The idle ramblings of a wandering Scotsman
Situated just outside of the boundaries of the Northumberland National Park and a stone’s throw away from the foothills of the Cheviots, the moorland north of Wooler is woefully overlooked by walkers. Yet one need only glance at a map to realise that in this small area lie an incredible number of prehistoric sites, from Neolithic rock art and a stone circle to an Iron Age hill fort.
Continue reading “Doddington Moor”
The remote woodland of Craik Forest is nestled in the heart of the Southern Uplands. Follow the Aithouse Burn through the trees in a hidden glen to the stunning Wolfcleuch Waterfall, then climb up to the summit of Crib Law before descending along forest tracks to a second smaller waterfall.
Continue reading “Craik Forest”
From a historic spa at Innerleithen, climb high up Lee Pen to enjoy unimpeded views along the Tweed valley. Descend to the Leithen Water and through woodland to visit the site of an Iron Age hill fort.
Continue reading “Lee Pen and St Ronan’s Wells”
From the gypsy stronghold of Kirk Yetholm, cross the border to venture into the Cheviots in search of prehistoric hill forts and a tranquil waterfall.
Continue reading “Ring Chesters and Hethpool Linn”
Little is known of the life of Selkirk’s Isabella Tamson, known as “Tibbie”. A woman of simple mind, in 1790 she was accused of stealing a ball of yarn and summoned to trial. The thought of being considered a criminal proved too much to bear, and Tibbie hanged herself in shame – a crime in itself at the time, which forbade her from burial in consecrated ground. Sympathetic souls took her to a hillside outside the town and laid her to rest on a hillside where she could be persecuted no longer. This walk is a pilgrimage of sorts to find this poor woman’s peaceful grave.
Continue reading “Tibbie Tamson’s Grave”
The opening of the Borders Railway in 2015 may have restored rail service to the south-east of Scotland, yet a vast number of towns and villages were once connected on a multitude of lines that have long since vanished. One of these was the Peebles Railway, a section of which is now a multi-use path along the banks of the Tweed.
Continue reading “The Tweed Valley Railway”
A pleasant walk in the footsteps of Romans along a well preserved section of Hadrian’s Wall.
Continue reading “Hadrian’s Wall and Housesteads”
A peaceful walk in Borders woodland taking in an Iron Age fort and a ruined peel tower.
Continue reading “Cardrona Forest”
“Oft had he viewed, as morning rose, the bosom of the lonely Lowes”. So began the Borders poet James Hogg when writing of the Loch of the Lowes in his poem The Queen’s Wake. The busy road passing by may have rendered it significantly less lonely than in Hogg’s day, but a short walk into the Ettrick hills provides an opportunity to capture the sense of solitude of a bygone age.
Continue reading “Loch of the Lowes and Riskinhope”
Deep in a glen in the Manor Hills lies tranquil Loch Eddy. Once a retreat for the upper echelons of society, it makes for a lovely short walk full of natural splendour.