the town centre from various points.

1. From Gala Policies follow the Southern Upland Way through the policy woodlands, heading south west. Continue to follow the Southern Upland Way for 3km until you reach the gate below Hogg Hill, a fingerpost will cite the different routes at this point. Here you will leave the Southern Upland Way, turn right, but do not go through the gate, and head along the field between the fence and the woodland. Go through the next gate and head straight up the next field along the side of the dyke, keeping the dyke on your left. When you go through the gate at the top of the hill you can walk up to the cairns and take in the most spectacular views. However, if visibility is poor you should turn right immediately.

2. Follow the dyke along the brow of the hill and then downhill. When you reach the corner of the field continue following the dyke, keeping it on your right hand side. Go through the hunt gate halfway along this dyke. Cut straight across the field with the hunt gate behind you and go uphill towards the field gate ahead of you. When you go through the field gate, head up to join the track just above you. Turn left when you reach the track and follow it downhill for 1km until you go over a cattle grid then following the waymarking, you go through a gate then along a field margin. Go through the gate at the other end of the field. Go through the next field and exit the gate straight ahead of you; in this last field veer left downhill to the corner of the field. Go through the field gate and turn right to go back through the hunt gate to return to Clovenfords on the woodlands path.

3. When you reach Clovenfords turn right onto the A72. At the roundabout head straight up the B710. At Hillend turn right onto the Torwoodlee Circular path and follow the track through to the farm yard and beyond until you reach Torwoodlee Golf Course.

4. Go through the hunt gate into the golf course giving due consideration to the golfers and keeping well into the left around the perimeter. When you reach the bridge, over the former railway line, turn left and follow the road leading out of the golf course turning left onto the A7. Follow the A7 along the footpath for less than 500m. Then with care cross the A7 to turn right into Buckholm.

5. Continue, eventually joining the Buckholm Circular at Buckholm cottages. Continue on the minor road for 1.5km until you reach the right turn into Ladhope Woodland. Follow the way marked track through the woodland for 1.5km until you reach the edge of the woodland. Turn right and follow the path along the woodland edge for another 1.3km.

6. Leave the woodland through a gate on your left almost in the corner of the wood. Turn right when you go through this gate joining a track heading south that meets the path to Langlee Community Woodland. At this point you are joining Route 3. Follow the waymarkers through Langlee Community Woodland and Langlee Woodland.

7. Continue to follow the path past Langlee Community Centre staying on the woodland path to Melrose Road. Cross the road with care turning right then left into Winston Road. Follow the Southern Upland Way along the River Tweed and then with care cross the A7 continuing through Netherbarns and returning to Gala Policies.

8. An alternative route from this point follows the path along Gala Hill. If you wish to take this route turn left once you go through the gate, where stands a memorial stone to Roger Quin. Follow the route up to and through Gala Hill as shown on the map. The path at the other side of Gala Hill comes out to connect with Gala Policies or drops back into the town centre.