A great, varied circuit from the village of Canonbie taking in sections of the River Esk and Liddel Water, woodland and farmland.
Grassy tracks, field paths, minor roads - not waymarked.
Bus to Canonbie.
Car park at village hall, Canonbie.
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There is limited parking at the village hall on the south side of the B7201 in the centre of Canonbie on the west side of the bridge. From here turn right to follow the road down to the bridge over the River Esk. Cross and take the minor road on the left on the far side. Ignore a turning on the left and follow this road past the woods and saw mill on the right.
Just beyond the buildings at Byreburnfoot there is a good view of the river which is popular with fishermen. Soon go over the bridge over the Byre Burn and turn right onto a signed wide path into the woods. After the vehicle barrier follow the path as it climbs past a couple of waterfalls to eventually emerge on a minor road. Turn right here, cross the bridge and follow the road uphill, continuing on the road at the bend to pass the house at Byreburnside.
Take the next left (signed Public Path) onto a track and after the brow of the low hill turn right (signed) through a metal kissing gate and farm gate into a field. Continue ahead keeping the hedge on your left and heading gently downhill. At the bottom of the field go through a second kissing gate and follow the earth dyke across the next field to where another kissing gate reaches a lane - it is often boggy here.
Turn right to pass the house at Rowanburnhead and after the footbridge and ford follow the lane all the way to the B6357 at Rowanburn. Turn right and cross the main road, soon passing a statue of Lang Sandy Armstrong, a reiver who lived in a nearby tower house about 400 years ago and was killed along with his 11 sons during an attack ordered by King James I as part of a campaign to subdue the reivers of the Scottish Borders. After 300m - just before the national speed limit signs - turn left down a lane, passing to the right of a large wooden barn. The route becomes a track; follow it between bushes and trees until it enters woodland via a gate. The route is now following part of an old railway line, tunnelling through the trees. At a marker post, turn right onto a narrow path.
This cuts across a slope before eventually descending steps to join a minor road down to the left; turn right along this. Pass some houses and continue along the road when it bends to the right; after just over another 100m (after another house) a signpost for 'Public Path' indicates where to turn left through a kissing gate. The path leads along a row of beech trees, passes through another gate, and further on keeps to the right edge of the wooded strip. At the bottom of the hill a third kissing gate leads out into a grassy field. Go straight across this to a small bridge and another kissing gate. Pass through and then turn left alongside the fence. The route soon comes alongside the Liddel Water.
Continue along the field edge beside the river - which here is the border between England and Scotland, passing through another kissing gate. After yet another kissing gate the route crosses to the river side of the fence and continues beside the water. Eventually the route and river swing to the right, passing a fishing hut. A marker post indicates the point to turn right and cut across to reach the banks of the River Esk. Turn right here, now following this larger river upstream.
Continue upriver; after around 1.5km the path passes through a gate and joins a track. Follow this briefly before bearing left to an iron pedestrian gate as the track bends away from the river. Pass through the gate, then keep to the left of a fence briefly until a kissing gate on the right; head through this (to avoid a dangerous descent to the river bank). Bear left through the muddy field, crossing over a pipeline and ascending to another steel gate. Through this bear left down a long flight of steps to reach the river bank, then head right upstream.
The next section by the river is extremely beautiful. As Canonbie draws closer the river has carved a channel between low sandstone crags. Continue until the path rises up and passes through a gate, then alongside the stone cemetery wall, with the attractive parish church beyond. Bear left onto a lane and continue to the main B6537 road. Turn left at the road to cross the bridge over the river and return to the start.
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