Larkhall Burn and the Jedburgh Circular Route

Following part of the Jedburgh Circular Riding Route you can explore the area south-west of the town through woodland and the track above Skipping Burn.

You will pass through Swinnie Woods which is one of the smallest woodlands managed by Forestry Commission Scotland in the Scottish Borders. There is a picnic area in the forest as well as horse and bike trails.

1. Leave the Canongate car park facing the Abbey and turn right along Abbey Place, with Jedburgh Abbey on the left. On reaching the Market Square, turn left and proceed up the Castlegate.

2. On leaving the Jail, continue uphill for a further 20 metres until you see a partially obscured gateway with two iron gates on the right.

3. Pass through the gates and walk along the old driveway leading to Glenburn Hall. After a short distance the drive swings to the left; at this point follow the narrow path that descends to the right.

4. Cross the footbridge and follow the path uphill and to the right, through the beech trees.

5. Walk past a house on the right. Turn left and walk a short distance uphill beside a ditch. Do not climb up the steps (steps are on route 4). Instead continue through a gate onto open ground.

6. Keeping close to the right side, you are following what was the route of the old road to Hawick. On the gradual ascent you pass some magnificent, ancient beech trees and below and to the left can be seen Glenburn Hall, built in the early 19th century to a design by William Elliot.

7. Continue keeping close to the hedges and fences on the right. Pass through small gates continuing to head roughly West. Continue eventually with a drystone wall on the left and trees on the right. At a small gate by a field gate exit onto a double fenced farm track. Look out for the Dunion Hill ahead of you.

8. Follow the track as it continues for a short distance before swinging to the left. It then passes through a strip of woodland where it rises and continues past Larkhall Farm steading and houses. After about 250 metres the track reaches the B6358 Jedburgh to Hawick Road.

9. At this point you have three options to continue. To return straight to Jedburgh turn left and go back down into the town.

10. Turn right and walk uphill for a short distance to where the road swings to the right. Taking great care, cross to the other side of the road and join a track that travels straight on. Turn right after a short distance joining the Jedburgh Circular route and crossing the road again to follow the path alongside the golf course. The path continues going around to the right between fields and the golf course then through woodland.

11. When this path comes out at a road opposite a cottage turn right onto the road. Follow the road downhill and continue downhill to Tudhope Cottage. Go straight on down the hill back to the town centre or turn right and follow the field edge down to return to the start of the walk.

12. Alternatively at point 10 at the Jedburgh Circular, continue on the track to join the Borders Abbeys Way and turn left. Follow this track until you reach a gate. Do not pass through this gate, but turn left downhill. After about 1km you reach a junction of tracks. Turn left. Continue on past Todlaw Farm on the right. The track then narrows and continues downhill through a wood, eventually crossing a small burn. The track joins a narrow road to the Castle Jail and Museum, and into Jedburgh.