This short but hilly circuit around the town of Jedburgh climbs up to Totches Baulk - an ancient pathway - for views over the town. It then descends past the castle to reach the River Jed.
Bog Factor
Paths, tracks and minor road; Totches Baulk can be a little overgrown in mid-summer.
Glebe car park, Jedburgh.
Jedburgh has regular bus services.
NT651205
Park at the Glebe car park, the largest in Jedburgh. Begin the walk by heading uphill to the left of the tourist information centre and toilets. The ruined nave of Jedburgh Abbey is seen ahead; it was Augustinian and was founded back to 12th century. One of the four great Borders Abbeys, it was an important religious centre for centuries before that.
Turn right along Abbey Place to pass to the right of the Abbey, soon arriving at Jedburgh's market place with its Merkat Cross topped with a unicorn. Cross the market place diagonally to head up Exchange Street opposite. After 80m turn right onto The Friars. Follow this street for 350m until St John's Church, then turn left uphill. Near the top of the hill turn left into Ladyland's Drive, then turn right up the tarmac drive to the right of the first bungalow. The footpath to Totches Bank begins to the right of the garages.
The fenced path climbs between fields, the hedgerows rich with wildflowers in the summer. At the top of the slope the path turns left and begins to run across the hillside. The path is known as Totches Baulk and has been in use for centuries, though it can become a little overgrown in high summer; it gives good views over Jedburgh.
Eventually the path emerges onto a minor road. Turn left down this to the edge of town, then turn right onto Wildcat Cleuch at the speed limit sign. Continue to the end of this street, then pass through a gate and to the right of a garage on a footpath. The path turns left beyond the bungalow to descend, and eventually leads down a flight of steps into a wooded dell.
Bear left at the bottom of the steps to cross a footbridge, then ascend steps on the far side. The path joins a large one, and then emerges through an iron gate onto a road, opposite Jedburgh Castle, which became a jail in the 19th century and is now a museum. Turn left along the road to the town edge once more, then bear right, ignoring the jail/museum entrance on the right and instead heading along Galahill.
Follow this tarred lane until it becomes a track, then turn left (Borders Abbeys Way sign) onto a footpath down a long flight of steps. The path leads to the right of the bowling green and emerges at a parking area; go straight ahead over a bridge crossing the River Jed. Turn left on the far side along a riverside path. Soon there are views of the Abbey once more, and then the path reaches a curved stone sculpture representing Hutton's Unconformity. This was a phenomenon where older rocks have been thrust up over the top of younger rocks, discovered by James Hutton, and was key to the modern understanding of geology.
Continue by the river, passing the rugby club car park, until the road bridge. Cross this to the return to the Abbey, then turn right opposite the nave to head back into the car park.
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