Ellemford bridge circuit, Abbey St Bathans

Summary

Follow the course of the Whiteadder River from Abbey St Bathans to Ellemford Bridge, pass Abbey St Bathans Church which has links to a Cistercian nunnery founded in the 12th or 13th century. The return is a pleasant woodland walk taking in part of the Southern Upland Way.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Road, farm and woodland tracks and fields with livestock. Can be muddy in places in wet weather. Partially waymarked with yellow arrows.

Getting there

Start

Riverside car park, Abbey St Bathans.

Public Transport

No regular service.

Start Grid Ref

NT762619

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 10.75km / 6.75 miles
Time: 2.5 - 4 hours
Ascent: 200m (Profile)

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Explorer 346 - Berwick

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Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

The start point for this route is the riverside car park in Abbey St Bathans. Leave the car park, go back onto the road and turn right. Continue along the road eventually passing the church and then the phone box (where the return route comes out) and farm buildings. Cross the Whiteadder on the road bridge and take the next track on the left signed for Barnside. Head up the track, ignore the turn on the left and descend past cottages to reach the farm buildings. Pass between the farmhouse and the sheds and bear right to take the track heading down towards the river going through a gateway on the way.

Stage 2

At the bottom of the track keep right to follow a grassy track next to the trees on the right. When the track forks keep ahead rather than climbing uphill, the track can be a little overgrown in summer here. When two field gates are reached ahead go through the one on the right and follow the left edge of the field keeping close to the hedge. Ignore the next gate on the left into the riverside field instead continue straight across the field to a waymarked gate on the far side. Go through the gate and over the footbridge. Bear right to head uphill to another gate and climb uphill through the field keeping the fence and trees close on the left. Near the crest of the hill turn left through a gate onto a track which descends through the wood.

Stage 3

At the bottom the track becomes a road and passes Greenhope Cottage. Continue ahead and depending on how much water there is cross the ford take the dry route over a small wooden bridge to the right. Follow the road which climbs and has views over the river in places.

Stage 4

Pass some more houses and bear left to follow the road down towards to Ellemford Bridge. Turn left onto the B6355 to cross the bridge over the Whiteadder. The three-arch bridge was built in 1866 and as you cross over it you are crossing the boundary from the parish of Cranshaws into the parish of Longformacus.

Stage 5

About 200m after the bridge the road crosses a small stream, immediately after this turn left up a forest track. Follow this through woodland, becoming part of the Southern Upland Way after about 800m when that route joins the track from the right. Ignore a couple of tracks and keep ahead on main the track as it descends and emerges from the forest to cross grazing land close to the river. After more woodland, the track climbs past fields with a view to the bridge crossed earlier. Go through a gate and keep left to descend to the road at Abbey St Bathans. Cross the road and pass between the church and the cottages and cross the footbridge. Turn right still following the Southern Upland Way, until you reach another footbridge. Cross this to return to the car park at the start.

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