Rubers Law rises as a prominent cone over the countryside east of Hawick. The summit is the site of an iron age fort as well as being a superlative viewpoint. This ascent begins from Denholm, but a return via Gilboa Wood makes for a longer, varied circuit.
Mix of tracks and hill-paths, a little rugged in places. Short stretch of minor road.
Denholm is on the Hawick to Kelso bus route.
Parking by Denholm village green.
Parking can be found around the edge of Denholm's huge village green. The walk begins from the southwest corner of the green, by the Denholm Meet. Cross the A698 and head up Westgate, past the war memorial. Follow the road uphill for around 300m, ignoring a couple of footpaths off to the right, then turn left opposite Little Bulwood bungalow, heading up the track to the right of an electricity substation.
The rough track climbs steadily, with views beginning to open up behind. Keep right at a fork, continuing for a while beneath a line of telegraph poles. Eventually the track becomes grassy; follow it up to a pedestrian gate into the woodland ahead. Turn right immediately through the gate, now following a path up through the woodland belt. The path curves left and right; stay on the main route, keeping right at a fork. Eventually the path runs alongside the fence on the right edge of the woodland, giving more open views.
Eventually the path emerges from the trees. Go through a gate in the fence and continue up the other side, now with the fence on your left. This is eventually left behind as the ascent continues up rougher ground. There's a wall over to the right before the path continues up towards the rugged summit of Rubers Law.
The summit has low cliffs and was the site of an iron age hillfort, and later was used as a Roman signal station. There are low crags, and the highest point has a whitewashed trig point and an indicator for the superb views, taking in the Cheviots, Eildons, Lammermuirs and much of the Border country. The quickest return is to retrace steps, but to make a circuit our route makes a longer return via Gilboa Wood.
Begin the descent by heading east, descending steeply to reach a pedestrian gate in the stone dyke. Pass through this and continue down the rough field beyond, aiming slightly left to come alongside a fence and wall. Continue downhill, the path now running between a high deer fence and smaller fence (this section can get overgrown in high summer) until a pedestrian gate on the left. Go through this and then turn right along the edge of the trees. Turn left along the grassy track. This takes you to a junction where there is a finger post to ‘Rubers Law’ pointing back the way you have come. Turn left here, slightly uphill - when yet another track is met at a junction.
Follow the track as it curves right. Keep left at a junction, later passing a vehicle barrier, then at another junction bear slightly left but don't head into the private house / farm - follow the track through the trees to its right. At the bottom of the wood turn left through a gate into a field (woodland on your right); for the rest of the walk you are following the Borders Abbey Way. Continue through the field, then turn left at the far corner, ignoring a first gate in the wall, but turning right to cross a stone stile at a marker. Now continue straight ahead, passing another marker post.
Keep ahead through the middle of the field, eventually aiming for a farm gate. Pass through this and then bear right. eventually meeting a track at a bend. Go right along the track, following it through a gate. At the farm turn left and then keep right at a fork (Borders Abbey Way markers). Follow the track straight ahead between fields until it reaches a belt of trees. Turn left alongside this, passing through a gate, and then turn right at a stile and gate to pass through the trees. Keep on the track ahead as it descends, with views of Denholm. Keep ahead through a gate and continue downhill, bearing right at a junction to return to the start and the village green.
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