Leaderfoot Circular

A relatively long circular that has great views from Goat’s Brae and returns south to cross the River Tweed by the banks of the Leader Water.

The Leader Water is a tributary of the River Tweed and has its origins in the Lammermuirs. It joins the River Tweed at Leaderfoot an area graced by the magificently elegant Leaderfoot Viaduct . This single-track railway viaduct has nineteen spans of semi-circular brick arches.

1. From the Abbey car park, turn left down Abbey Street passing the Abbey buildings on the right. Continue onto Annay Road and at the right hand bend, bear left into Chain Bridge Road. Cross the Tweed by the Chain Bridge and continue on the road towards Gattonside. At the junction turn left then first right past the Orchard to the main road (at the pink cottage).

2. Cross over the main road and go up The Loan winding through the village. Near the top but before the road bends sharp left, bear right up the track signposted to Earlston. Follow the track up through the woodland and continue through the gate on the uphill path (Goat’s Brae) with views of Melrose, the River Tweed and the Eildons opening up.

3. Follow the track past woodland and across the Packman’s Burn (can be muddy). Continue through the gate on a fenced off path to Sorrowlessfield Mains and continue on the track to the Blainslie Road.

4. Turn right down the road and cross over the A68 main road carefully, looking out for a sign at the top of the lay-by for the path heading into the woodland past Sorrowlessfield to the Leader Water at Cowdenknowes.

5. At the bridge, first take a look at the view over the Leader Water before following the fingerpost to Leaderfoot by the Leader Water Path. Snake upwards via some steps to a gate into open countryside with a view of Cowdenknowes House. Follow the path by Packman’s Wood, along the riverside skirting the bottom of Drygrange Community Woodland and Orchard. The path then gradually climbs above the river skirting around the back of Drygrange before dropping down through woodland to reach the Smailholm road. Cross the road and join a woodland path to the Old Bridge at Leaderfoot.

6. Cross the Tweed to the viewpoint of the three Leaderfoot bridges. From the viewpoint turn right up the old road to Newstead past the Trimontium interpretation panels and viewpoints. Follow the narrow Main Street through the village (no pavement) which claims to be the oldest inhabited village in Scotland, till you reach Eddy Road on the right.

7. Turn right down the track and over the footbridge to the river at the sluice. Continue across the boardwalk and along the wide grassy riverbank for about 1km to the stile over the dyke. Carry on to the kissing gate and take the small woodland path behind the dyke. The path eventually reaches a gate, turn left to the Chain Bridge road and then go left and retrace the walk back to Melrose past the Abbey buildings.