Borders Abbeys Walk - Hawick to Ashkirk (part 3)
| Distance | Approximate Time | Height Gain | OS Map |
| 10 kms | varied | 0 metres | OS Explorer: Scottish Borders |
Description
Hawick High Street, busy with shops, heads south to the Tourist Information Centre and to the museum located in the historic Drumlanrig's Tower. This is a romantic monument with a dark history, woven into the fabric of Hawick, and a stronghold of cross-Border warfare. There are many fine buildings of historical interest in Hawick and a Town Trail leaflet describing them is available. The award-winning Wilton Lodge Park on the banks of the River Teviot extends to over 100 acres with riverside and treelined walks and a walled garden with superb floral displays. The Hawick Museum and Scott Gallery reflect the town's history and also house exhibitions.
The Hawick Common Riding is held annually in early June and commemorates an event in 1514 when Hawick men defeated a body of English soldiers, capturing their banner. Other regular events include the Reiver Festival in Spring and the Summer Festival in August.
The river Teviot runs alongside the route as it flows through the town. Goosander can be seen in the winter months. Look out for ducklings, swan, grey wagtail, sand martin and heron.
Wilton Parish Church dates from 1860 and was designed by J.T. Emmet. The adjacent church hall has unusual spiralled brick chimneys. Stirches Convent or to give it its proper title, St. Andrew's Convent (originally a former house) was restored and extended by J. P. Alison in 1900. Since 1926 it has been a Roman Catholic Retirement Home for Ladies.
Leave the Teviotdale Leisure Centre and cross the A7 road into Princes Street. Continue along Princes Street for approximately 200 metres and turn right uphill into Dickson Street. Continue up Dickson Street, passing Wilton Parish Church on your right. Go straight up this road and continue uphill, eventually leaving the town. The road narrows now, and as you continue, you pass the imposing red tiled St. Andrew's Convent. Continue straight on past the entrance to the convent and follow the road through a series of dips. An extensive view opens up on the right, looking across the A7 to Rubers Law.
Looking back from time to time on this section, there are also good views beyond Hawick to the Liddesdale Hills. After a further 2km a minor crossroads is reached, known locally as 'The Fower (Four) Road ends'.
Pass straight over the junction onto the single track road, which takes you past roads on the left, the first leading to Tandlaw and the second to Drinkstone Farm. You now join a track, which is followed to the top of the hill. You will have completed 200 metres/ 650 feet of climb from Hawick. Here you fork left over a stile. Follow the track for a further 200 metres and after passing over the stile, follow the clearly defined track which continues uphill and to the right. You eventually join the Hawick Circular Riding Route and after passing through the gate, follow the track parallel to the fence on the left until a second small gate is reached. After passing through the gate, go downhill and slightly to the right to another gateway. Pass through the gate and then go slightly left, through forestry, down to the burn, Falla Cleuch.
After crossing the burn, continue uphill, keeping the dyke and then the fence on your right. Follow the grass track as it proceeds along the left side of an older plantation to the brow of the hill before it drops down to meet a more clearly defined track. Follow this track straight ahead for approximately 800 metres until a small gate is reached at a track junction. After passing through the gate, follow the path between the plantation and the wall for a short distance, before entering a small wood. On leaving the wood, follow the waymarked route and join a clear track past a house on the left (Salenside). After approximately 150 metres, cross a bridge over the Ale Water onto a minor road. Turn right onto this road.
The trees in Salenside Forest have been planted commercially. The trees used include Sitka spruce, Norway spruce, larch, pine and fir. The timber is felled in sections and the areas replanted. Wood will be used for paper, building and fencing amongst other uses. Look out for woodland flowers such as wood sorrel and primrose and signs of roe deer.
(To reach Ashkirk and the A7 continue along this road bearing left at the road junctions (2km))
More Info
A route booklet is available through VisitScotland Borders and a route completion certificate is available on request by clicking here.
