A lovely walk exploring the Ettrick Water to a weir with salmon ladder, returning past an old watermill with a short detour to a cafe possible before following the mill lade back to the houses of Selkirk.
Waymarked riverside paths, roads with pavements.
Bus to Selkirk.
Victoria Park car park, Selkirk.
Victoria Park is on the south side of the river just over Selkirk Bridge on the A707. To reach the car park follow the road off the A707 and turn left at the leisure centre. From here start the walk by crossing the grass to the riverside and turning left to follow the river upstream. Bear left away from the river to reach the road bridge. Turn right to cross the bridge and carefully cross the main road and turn left down Ettrickhaugh Road passing the rugby ground on the right.
At the end of the row of houses on the left turn left to cross a bridge over the mill lade. When the path forks bear left down steps to cross to the river bank and turn right to follow the footpath. When a red arrow points right continue ahead keeping near to the Ettrick Water, which is a tributary of the River Tweed. Where the river bends there is a shingle beach which makes a good rest spot.
River erosion has taken its toll on the riverbank and path here so take care as you follow the path upstream. Keep near the riverbank and eventually joining a rough track leading to the weir or cauld. Here there is a salmon ladder which allows the salmon to migrate upriver to the spawning areas in the headwaters. From the hut follow the path to the right over the mill lade or race with its sluice gate which was once used to regulate the amount of water reaching the mill via the lade.
When the path forks keep left nearer the river bank and continue until a clear junction where you turn left to reach the place where the Yarrow Water meets the Ettrick. Continue on the path following the Yarrow Water for a short distance keeping an eye for a sharp turn on the right where you take the fainter path to double back to the earlier junction (alternatively you can just retrace your steps from the confluence). At the crossroads of paths turn left through woodland to return to the cauld.
Once over the lade bridge turn left keeping the field on your right and passing a row of pines on your left before reaching the buildings of an old sawmill at Philiphaugh. To divert to the Watermill Cafe turn left past the mill to the main road and it is just on the right. Otherwise continue ahead past a large barn on the right.
When the track bends right continue ahead on a waymarked path and follow the lade until it is necessary to turn right to go round some buildings. Go straight across the track following the red waymarkers and soon returning to the bridge over the lade and back to Ettrickhaugh Road. From here retrace your steps, turning right along the road and then right again to cross the bridge before heading left to return to Victoria Park.
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