Southern Upland Way 12: Longformacus to Cocksburnpath

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This final stage crosses the last moorland on the walk but is mostly in farmland and woodland until the coast is reached where there is a short walk along the cliff tops, an echo of the start over 300 kilometres away.

Terrain

Mostly good paths, tracks and roads.

Public Transport

Bus to Cocksburnpath, but none to Longformacus.

Start

Longformacus. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The Way leaves Longformacus by heading south on the road through the village then turning east after 100 metres or so along a minor road beside a wood. The road goes past Caldra Farm and runs through fields to cross Blackmills Burn just beyond which it leaves the road and turns abruptly right on a path that climbs straight up pastureland towards a mass of wind turbines.

Stage 2

Skirting the edge of the wind farm the Way runs along the edge of Owl Wood, crosses a low summit then turns north and descends to a forest road that runs through Lodge Wood to the B6355 road. The Way turns left on the road for a short distance then leaves it for a path on the right that climbs steeply beside a wood then traverses the hillside to a plantation. The path follows the edge of the trees then cuts down across a narrow strip of open ground towards Roughside Wood. Just before the trees are reached the Way descends into a narrow ravine to cross a burn, a wild corner in this mostly tamed landscape. Beyond the ravine the Way enters the trees and joins a forest road.

Stage 3

The Way runs through the forest above the Whiteadder River for two kilometres before leaving the trees and running through fields to the little village of Abbey St Bathans. The Way goes through the first houses, crosses the river on a footbridge and then takes a riverside path through fine mixed woodland down to another footbridge that leads to the Woodlands Cafe.

Stage 4

The Way doesn't cross the bridge to the cafe but turns up a track away from the river that runs through fields above a burn to the edge of a large plantation where it turns left, still following the burn, along the edge of the trees to a stile and a path that leads through the forest, emerging into fields and passing under a line of pylons. The Way crosses the fields to Whiteburn Farm past an impressive cairn topped by a cockerel weather vane. Just before the buildings the farm road is joined and taken to a minor road which is crossed to a path that follows field edges north and east to another minor road. The Way turns left here and runs along the road past a wood before turning right (north-east) onto a farm track that goes down to cross the Eye Water at Blackburn Mill and then up to big Blackburn Farm where a minor road is joined.

Stage 5

Follow the minor road as it runs eastwards to the busy A1 road and the East Coast Rail Line. Take care crossing the A1 then turn left on a section of abandoned road that runs between the A1 and the railway and leads to a bridge over the rail lines. Across the bridge is Penmanshiel Wood through which the Way runs on a forest road for just over two kilometres. At clearings the sea can be seen not far to the north. The forest track ends at the A1107 road. The Way crosses the road and drops down wooden steps into the wooded gorge of Pease Dean, a nature reserve managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The Way passes through the eastern end of the reserve, which is valuable for its natural woodland, and leaves it to enter a caravan park, where there is a shop.

Stage 6

The Way takes the road north-west out of the caravan park. This crosses Pease Burn by a ford. There is a footbridge for walkers. Beyond the burn the road climbs quite steeply. Just before an abandoned building the Way turns right on a footpath that leads onto the cliff top and follows it round to look down on little Cove Harbour. There are impressive views along the coast with its big headlands, wide sandy bays and ragged, broken sandstone cliffs. There are many warning notices about the dangers of the cliffs but if the path is kept to the walk is safe.

Stage 7

The cliff top path arrives at the first houses and the road end in Cove. Here the Way turns inland on a field path to a minor road which is crossed and a track followed under the rail line and the A1 road and across a field to Cocksburnpath. The end of the Way lies at the ancient mercat cross in the village square. Cocksburnpath has a shop with a hot drinks machine and a B&B. Here walkers can relax and celebrate their Southern Upland Way journey.... unless tempted to take the John Muir Way north.

Route: Chris Townsend

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Southern Upland Way 12: Longformacus to Cocksburnpath

Click to Install our FREE APP
Download our route guides and use offline with free GPS mapping

Terrain

Public Transport

Start

Users' reports

Walk Statistics

Mapping and GPS

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