Peebles to West Linton

Summary

Following the Cross Borders Drove Road, the route quickly climbs from Peebles to cross farmland with livestock, forestry and then rolling open moorland before crossing more farmland and descending to the pretty village of West Linton with shops and accommodation.

Grade

Bog Factor

Rating

Terrain

Minor road, tracks, good paths on open moorland and farmland.Minor road, tracks, good paths on open moorland and farmland.

Getting there

Start

Peebles.

Public Transport

Buses to Peebles and West Linton.

Start Grid Ref

NT250403

Open in Google Maps

Services

Peebles is a thriving market town with all facilities. West Linton has an inn, cafe and a supermarket.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 21.5km / 13.25 miles
Time: 5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 490m (Profile)

Mapping and GPS

ROUTE MAP
View detailed map of walk

OS Paper map
Explorers 337 and 344

Get our App FREE
Full GPS mapping &
descriptions when offline

Export GPX

Export KMZ

Open on Big Map showing all our routes

Want to sponsor this route?

Walk Description

User reports (3)

Stage 1

From the far west end of the High Street in Peebles, take the A72 signed for Glasgow and Rosetta Campsite. Continue until you take Young Street on the right, this becomes Rosetta Road, follow this passing the campsite on the left. When the road turns sharp right at a cottage, continue ahead on a track which climbs steeply uphill. Continue past Standalane and through a gateway and continue up the track, lined with gorse and with good views back over Peebles.

Stage 2

As the route skirts the side of Hamilton Hill, go through a metal gate and continue next to a stone wall and soon more open land is reached. When the grassy track forks near some telegraph poles don't go through the wooden gate but keep right (Tweed Trail green arrow) to head downhill to cross a footbridge over the Kidston Burn. Climb the path on the far side and go through a gate and alongside a stand of pines. Before a block of forestry is reached turn left to go through a metal gate and follow the path alongside the wall to cross the field to reach another gate. Go through this and turn right onto a track signed West Linton.

Stage 3

At a T junction with a minor road turn right (signed West Linton) and follow this until you turn left at a small forestry plantation and take the lane towards Stewarton signed for West Linton. At a crossroads, with a cottage on the right, turn right and climb gently until you turn left through a farm gate to follow the, sometimes muddy, track next to the stone wall towards the firs of Cloich Forest. Go through another 2 gates and ford the burn and then keep just left of the ruined barn to cross a field (follow the green arrows) and head into the plantation.

Stage 4

The path winds through the firs, ignore any turnings until you reach a track. Turn right on this but very soon turn left to double back on yourself passing a derelict house marked as Courhope or Greenside on the map. Recent tree felling here has opened up the views and this area has a very remote feel despite being so near major roads and Edinburgh. The track descends and as it flattens watch out for a signed footpath on the right. This descends through trees to cross the Flemington Burn.

Stage 5

A gate leads onto the open moorland and a lovely stretch with a few good wild camping spots. Near a bench on the flanks of Green Knowe, the path splits. Take the right fork to head north (not actually ascending Green Knowe but following the line of the Fingland Burn) and soon the wide grassy track crosses the Fingland Burn and continues, climbing across the side of Drum Maw towards a small plantation.

Stage 6

Go through a gate and soon the track has good views over the countryside ahead as it descends. Continue ahead when a track joins from the right. The track crosses farmland and bears left to go through a gate (follow arrows) and continue downhill through 2 more gates, going straight across at a cross roads of tracks with Romanno House Farm on the right.

Stage 7

Descend next to a stone wall and when the route emerges through a farm gate at a road end turn sharp right to go through a smaller gate next to Romanno House and follow the edge of a field to reach another gate near some new houses. Follow the road to the T junction and turn right (left leads down to the A701. Take the next left and follow this back road to the row of cottages at Halmyre Mains. After the houses take a grassy path on the left, before the trees, and head down to the main road. Cross the road and follow the track opposite with glimpses of turreted Halmyre House through the trees on your right.

Stage 8

Follow the farm track through gates and across a drain to curve right then left through fields before emerging on a minor road opposite the driveway to Kaimes. Turn right on the road and very soon turn left (fingerpost) and then right onto a path alongside a field. At the next gate follow signs that mark a new route between trees, heading northeast and then back west uphill. It then follows a field boundary NW and then SW (note that the route shown on OS maps is no longer open).

Stage 9

Eventually the route turns right towards Broomlee Hill, with the mast visible ahead (slightly left). Before the crest of the hill turn left after a gate (arrow) to follow the fence to another gate just left of the mast. Go through this and head to the right to pick up a farm track. Descend on this and through a double set of farm gates to reach the B7059. Turn right to walk into West Linton picking up a pavement part way along. West Linton has shops, supermarket and accommodation.

Next stage: West Linton to Balerno

Route Profile

Report error

Let us know if you've found an error in our route, or if it needs updating.

Write walk report

Share your story and photos from this route.
£150 of Highlander Outdoor gear to win every month.

Can you help support walkhighlands?

This website and app are run by 'Walkhighlands for All' - a not-for-profit set up to serve walkers' needs.
We rely on the generosity of our users - can you help?