Jedburgh Circular (East)

A relatively long circular route that explores the area east of Jedburgh following the Riding route, Dere Street (Roman Road) and the Borders Abbeys Way, one of Scotland’s Great Trails.

Dere Street is one of four major strategic roads built by the Roman Army in Britain more than nineteen centuries ago. It linked Roman bases at Perth and York.

1. From the Canongate car park go below to the bus station and across to the Canongate. Go down the Canongate and through the underpass under the A68 and cross the Canongate Bridge. Go ahead at the crossroads and continue until the tarmac road ends. Here you will join the Jedburgh Circular Route on a track called Oakieknowe Road.

2. At the top of this track cross the road with care and turn right.

3. At the road junction turn left and again left, still signposted as the Jedburgh Circular route. Follow this road for 1 km.

4. At the road junction go straight on, (the Jedburgh Circular veers left here). After the cottage, Howden Coach House, on the left, cross the stile next to the gates onto a track leading into the wood. Continue up this track and before reaching a gateway into a field, turn left onto a pathway. Follow the path as it winds uphill through the wood. The path crosses the Howden Burn on what was once an old estate driveway and eventually exits onto the driveway leading to Hunthill.

5. Turn left onto this driveway and after passing between the two stone gateposts stopped with lions, cross over the minor road onto a track to the right of the cottage. Continue to follow this track, initially over open ground and then through a wood.

6. On leaving the wood the track reaches the Jedburgh to Oxnam road. Turn right and then almost immediately turn left and go through a gate into a field, with the fence on your right, follow the field edge uphill. Continue until you reach the highest point and views. After passing through the small hunt gate, continue along the field edge, this time with the fence on your left, until you reach the gate leading onto the Jedburgh to Crailinghall road.

7. To continue on the route turn left to follow the road down for 500m looking out for a small gate on the right.

8. Turn right onto a woodland path through Crouchie Wood eventually leading to the Sandy Road and rejoin the Jedburgh Circular route.

9. Go straight ahead to Grouse Wood following woodland paths and go straight ahead at a track to reach Dere Street.

10. Turn left onto Dere Street following the old Roman Road.

11. Go straight ahead at a minor road. Eventually you will reach a fingerpost showing St Cuthberts Way going off to the right. Continue on Dere Street, straight on, for 200 metres.

12. Turn left here to join the Borders Abbeys Way. Follow the Borders Abbeys Way with views across to Peniel Heugh and the Teviot. Continue straight ahead at the first road junction.

13. At the second road junction climb up the road to the left.

14. Turn right to follow a driveway along past Hartrigge stables and past Hartrigge Park back to Jedburgh.