Inchbonny, Kersheugh and Ferniehirst

An interesting circular south of Jedburgh that passes heritage trees in the Ancient Jed Forest and Ferniehirst Castle.

The heritage trees are remnants of this old wood and the King of the Wood is thought to be 400 years old. Ferniehurst Castle mainly dates from the 16th century and is the seat of Clan Kerr.

1. Leave the Canongate car park, turn left and walk downhill to Abbey Bridge End. On reaching the A68, turn right and follow the footpath south alongside the road for about a kilometre.

2. On reaching Inchbonny, and prior to crossing the bridge over the Jed Water, turn left and carefully cross the road onto the minor road signposted for Mossburnford and Dolphinston. Follow the minor road.

3. Continue past the minor road leading to Ferniehirst Castle. (Note: For a shorter alternative walk, turn right here to go downhill towards Ferniehirst Castle. Prior to reaching the first cottage on the right, turn right and follow the path along the field edge. Then continue as from point 7.)

4. Turn right onto the road leading down to Kersheugh Farm. The route has been diverted to avoid the busy farm steading. Please follow this new route and continue straight on with the farm buildings on your right. Follow the rough track downhill. After a steep downhill section, turn right into a small field. Keep to the field edge and continue through the next field with a hedge on your left.

5. Turn right at the end then left to cross into the next field above Little Dean. Go downhill and walk diagonally left to go through a gate at the top of the rise. Continue across the field until you reach a second, smaller gate.

6. The path then enters a wood and descends into Muckle Dean. Cross the footbridge and continue up until you exit onto open ground.

7. Keep beside the fence and hawthorn hedge and continue along the path until it eventually reaches a minor road.

8. To continue the walk, cross the minor road and follow the path along the field edge. Ignore the small gate on the left and continue until you reach the gate ahead. Pass through the gate and, keeping the wood on the left, follow the path as it goes ahead and downhill. Pass the Crooked Family Oak trees in the field.

9. At the edge of the field you reach a track with a magnificent ancient oak tree on the left, aptly named ‘King of the Wood’. At this point follow the track downhill before crossing into a field.

10. After crossing the field, pass over a stile onto the A68 road close to The Capon Tree, another very ancient oak. Turn right onto the roadside footpath and walk back into the town to the start point, crossing the road with great care when the footpath switches sides.