A lovely short walk around the loch and grounds of The Haining House, an attractive Palladian mansion on the outskirks of the interesting small town.
Waymarked paths, can be muddy in places.
Bus to Selkirk.
Car park in centre of Selkirk.
There is a car park just off the main square in Selkirk, which has public toilets and is next to the Halliwell's House Museum which includes a recreated ironmonger's shop and is worth a visit. Begin by heading through a gateway in the wall at the far end of the car park to enter the Haining Estate. Soon you'll reach a path junction - turn left here, signed The Haining Paths and Haining Loch.
When the path meets a track, turn left and then immediately right to continue on a path uphill. When another larger path crosses the route, go straight ahead up a couple of wooden steps. The next section is sometimes muddy; soon the path descends; bear left at the bottom to follow the main path around the loch, ignoring any smaller paths off. Soon there's a wooden viewing platform which reveals the house across the water. The Haining House is a Palladian Mansion originally built in 1794 and substantially re-modelled into its current style around 1819. Its terrace overlooks Haining Loch and the property also includes a crescent-shaped stable block and originally boasted wolf and bear cages.
The property was bequeathed to the local community in 2010 following the death of the owner, retired Edinburgh lawyer, Andrew Nimmo-Smith. The local authority plans to redevelop the house into a visitor attraction with additional business units and self catering.
Keep folllowing the lochside path, bearing right at a waymarker to round the end of the loch and follow boardwalk over the wettest sections. A second platform down steps provides another view of the house and birds and wildlife.
Before the path approachs the house, fork diagonally left on a surfaced path aiming away from the rear of the stables. At a track go right then immediately left onto a path that begins up wooden steps, following the fence uphill away from the Haining. The remains of an old doocot, used for breeding doves for meat, can be seen in the field on the left.
A stile at the top gives access to the field with the doocot. Our route doesn't cross, instead turning right at the stile and taking the main track - signed for the Borders Abbey Way - that heads downhill with a good view over Selkirk. Turn right to follow the track passed the stables entrance and the house. Keep following the entrance driveway, turning left to follow it as it heads down to the gateway at the main road. Look out for a pedestrian path off on the right that climbs uphill - this leads back to the car park.
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