Hirsel Country Park, Coldstream

Summary

Explore Dunglass Wood on the Hirsel estate on the edge of Coldstream before passing the Hirsel itself - a magnificent country house. You may see the estate's herd of Douglas pedigree Highland Cattle. There is a visitor centre and cafe just off route and toilets at the start.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Woodland paths and tracks and some tarmaced road. Can be muddy in wet weather.

Getting there

Start

Home Park car park, Coldstream.

Public Transport

Bus to Coldstream.

Start Grid Ref

NT840396

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 8.5km / 5.25 miles
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Ascent: 65m (Profile)

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Walk Description

User reports (2)

Stage 1

Start from Home Park car park off the main road towards the western end of Coldstream. Take the path just to the left of the toilet block at the top of the car park, waymarked with a yellow arrow, to the left of the playing field fence. Follow this path through the woods continuing ahead to cross a track at one point and keeping right when any paths fork left. Eventually the path widens to become a grassy track with a hedge and field to the right. Continue ahead at a fingerpost following the sign for Dunglass Wood, the walk will return to this point later.

Stage 2

The grassy track runs alongside a field, after about 600m turn right to climb up into the wood. Continue ahead at the next path junction following the sign for Dunglass wood. Go straight across at a track and continue ahead with fir trees on your left. At another path junction continue ahead into the forestry and follow the track as it bears round to the left and keep left until on a bend to the left a waymarked path goes off on the right.

Stage 3

Follow this path through the woodland passing a bike/vehicle barrier gate and then another gate before turning left onto a wider track at a bend. Follow this and turn right at the next junction. When this track bends right turn left onto a path and then bear right to cross a footbridge. On the far side go through the kissing gate and head diagonally right up the steep bank to reach a track. Turn left along it.

Stage 4

You may see the estate's Douglas highland cattle herd in this area. After about 1km the track crosses a road; continue ahead on the track for another 400m towards a stone bridge called Cow Arch. Follow the track round to the right, passing the stables on your right. At the next junction turn left and then right to follow the road between thick hedges.

Stage 5

There is an excellent view of the Hirsel House over to the left - the word hirsel comes from the Gaelic for flock. At the next junction turn left (or detour ahead to reach the corner of the Hirsel lake which is home to many kinds of wildlife or continue even further along the tarmac to the visitor centre and cafe). Follow the road up towards Hirsel House with the walled garden on your right. At the start of the private driveway after the walled garden turn right onto a path then almost immediately left then right onto a path leading to the bridge over the Leet Water.

Stage 6

Cross the bridge and continue along the path as it bears right. When the track forks turn left (the yellow waymarker is just up the short slope) and turn right at the fingerpost passed earlier. Follow the path through the woods bearing left when it forks to reach the back of the car park.

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