This enjoyable and peaceful circuit follows the route of the old Herring Road from Whiteadder Reservoir to climb up into the Lammermuirs. The walk then leads to the summit of Priestlaw Hill before returning past the reservoir.
Good hill tracks for almost the whole route, with sections of quiet minor road.
None to start.
Cattlegrid on B6355 at NT643642.
Park on the roadside either side of the cattle grid on the B6355 where a tarred private lane branches off for Priestlaw Farm above the Whiteadder Reservoir. The walk begins by heading along the lane, signed as a public path. The first part of this route follows the line of the Herring Road, an old path once used by the fishwives of Dunbar to carry creels of herring over the Lammermuirs to market in the Borders town of Lauder. This first section offers views across the waters of the reservoirs and up to the hill of Spartleton opposite.
As the road descends slightly turned right onto a track, signed as the Herring Road. It heads uphill towards the Penshiel farm; immediately before reaching the buildings turn right through a gate to pick up the grassy track that passes above them. This next section of the old Herring Road provides very enjoyable walking through empty countryside, passing between two ruins at one point - that well over to the left being the remains of a monastic grange, with standing stones nearby. There are spacious views as the reservoir is left behind.
After around 2.5km the track crosses a bridge over the Faseny Water and then climbs slighty to reach a minor road beyond. Turn left along this road, passing the boundary between East Lothian and the Scottish Borders as it climbs up Duddy Bank. The road is usually quiet and is followed for around 2km to a high point directly south of Priestlaw Hill. At this point turn left onto a wide track signed for Garvald and the Whiteadder Reservoir.
The track - with a recently remade surface - heads across the open moor. It eventually begins to gently descend to the right below the top of Priestlaw Hill - to reach the summit make a detour up a much fainter track off to the left. This soon leads up to the old cairn and the remains of a sheepfold on the summit, with extensive views. Retrace your steps back to the track.
The track now descends northeast before eventually swinging back northwest to lead down above the reservoir; ignore another track joining in from the right. Once at the farm at Priestlaw the route becomes a tarred lane. Continue straight ahead along this to return back round the head of the reservoir to the start at the B6355.
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