Hamilton Hill and Standalane

A short circular that climbs from Hay Lodge Park up to Hamilton Hill where you can look out over Peebles town.

This is primarily a walk through farmland going out onto the hill ground in the area immediately north-west of Peebles and returning by way of an old drove road. It offers fine views across the town and the Tweed Valley.

From Greenside car park walk west along the riverside path beside the Tweed. You will see the ducks and swans that are fed by many of the locals as you cross over a bridge. Continue to the steps on your left and follow these up then down to enter Hay Lodge Park.

Nature note: At the entrance to the park you will notice a row of alder trees along the riverside. These have been coppiced in the past – cut back to ground level to regenerate as a multi-stemmed tree with vigorous root growth. This prevents the tree becoming top-heavy and falling into the water which could cause bank erosion and even flooding.

Follow any of the park’s paths to exit onto Neidpath Road from the gate in the north-west corner. The high stone wall along the top side of the park is known as Campbell’s Dykes. Nature note: You will see wall rue fern and maidenhair spleenwort growing in the limestone mortar.

Cross the A72 with great care and walk up the track opposite, known as Rae Burn Road (the Rae Burn flows down through Hay Lodge Park into the Tweed.) Follow the track uphill where it will cross the golf course, please give way to golfers driving from the 8th tee. There is a seat here offering a deserved rest and fine views of the town and the surrounding hills.

You will pass Jedderfield farm buildings on your right in an area which is often muddy. Go through a gate on your right after the farm buildings and walk up the field edge. Do not pass through the first gate at the top of the field but follow the track round to the right and continue uphill until you reach a stile. This track is an old drove road and was at one time the main route into Peebles from the west. After crossing the stile continue through the wood, crossing another stile and entering open ground. The views towards the Meldons in the west and beyond are extensive.

Take the clear grass path that leads diagonally to the right, keep in between the mast on your left and the wall. At this point you will be on or near a Roman road from Lyne to Peebles that seems to have been routed this way to avoid the narrow section of the Tweed Valley above Neidpath Castle. Looking east you can see the elegant ridge that leads to Lee Pen above Innerleithen.

Continue for about 500m until you are more closely following the wall running along the south side of Hamilton Hill. Cross over the stile. Nature note: You will notice gorse here which has been heavily grazed by rabbits. This can make the gorse grow into cone shapes and respond by growing extra spiny leaves for protection.

Continue until the wall turns a corner. Turn right and go through the gate here to follow the green track down to Standalane Farm and then onto the road where the public footpath sign is. The track is very wide which is characteristic of old drove roads. Take the right fork onto the road and walk along the road, passing Rosetta Caravan site. If you choose to follow the Cuddy path back to Peebles turn left into Kingsland Square, cross the footbridge over the Cuddy and turn right on the other side to follow the path back into town. Alternatively you can follow Rosetta Road into Young Street and back into town.