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”Ring Chesters and Hethpool Linn
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”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”Hadrian’s Wall and Housesteads
A pleasant walk in the footsteps of Romans along a well preserved section of Hadrian’s Wall.
Continue reading “Hadrian’s Wall and Housesteads”Ford Moss
A peaceful walk around a nature reserve and surrounding countryside. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon.
Bewick Moor
The moors of north Northumberland may lack the picturesque fame of their Yorkshire cousins, but a little effort reveals a fine walk through history, from prehistoric cairns and Iron Age fortresses, to a medieval tower and a 19th century farmhouse. Though there are no steep climbs, the pervasive thick heather across the open moorland makes progress slow and much of the route can be difficult to discern at times.
The Crags of Simonside
I ventured into the land of the dwarves for a walk around the hills of Simonside. Rocks, trees and moorland galore!
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.