Southern Upland Way 11: Lauder to Longformacus

This stage crosses the Lammermuirs, rolling moorland hills managed for grouse shooting, sheep and, these days, wind farms. This is the last range of hills on the route. The Way climbs from farmland and forestry to traverse the moors before descending back to the fields and trees.

Terrain

Good paths and tracks much of the Way with a final long road section. Navigation on the moorland tops can be tricky in mist.

Public Transport

Bus in Lauder, none in Longformarcus.

Start

Lauder. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 24.25km / 15.25 miles
Time: 7 - 9 hours
Ascent: 534m (Profile)
Start Grid Ref: NT530474

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The route leaves Lauder from East High Street on a track leading into the grounds of Thirlestane Castle, a grandiose structure dating back to 1670 though additions were made in the nineteenth century. It's open to the public in summer. The Way leaves the road, which goes on to the castle, for a track down to the Leader Water, which is followed left for a short distance to a bridge. The Way crosses the river and continues through the grounds with the castle on the left to a track junction on the edge of a plantation. The Way turns left (north) here and follows the edge of the trees to the Earnscleugh Water which is then followed through the trees to a track that is taken south-east to the A697 road.

Stage 2

The Way crosses the A697 and continues along a track to Wanton Walls Farm, where it turns left, passes the farm, and climbs through fields past some water storage tanks and a pumping station to a plantation. The Way into the trees to a forest track where it turns right and follows the track to the edge of the wood. Leaving the forest and the track the Way turns northwards and runs through fields on the edge of the trees before turning north-east and crossing a 336 metre unnamed summit and then descending to Snawden Burn. The Way crosses the burn then turns left alongside it briefly before turning back north-east and crossing rough pastures to Blythe Water, which is crossed on a wooden footbridge

Stage 3

The Way climbs north-east and crosses Scour Rig then runs between two plantations before descending to Braidshawrig Farm. Just before the farm the Way turns east on a clear track that runs across the open heather moorland of the Lammermuirs, which are dotted with grouse butts where shooters stand with their guns, burnt areas of heather (known as muirburn and done so fresh shoots can grow for the grouse to feed on), barns and circular sheep stells, which provide shelter for the animals in bad weather. Although heavily managed there is a lonely, wild feel here.

Stage 4

The Way continues north and north-east then makes an abrupt turn to the south-east and follows a path across the moorland to 447 metre Twin Law where there are two large well-built cairns that have been in view for some time plus an OS trig pillar. The two cairns are set on large mounds of stones and each has a south-facing seat cut into it. There is an extensive view of fields, small woods and waves of brown rolling moorland.

Stage 5

The Way slowly descends the east ridge of Twin Law to a track where it turns north and crosses the Watch Water before arriving at a crossroads where it turns right on a track that leads past Scarlaw Farm, where it becomes the farm road, to the Watch Water Reservoir, which has been in view since Twin Law.

Stage 6

The Way follows the road below the Watch Water dam and then along the east side of the reservoir before leaving the waterside and climbing steeply over the shoulder of a knoll, with good views back over the reservoir, and descending past Rawburn Farm to another crossing of the Watch Water and then the Dye Water and Longformacus, where there are B&Bs but no shops. There is an SUW information shelter here.

Route: Chris Townsend

Next stage: Longformacus to Cocksburnpath

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