The Three Brethren

One of Scottish Borders’ iconic hills (465m), topped with three impressive cairns demarking the meeting of three estates – Buccleuch Estate, Yair Estate and Selkirk Burgh.

They are visited by riders during the Selkirk Common Riding in June each year. The first cairn was built by Alexander Pringle, Laird of Yair and Whytbank Tower in 1512.

This is a hill walk and we recommend that you carry a more detailed map, for example, an ordnance survey sheet. The route starts on the Corbie Linn track that is lined with a magnificent stand of Douglas fir; Corbie is a Scot’s word for crow.

1. Leave Philiphaugh’s Corbie Linn car park and follow the rough track up to the left towards the Corbie Linn. Corbie is a Scots word for a crow and linn is a waterfall. As you climb you will see the white-washed shepherd’s cottage down on the left.

2. Continue on this track between plantations of Scots pine, larch, Sitka spruce and Douglas fir. The Douglas fir is grown for its timber, known in the construction industry as Columbian or Oregon pine. The foliage has a distinctive lemony smell when crushed. Both red and grey squirrels live in the trees. After about 1km you come to a junction of tracks.

3. Pass through the gate on the right of the reservoir onto open ground with heather clad hills; shortly after the reservoir there is circular dry-stone enclosure known as a stell.

4. Follow the track as it winds uphill with the Long Philip Burn on the left and Peat Law on the right.

5. On rounding the side of the hill, the three stone pillars or cairns, known as the Three Brethren can be seen on the skyline ahead. As you ascend the main track swings to the right and it is here that you leave the track and take to the footpath on the left that takes you up to the summit.

6. On leaving the summit head south east along the Southern Upland Way (SUW) as it descends towards Yair. Where the track swings to the left leave the SUW and pass through a gate on your right which takes you onto a track leading along the north side of Peat Law.

7. Follow the track up to the brow of the hill and walk down onto the saddle between Peat Law and Linglie Hill. At the lowest point of the saddle veer right downhill to the Linglie Glen and join the track below.

8. Turn left along this track and, after passing through a gate, follow the line of the wall on the right.

9. After passing over a stile and crossing a boardwalk, continue to follow the wall on the right until a hunt gate is reached in the wall. Pass through a gate, turn left, cross another boardwalk and follow the edge of the field as the route proceeds uphill, with the plantation on the left. Follow the slope up to the right to reach a gate on your left.

10. Go through the gate in between the trees which leads you onto a track. Follow the track as it goes downhill.

11. At the bottom of the hill, at the junction of tracks you rejoin the Corbie Linn track. Turn left here, walk downhill and return to the car park.