Traquair and Damhead

A great circular with two distinct landscapes – forestry and farmland. There is a reasonable amount of climb through the forest and take care through the farmland as the hills and fields are stocked.

The route is interesting not just because of its variety but also due to the fact that you get the feeling of a traditional hill farm round where Glengaber cottage is couched at the southern end of the route.
Glengaber is Glenn Gabhar in Gaelic and means glen of the goats. The farm buildings were built before 1893 and possibly as early as 1843. There is a memorial cairn to George John Learmont Drysdale (1866–1909), a Scottish composer, on the hill above Hannel Bog.

1. Leave the car park at Traquair Village Hall by turning left onto the Southern Upland Way. Follow the SUW for 1.7km until it crosses a forestry road.

2. Do not cross the road, turn right on to it. Follow the forestry track for 4km to its edge above Black Sike. (Before the forest edge the forestry road comes to a turning circle. Go straight across it, the route continues through a gap in the trees.)

3. Go through the gate and follow the rough path along the hill side, crossing Black Sike burn. Keep heading straight on, neither going uphill or downhill. Go through the gate below Glengaber Cottage and head for the footbridge crossing Hannel Burn.

4. On the other side of the bridge you will start climbing up Peat Rig on a rough track. After 400m the track swings to the right to contour round to Damhead Rig. Follow this track for about 2km.

5. Go through two gates and keep on the track to pass Damhead Wood where you will go through another gate. A short distance from here you will pass old stone sheep pens on your left.

6. Go through the gate and follow the track downhill to reach the farm buildings. Follow the track as it continues past the buildings on your right. Turn left onto the track that leads to the road. Turn right on to the road to return to Traquair Village Hall.