Cross Borders Drove Road 4: Yarrowford to Hawick

Summary

The final stage of the Cross Borders Drove Road follows minor roads from Yarrowford, with views of the impressive remains of Newark Castle, then Bowhill Estate, before crossing the Ettrick Water. From Middlestead Farm it is possible to detour (3.5km) to Selkirk as an alternative overnight stop. The route continues through farmland to reach the minor road over Woll Rig, then crosses a golf course and more farmland before final stretches of old Drove Road reach the official end just outside Hawick.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Tracks, paths and minor road, crosses fields with livestock, stiles, waymarked only occasionally.

Getting there

Start

Yarrowford.

Public Transport

No public transport to Yarrowford, Selkirk (off route) and Hawick have buses to Edinburgh and Galashiels.

Start Grid Ref

NT407299

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 27.9km / 17.25 miles
Time: 7 - 8 hours
Ascent: 560m (Profile)

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

From the village hall in Yarrowford head down to reach the A708. Turn left along it, following the verge and crossing the stone bridge over the Yarrow Water. On the far side of the bridge keep straight on along the private road, passing the lodge house to your right. This very quiet road crosses rolling farmland and coincides with one of the Buccleuch Country Rides to Hawick and is waymarked with blue horseshoes. When the road forks take the track on the right. Soon the remains of Newark Castle can be seen over the field on the left. At the end of the track turn right to continue along the tarmac road, keeping straight on when another road joins from the right at a stone cottage.

Stage 2

At the next junction (tree in the middle) turn right and keep right until a cross roads with a Bowhill Estate sign. Turn left here (signed Stables), soon passing the edge of the walled garden. Keep straight ahead after the cottage to continue on a wide path through trees. Ignore paths on the left and right (the steep one heads up to a picnic table overlooking Upper Lake) and at a clear fork bear left and then straight ahead on a sometimes muddy track. Immediately after a cottage on the left, as the track bends right, turn left on a small path. This leads to a road; cross this and follow the farm lane ahead, passing through a gate and then turning right before the river. Follow the path until a footbridge on the left (the earlier horseshoe waymarker leads down to a ford). Cross the bridge, over a stile to the left then immediately right onto a path between fields. Dog-leg right and then left through the farmyard to reach the road.

Stage 3

Turn left briefly then take the farm track on the right (if detouring to Selkirk the shortest route is to continue along the road, or for an off road route continue along the route for another 500m and take the Borders Abbeys Way). Climb steeply and continue ahead on the road at the top of the hill to Middlestead farm. Turn right here (signed Borders Abbeys Way) and left before the green barn, and bear right onto a track. Keep straight on at a cross-roads and follow the track through rolling farmland for 1km. Look out for a waymarked stile on the left and then follow the path on the other side of the fence. There are distant views of Bowhill House to the right. Descend to cross a boardwalk and then up steps, turning left at a waymarker to descend through forestry to reach a track.

Stage 4

Turn left to follow the forestry track, keeping right at the first junction, then following the main track as it goes straight ahead, curves right, and continues to climb up to the Woll Rig road. Turn left to follow this road along the Woll Rig (ridge), passing through forestry. Ignore a waymarked route to the right, staying on the tarmac to descend through farmland with open views. Just before the road bends left to reach the houses at Wollrig, turn right over a stile into a field and then left at another stile to skirt round a house. When the grassy track splits fork right downhil through trees emerging at a stile with views over the golf course.

Stage 5

The route across the golf course requires care (give way to players). Once on the course keep straight ahead to reach the stone wall and follow it, heading up a short section of earth track before bearing right to head along a row of trees in the middle of the course. Next keep just to the left of a stone wall until it ends, then take the waymarked route ahead passing just to the right of a green and onto a grassy path. At the next waymarker turn right to cross the course along a dip in the fairway and turn right on the far side to cross a footbridge. Turn left after this to reach a stile and gate where you leave the golf course. Cross the field and turn right on the minor road and very soon turn left (signed Salen Tower and Hawick Riding Route). Cross the Ale Water and continue ahead past the house, keeping ahead when the track bends right to soon pick up a footpath. Keep left at the waymarked junction, climbing up through trees, then right to eventually reach a gravel track after a gate.

Stage 6

Keep straight on along the track and at a T-junction with a bench go straight ahead onto a grassy path amongst young trees. The path descends to cross Falla Cleuch at a footbridgel keep left here, continuing to climb to a farm gate. Cross the field to a gate and fingerpost at a fence corner. Pass through this, descending and then climbing to another gate. Pass through this, but turn right on the far side (leaving the Borders Abbey Way, and following a blue horseshoe marker). Pass to the left of a plantation, and through a gate to reach the trig point on Drinkstone Hill.

Stage 7

Continue in the same direction until you join a gravel track coming up from your left. Keep ahead along this, passing to the right of another plantation and through another gate. Continue across moorland, between two blocks of forestry until yet another gate, then leave the track and head downhill with the plantation to your left, soon picking up a grassy track.

Stage 8

Keep ahead through a gate - this is another obvious, broad section of old drove road. Keep straight ahead - ignoring tracks off either side - and eventually swinging right. At a t-juncton take the tarmac lane left downhiil, soon passing through wrought iron gates. Fork right on the minor road, following it for around 1.8km, bending right and then back left. At the bottom of the hill turn right onto a track, signposted 'Hawick Riding Route'. This walled lane is your final lovely section of drove road, descending to meet a minor road at a t-junction by the Wilton Burn.

Stage 9

Officially, this is the end point of the Cross Borders Drove Road, but there is nothing to mark it and most people will want to walk into Hawick. Turn left down the road, going straight ahead at a staggred junction to head downhill. When the road bends right turn left, passing some picnic tables by the River Teviot. Now simply follow the river upstream, mostly on a tarmac path. The route passes several footbridges, a bandstand on the left, and a riverside cafe. Continue to the car park near the centre of Hawick, then keep on the riverside path until it meets the main road. Turn left here and then immediately right to cross a modern footbridge, then head up the lane to reach the High Street.

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