Cross Border Trail, Newcastleton

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This pleasant circuit climbs gently from Newcastleton to give good views over the surrounding hills, before heading through woodland to follow the Kershope Burn along the England / Scotland border. Note that this route is the Cross Border Trail as detailed in the local Newcastleton Walks leaflet and is not the longer, waymarked Cross Border Route set out by the Forestry Commission.

Terrain

Waymarked paths, tracks and minor roads, very wet underfoot in places. Shared cycle route for part.

Public Transport

Bus to Newcastleton.

Start

Douglas Square, Newcastleton. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

There is ample parking in Douglas Square in the centre of Newcastleton. The village - also known as Copshaw Holm - was built in 1793 on a grid pattern, replacing the older village of Castleton whose site is visited on this route. From the square head southeast (Doncaster Street) to reach the Liddel Water. Turn right here along Liddle Street, whose houses are attractively set facing the river. When the road bends right continue ahead along a path by the river to reach Holm Bridge.

Stage 2

Climb the steps to join the road, turning left over Holm Bridge, and keep straight ahead on a minor road when the larger road bends right. Remain on the tarred road when it bends left and then right,passing a house with holiday cottages continue half a mile then take a track to the right immediately after Lantern Cottage, continuing uphill on the track leading away from the buildings.

Stage 3

Take care as this is a multi-use route also used by mountain bikers. Near the crest of the hill, just before the Newcastleton Forest sign, turn right onto a path waymarked with a red cross for the Cross Border Route. This path follows a stone wall and has great views across the wide valley. Stay on the main path, ignoring two turns to the left which lead to skills area for bikes.

Stage 4

When the path descends into woodland it soon widens to a, sometimes muddy, track, keep straight on at any junctions still following the Cross Border signs. Turn right onto another track at a clearing with a picnic table and later keep straight ahead where another track leaves to the right. The route climbs above the Tweeden Burn and soon reaches the Border Stane. This sculpted stone (stane being Scots for stone) has the words of Jerusalem on the side facing England and Auld Lang Syne on the Scottish side.

Stage 5

Turn right at the Border Stane junction to follow a wide forestry track through plantation. Keep left at a fork, and later ignore a track turning off to the left. The route opens out into an area of much younger trees. When the route forks keep right still following the waymarkers for the Cross Border route and eventually the track descends gently towards Kershope Burn, going past a vehicle barrier before reaching the track near the water. Turn right here (leaving the Cross Border route which heads left).

Stage 6

Cross the bridge to head across the border into England and keep right to follow the Kershope Burn downstream. The track emerges onto a road at the stone Kershope Bridge (right is a short cut road route back to Newcastleton), otherwise dog leg slightly left and then right to continue on the muddy, and sometimes overgrown, cycle route, passing a vehicle barrier at the start.

Stage 7

When the road is reached turn left and then right at the next junction, signed for Kershopefoot. Continue through the small settlement and just after the Welcome to the Scottish Borders sign turn right onto an old railway line signed Reiver Trail. Sometimes wet underfoot, follow this all the way, passing a cottage and the remains of Mangerton tower before reaching the road at Mangerton Farm, bear right here to follow the minor road past a caravan park. At the next junction turn left downhill and follow the road until you turn left back onto the outward route and cross over Holm Bridge and take the steps on the right to retrace the waterside route back into the centre of Newcastleton.

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Cross Border Trail, Newcastleton

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Terrain

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