Cockburn Law & Edin's Hall broch, Abbey St Bathans

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This delightful circular walk climbs up to the open summit of Cockburn Law for extensive views across the Borders, before visiting the remains of an iron-age broch - a real rarity in lowland Scotland. The route crosses the Whiteadder Water by a suspension bridge before a return using minor roads and tracks.

Terrain

Mostly marked paths; ascent of Cockburn Law is indistinct with sheep paths. Return is on minor road and tracks.

Public Transport

No regular service.

Start

Riverside car park, Abbey St Bathans. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

Start from the Riverside car park in Abbey St Bathans; part is set aside for walkers. Begin the walk on the signed footpath that starts on the opposite side of the road, under the telegraph poles. The path runs by the river, crosses a footbridge and reaches a track. Go left and then immediately right to head up to a minor road. Turn left along this very briefly, but then take the path off left once more (opposite the woodyard). The path rejoins the riverside, passing a bench.

Stage 2

Soon the path crosses a tributary and then climbs steps to rejoin the road. Turn left along it once more, following it as it climbs gently for 250m. Here the road turns sharp right - and there's a 'toot' sign. Leave the road here, taking the signed path off left. It descends steps, crosses a footbridge over a tributary, crosses a stile and keeps left before emerging in a field.

Stage 3

The clear path now climbs a little and then contours the fields, with lovely views across to the circular building at Retreat House. You may be tempted to take vague paths that seem to shortcut towards Cockburn Law, but it's best to stay on the main path to avoid too much bracken and gorse. Eventually the path climbs and reaches a signposted junction. You'll return to this point later, but first turn right to head towards Cockburn Law. The views back across the valley improve as you climb.

Stage 4

The path fades out and there's a maze of grassy tracks and sheep paths; keep heading uphill until the top of Cockburn Law is reached, marked by a trig point. The views extend across much of the Borders, closed in the south by the Cheviots. The outline of the old iron age fort which once stood here is faint but still discernable. Retrace your steps back down to the footpath junction with the sign.

Stage 5

Now go straight ahead - signed for Edin's Hall Broch; don't cross the stile, but continue downhill with a fence on your right. After a junction of fences there's another stile over the fence on your right - cross this one, and follow the signed path that contours round above the gorse bushes. It then emerges at the broch, the best preserved of these iron age structures in lowland Scotland (they are mostly in the Highlands and Islands). The walls today stand to around 2 metres, but the diameter is huge - 22m and much larger than most Highland brochs, so it may not have been so tall. It does have the other common features of brochs, with a narrow entrance passage, and rooms between the double walls.

Stage 6

The continuation of the path from the broch is initially unclear; head east to descend gently, keeping steeper slopes to your left. The path slopes down to reach a kissing gate above an ancient woodland. Further on a stone dyke is crossed by a stile, and the route continues across a field with gorse bushes to your left. Cross a stile over another wall, and then continue briefly until a gap in the gorse bushes enables you to descend to the valley floor. Turn right along the nearside of the fence and bushes alongside the river.

Stage 7

Eventually the route passes through a farm gate. Go through this, and then straight across a track. The path leads to the Elba suspension footbridge, for a shoogly crossing above the Whiteadder Water. On the far side, go straight ahead through a parking area, soon meeting another track at a footpath sign. Turn right up this track, following it until it joins a minor road, then follow the road for 1.5km as it climbs uphill.

Stage 8

Near the top of the hill turn left onto a lane (footpath sign, and sign for Blakerston / The Retreat). This lane leads downhill, then turns left - leave it at this point and continue straight ahead onto an unsurfaced track. The track leads back down into the valley of the Whiteadder. Follow it until a footpath sign (Abbey St Bathans) indicates a right turn onto a footpath. This climbs across a hillside and then emerges at a track. Go across the track to reach and cross a footbridge, returning to the start of the walk just beyond.

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Cockburn Law & Edin's Hall broch, Abbey St Bathans

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