This wonderfully varied circular walk uses old paths to climb high across the flanks of Cademuir Hill, visiting its spectacular hillforts and their fine views. The return to Peebles is then made along the beautiful banks of the Tweed.
Bog Factor
Grassy hillpaths with ascent on Cademuir Hill (can be slightly wet in places), tracks and riverside path.
Kingsmeadows car park, Peebles.
Bus to Peebles.
NT251402
The walk begins from the Kingsmeadows car park in Peebles which is just over the Tweed from the town centre on the B7062. The first stage of the route follows the line of the John Buchan Way; leave the car park by the road entrance beside the toilets and carefully cross the road junction to head up the start of Caledonian Road almost opposite. As this road bends right, go straight on up the tarred path to the left of one of the large stone houses - signed for the John Buchan Way (book symbol). The path emerges on another road of fine stone villas. Turn right along this, and then left at the next corner. Keep on the walkway on the left side of this road which becomes a path between school fields and a hedge.
When a tarred road is reached cross it and turn right along the path running parallel to it on the far side. This winds through trees; keep ahead until a road is reached at a t-junction and turn left here (JBW sign). This road is left behind at gate on the right into a grassy field - head up the left edge of this field beside a stone wall and house. A rougher field is reached at the next gate; pass through this - the path immediately forks, take the right hand branch (waymarker). This heads up a grassy gap between hills; keep straight ahead and after cresting a rise the path keeps always to the left of the line of pylons.
Eventually the path swings left, gaining superb views as it leads out onto a dip in the ridge of Cademuir Hill. Bear right along the ridge; the saddle is the site of an extensive iron age settlement and fort - now appearing as grassy bumps and rocks - and the waymarked John Buchan Way passes around the right edge of the site.
At the next waymarker the JBW starts to descend the left side of the ridge - leave it here and instead follow the grassy path which climbs to the grassy summit at point 407m ahead. After a steep pull the bare summit is reached, with a dramatic drop on the left (south) side; little remains of the iron age fort that stood here. The views in all directions are superb. Continue along the ridge down onto the next saddle.
The ridge is then followed for a brief uphill section once more to reach the next, smaller summit. This was the site of the third of the iron age forts on the ridge, and this time there is a great deal more stonework still in evidence, with the remains of a curtain wall. There are great views up the Manor Valley from here.
Continue past the fort down to the next dip and then bear right to descend the grassy slopes; a track is soon picked up that leads downhill. It passes just to the right of a circular sheepfold and then bears a little left to descend to reach the top corner of a fenced field. Do not enter the field but instead continue down - crossing a new track - to reach the minor road. Turn right along the road, soon coming alongside the Manor Water. A picnic table is passed shortly before the road is followed across a bridge. At a t-junction with a larger road turn right. Continue past the telephone box and then turn left onto a track beside a cottage (marked as private for cars but walkers welcome).
After a little under a kilometre the route turns right over a stile, though a short detour ahead first reveals Barns Tower - a pink-painted old tower house. Back on the route, a grassy track leads down to another stile and then continues to reach the banks of the Tweed. Turn right downstream, following the banks of this famed salmon river until Manor Bridge over the Tweed is reached. Head up steps onto the road here and cross the bridge; turning right on the far side to slope up onto the route of the old railway line. After a short distance a gate on the right gives access to a wide path leading back to the riverbank.
The riverside path is now followed beneath the dramatic Neidpath Castle - this stretch is extremely popular. The path eventually passes a footbridge and continues until it rounds the swimming pool and then climbs up to the road bridge in the centre of Peebles. Cross the bridge and turn on the far side to return to the Kingsmeadows car park and the start.
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