Over the town of Pitlochry stands the hill known as Craigower, a short but steep climb through woodland to the site of an ancient beacon from where you can enjoy fine Highland views.
Continue reading “Craigower”Craigower
Craik Forest
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”Lee Pen and St Ronan’s Wells
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”Tibbie Tamson’s Grave
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 Tweed Valley Railway
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”Cardrona Forest
A peaceful walk in Borders woodland taking in an Iron Age fort and a ruined peel tower.
Continue reading “Cardrona Forest”Loch of the Lowes and Riskinhope
“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”Loch Eddy
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.
The Mutiny Stones and Twin Law
A cairn built by the devil, two brothers on a hilltop, and a gamekeeper’s treasure are but some of the sights on this walk in the Lammermuirs.
Loch Skeen and White Coomb
Eagles scream from isle to shore;
Down all the rocks the torrents roar;
O’er the black waves incessant driven,
Dark mists infect the summer heaven.
Through the rude barriers of the lake,
Away it’s hurrying waters break,
Faster and whiter dash and curl,
Till down yon dark abyss they hurl.
The eagles may be gone now, but Sir Walter Scott’s poem still captures the dramatic beauty of his “Loch-skene”. This weekend I decided to pay it a visit.