Borders Abbeys Walk - Ashkirk to Selkrik (part 4)
| Distance | Approximate Time | Height Gain | OS Map |
| 11.2 kms | varied | 0 metres | OS Explorer: Scottish Borders |
Description
Walk through Ashkirk to reach the route path on what is known as the Thief Road that takes you along the left side of the field. Pass over a ladder stile onto the golf course. Please give way to any golfers in play and beware of any golf balls in flight. Follow the waymarked route which will take you across a bridge on the left that crosses the burn and across to the other side of the course. Turn left here, and follow the track that runs parallel with the fence and then the wall, on your right. There may be a diversion in place here which will be waymarked.
Continue to follow this track through a small forest and into a field. On reaching the small wood at the top of the hill, carry straight on for a short distance, again keeping the fence on the right, until you reach a second track. Turn right onto this track and continue to the gateway that leads onto the minor road at Wollrig. Cross the stile, turn left onto this road and continue for 2km, climbing steadily. The top of this road is the highest point of this section of the walk at 337m/ 1105ft. There is an extensive view looking back, with the Cheviot Hills clearly visible in good conditions.
Turn right into the parking area at Hartwoodmyres and follow the forest track straight ahead for about 1km. You will pass The Bishops Stone, an undressed boulder built horizontally into the base of the dyke. It was thought to have been placed here to mark the boundary of the lands belonging to the Bishops of Glasgow, who owned most of the land in Ashkirk parish from as early as the 12th century.
Follow this road as it continues downhill, first swinging to the left and then to the right as it does so. Then take the second forestry road on the left. Continue on this road for 400 metres to where it swings left and drops over Middlestead Burn. Turn right as the road rises. After 50 metres, do not follow the riding route through the gate but turn right and continue between the fence and the wood, to a wall. Pass through the gap in the wall, cross the stile and turn right onto the farm track where you rejoin the riding route. Go on for approximately 150 metres and pass through another gate. After a further 400 metres you reach a double gate. Follow the track to yet another gate, with a wetland area on the right, and then continue for approximately 300 metres on the farm track that takes you through Middlestead farm steading and onto the minor road. Please take care passing through the steading, as there may be farm vehicles working here. There may also be cows. Keep your dogs on a short lead or under close control here. Turn right onto the road and follow it for about 1km. After passing Brownmoor Farm on the right, the road drops downhill.
On reaching the small lay-by on the right, turn left and cross the stile into the field. Follow the right edge of the field to the corner. Turn left and continue to the stile ahead. After crossing the stile and the bridge over Hartwood Burn, turn right over a stile along the field edge and over a further stile. Continue to follow the field edge for 50 metres until a farm track is reached. Turn left onto this farm track and in 800 metres; follow the track to the left across the field.
If you look to the right you will see the Haining Loch through the trees. After passing an old stone dovecote on the right you reach a stile. Follow the path into the wood and turn right onto a track that continues past the stable buildings on the right. The track swings left onto the driveway that leads to The Haining mansion house, which is visible on the right. The original house, which was built in 1794, was re-modelled in 1819 and was damaged by fire in 1944. It is interesting to note that to the left of the house on the small Peel Hill, lay the long demolished medieval Selkirk Castle.
Continue down the driveway and pass under the arched gateway onto the road at the West Port. Turn right and go uphill into Selkirk's Market Square to end this section of the Way.
Access Info
There is a regular bus service between Hawick and Selkirk (First Bus service 95, also MacEwans Coaches) running hourly Monday to Saturday and two-hourly on Sundays.
