This pleasant, easy-going circuit climbs rolling countryside to the remains of Blackchester hillfort and then across farmland with good views before descending and following the Harry Burn back to Lauder.
Bog Factor
Tracks (often muddy sections) and country roads.
Lauder (Post Office on Market Place).
Bus at Lauder.
NT530475
Start from near the post office in the centre of Lauder on Market Place where there is street parking. From here head north along the main A68 Edinburgh road, staying on the left hand side until reaching a petrol station/Co-op. Bear left here and then keep straight ahead towards the garage, heading onto a path just before the green metal building. This soon emerges at the road for a small industrial site, continue straight ahead on the road (ignoring a path to the left) passing an industrial unit and the fire station and then turn right onto a fenced track which soon leads to an old railway line which you now follow.
Pass Hamish's wood, dedicated to a young tree surgeon from Lauder who was killed in a tragic accident in 2005. The old railway line continues through a gate, then across a small road and later still across a track and passes the remains of a railway hut. Shortly after this, go through a gate and take the path on the left up along the edge of the field (route marked with yellow arrow).
This climbs up towards the tree-covered hill fort and ancient settlement at Blackchester. At the gate head through the gap in the wall on the right and climb up to explore the remains of the fort at the top of the hill. The site of a much older fortification, the hill top was also used by the Romans for a military fort, you can see the clear remains of a defensive ditch on the north side.
Continue through the trees to reach a gap in a stone wall near the southwest end of the enclosure, near a decaying old railway carriage. Go through this gap and then follow a faint path diagonally to the left across the field to pick up a track which leads up to the road. At the road turn left to head gently uphill. At the farm at Pilmuir pass the farmhouse and then dogleg to the left in front of the large sheds before turning right to pass a cottage and large hay barn. Keep straight ahead on the track beside a small plantation - there are good open views.
Continue straight ahead after a farm gate and then at the corner of the field turn right following the stone wall to pick up an ancient grassy track. This soon curves left to cross a burn. After the next gate turn left to head downhill along the edge of the field, bearing right to follow the stone wall ahead before bearing left again downhilll, now on a clearer track once more.
This leads directly towards the farm at Whitlaw. Before reaching it turn left onto a stony track. Keep ahead on this; it eventually curves right to cross Harry Burn. It rejoins the Whitlaw Farm track, turn left along this, ignoring a path to the right and eventually curve right to reach the industrial estate on the outskirts of Lauder. Retrace the route past the fire station and taking the path on the right at the parking layby to return to Edinburgh road at the petrol station and straight ahead to the start.
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