Walks in and around Innerleithen

Caddon View is set in an excellent location for walks of all grades in and around Innerleithen.  From the short and gentle forest walks to a days hillwalking on the long and difficult Gypsy Glen/Cademuir walk, we have listed a few here to whet your appetite but can supply you with more routes upon your arrival.

Minchmoor

This walk is fairly energetic and will take approximately 3 1/2 hours, covering 12.5 miles, starting with a climb for the first couple of miles. It is a well walked route, which eventually joins the Southern Upland Way, over drove roads used in the past by armies, cattlemen and even the odd highwayman. England's Edward I came this way during his invasion of Scotland in 1296, and after the Battle of Philiphaugh in 1645 another war leader, James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, crossed the route to Traquair House, seeking shelter from his enemies.  You can start this walk in Selkirk or Yarrow Village.

Tibbie Shiels to Innerleithen

This route is on a mixture of paths, tracks and over open grassland. It starts along the shore of the beautiful St Mary’s Loch then climbs through grassland stock farms before crossing open moorland.  At the end of the loch the walk is signposted for the Southern Upland Way.  You head towards Dryhope and will see Dryhope Tower. This ruin was built in the sixteenth century, and was once inhabited by Walter Scott of Harden.  Head towards Blackhouse - this section is occasionally wet under foot. The path then crosses over Hawshaw Cleuch, a wooded gully between South Hawkshaw Rig and North Hawkshaw Rig, and then makes its way to Blackhouse after crossing the Douglas Burn.  At Blackhouse, you can see the Blackhouse Tower which was built in the late 16th Century. It was once owned by the Douglases, notably Sir James Douglas, who won many a skirmish against the English, and always makes for a nice spot to stop off for a break.  Carrying on from Blackhouse, follow the forrest track up Craighope Burn and continue through the forrest until you reach the stile, then head towards Blake Muir. Keep to the Southern Upland Way path. Leaving Blakemuir head down the ridge towards Fethan Hill (372m) then on to Kirkhouse; from Fethan Hill you can see down to Glen House, the birth place of Captain John Porteous. From Kirkhouse it’s a walk along the road via Traquair to Innerleithen.  This walk is about 12 miles and will take approximately 5 - 6 hours.

Gypsy Glen/Cademuir

The old drove road south from Peebles starts as a level track through an avenue of trees at Gypsy Glen, readily accessible to all ages and abilities. Dropping down to the river crossing, the path surface becomes less well consolidated, and then climbs relentlessly uphill. For several miles the route runs between the twin dykes which once prevented cattle straying as they were being walked south to Norfolk for fattening prior to their final journey to market in London. The views from the top of Birkscairn Hill are spectacular, but the long climb is not for the faint hearted. The old drove road continues south to Craig Douglas in the Yarrow Valley, but the southern section is not wholly signed and is boggy in places, particularly where there is deep peat. The new Tweed Trails path skirting south of Cardrona Forest links east to Glen Estate, with option for a long distance circular walk back through the Forest.  This walk will take around 6 1/2 hours and is 15 miles.

Kirnie Law
From the northern end of the Leithen Water Path, or direct from the car park by the golf club house, forest tracks lead onto a path which climbs through the trees to Kirnie Law. Although the gradient is fairly steep and at times the path can be rough, the panoramic views from this vantage point are worth the climb. From here, a variety of paths can be followed, either leading back down to Innerleithen, or east via Priesthope to Walkerburn.