Innerleithen, Walkerburn & Pirn Law

Distance	Approximate Time	Height Gain	OS Map
10 kms	03:00 (hrs:mins)	200 metres	Explorer 337: Peebles & Innerleithen

Description

From the car park, walk back to the main road, turn left across the Leithen Water and first right (Princes Street). At the end of the road, fork left and in 30 metres turn left onto the old railway line.

Pass behind the caravan park. Do not cross the Tweed but go down steps and pass under the bridge to walk along the riverbank. This is a lovely walk with usually a variety of bird life and fine views of the surrounding hills. Pirn law, your target, is away up to the left. Continue to follow the riverbank, until reaching the school in Walkerburn, crossing a footbridge over an old Lade along the way, (and possibly stiles over a fence yet to be erected). Go through the field gate on the left, staying left this takes you into the village, to the main road.

An alternative route is to follow the riverbank until reaching a recently cleared track beside an old Lade. This track crosses the Lade, as above, and continues into Walkerburn, turn left upon reaching the road.

Follow the road up to the A72. Cross with care and walk through the small car park opposite. Take the path to the left of the building on the right. It leads to a stile. Cross the stile and turn left on a clear track. Follow the track beside the dyke across several fields and eventually into the forest, one of a number of large areas of forest in the Tweed Valley managed by Forest Enterprise and well used for informal recreation.

In about 800 metres after entering the forest, before the gate at the ruined buildings of Priesthope, turn sharp left onto a main forest track as it climbs steadily and swings around a number of bends on the face of Kirnie Law. At one point there is a superb view to the weed, far below. Reach the high point of the track at a large turning circle area, with a good view of Lee Pen ahead.

Turn left here (small cairns) and follow a narrow path through the trees and then out onto open ground, with more fine views along the Tweed valley. Take your time descending Pirn law. The path is reasonable well defined but is very steep and quite rough in places.

Reach the foot of a mound which once held a prehistoric fort. Climb the mound and enjoy the views, then take the gravel path leading down to the left. Keep ahead, ignoring cross paths, to enter an area of fine mixed woodland with some lovely old trees.

The path doubles back and continues down hill. Walk ahead and cross Leithen Water by the lovely old Cuddy Brig. It dates from 1701 and was a 'stipend bridge', built with funds from a vacant ministry in the area. Reach the road and turn left back to the car park. In Innerleithen you will find St. Ronan's Wells, where the mineral waters were said to be of benefit for 'bile, cutaneous disorders and general debility of the system', which could cover just about anything!

This walk covers a moderately fast-flowing section of the River Tweed flanked mainly by grassland along the broad valley floor, contained within a steep sided valley mostly planted with coniferous woodland. Birds to watch out for on this section are the Dipper, a short-tailed, plump bird with a low, whirring flight. When perched on a rock it habitually bobs up and down and frequently cocks its tail. Its white throat and breast contrasts with its dark body plumage. It is remarkable in its method of walking into and under water in search of food.

Kingfishers, the small unmistakable, bright blue and orange birds love slow moving or still water. They fly rapidly, low over water, and hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water's surface.