Eddleston - Barony - Cloich - Eddleston

Morley Sewell

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Eddleston - Barony - Cloich - Upper Stewarton - Eddleston

The walk starts in Eddleston, across the road from the Horseshoe Inn. After a short distance on the road into the village over Eddleston Water, the route climbs through the grounds of Barony Castle to reach the track which forms part of the Old Post Road from Edinburgh to Moffat. It then follows the Post Road north to join a minor tarred road at a crossroads near Shiplaw.

At that point the route leads past the site of an old observatory on the right and up to the entrance to the Forestry Commission's Cloich Forest. Here it goes past Cloich Farm, with fine views of Brown Dod and the Moorfoot Hills on the other side of Eddleston Valley. Having become a forest track, the route crosses the shallow valley of the Courhope Burn and runs up the hill opposite Greenside Farm to join the old drove road from West Linton to Peebles.

The drove road climbs through the trees and then passes over the crest. As it leaves the forest above Upper Stewarton Farm, the line of the drove road becomes less obvious, but the route across open pastureland is well-marked by fingerposts. Depending on the recent weather and its effect on a spring, there may be a shallow ford just before the second gate at the farm. After another field, the route returns to the Old Post Road at a point where there is an interesting information board.

The Post Road then becomes less distinct as it runs north across more enclosed hill pasture, following a dyke on the right through several gates. The last of these fields of rough grazing is resplendent with orchids in midsummer. On reaching woodland, the route takes a path to the right along the top of the small glen of the Fairydean Burn. Passing over a bridge over the burn, it runs up to the back of Barony Castle, where several vehicles belonging to the Scottish Ambulance Service are usually parked. Having gone behind the castle, the route goes down the tarred driveway to rejoin the inward route.

There is a very good restaurant in Eddleston and a tea shop about 500m up the road towards Edinburgh.

Scotland - South Scotland - Scottish Borders - Southern Uplands

Features

Birds, Castle, Flowers, Great Views, Mostly Flat, Public Transport, Restaurant, Stately Home, Tea Shop, Wildlife, Woodland

8/20/2014 - Hugh Mullen

Description and directions were very good, one point to note is an amendment to point 11, the red and white poles have been removed and replaced by signage at ground level warning of overhead lines.

11/21/2011 - Walkingworld Admin

Our thanks to Morley Sewell for his update for this walk. November 2011. Adrian (Admin)

9/28/2011 - Tom and Joyce Kay

A delightful walk but as my wife and I are 70 and did it comfortably in 3hrs 40 mins I think most walkers will complete it in less than the indicated time. Maybe Naismith only climbed hills!!