Scottish Borders Hill Walking Club

Setting off for the Chain Bridge towards Gattonside they were soon getting up steam as they followed the Southern Upland Way route along the riverside.

Leaving the riverside at St Aidan’s Lodge, they continued on the route up to Horsebyres Road. They experienced quite a bit of ice on the track which only seven days earlier had been a bit of a quagmire.

Leaving the Southern Upland track they turned right onto the waymarked Earlston route which took them onto the open moorland of Weathercote rig. It was here they were given majestic views looking towards the Cheviots which were glistening with the white snow covering of the past few days. Crossing the moor they dropped down to Sorrowless Field Mains Farm. On passing through the farmyard some of the walkers were greeted by the farmer and his sheepdogs with pups in tow, all of eight weeks old. It was suggested that the leader should put one in his rucksack to take home to his wife as they had recently lost their pet. But the farmer was hanging onto the pups. On leaving the farm it was decided to take an early lunch stop in the sunshine and shelter from the slightly cool air. Replete the group headed down the road to cross over the busy A68 and pick up a section of the Earlston pathways Jubilee Walk.

Along this route, which follows the River Leader, we had a quick look at the badger bench which was carved out of a solid tree trunk by a local chainsaw expert. We also came across a new seating arrangement made out of stones giving people the opportunity to sit in one of four positions. We than passed Drygrange on our right with the old Dynamo building below us on the banks of the water this provided electric for the big house.

On reaching Leaderfoot we left the Leader Water to cross the River Tweed via the old road bridge, which, if it was still in use today, would create a bottleneck to say the least.

It is worth noting that the railway viaduct still looks splendid especially with the blue skies behind. Passing up through the Trimontium site we came to Newstead, the oldest village in Scotland, where we turned right to pick up the footpath following the River Tweed upstream arriving back in Melrose with a good view of the Abbey to our left.

Even at this time of year there were visitors paying money to go and view this monument. Arriving back at the cars shortly before 3pm having covered approximately 11 miles of a very pleasant Sunday walk.

The 'B’ walk, all two of them, followed the 'A’ group over the chain bridge and continued up through Gattonside village to Faulhope. Onwards to Pincushion Plantation and Chesterknowe where they were rewarded with tremendous views of the Tweed Valley below.

Walking over Easter Hill they dropped down to Leaderfoot and then took a circuit via Ravenswood back t to Newstead and the cars in Melrose.

The next walk on Sunday, January 11, will be a Bowden circular, again starting at Nutwood car park at 10am. Further details from Evelyn Horsburgh on 01750 76214.

ON a cold but beautiful blue sky morning fourteen members met in Nutwood Car Park, Melrose for the fortnightly Sunday walk.

Setting off for the Chain Bridge towards Gattonside they were soon getting up steam as they followed the Southern Upland Way route along the riverside.

Leaving the riverside at St Aidan’s Lodge, they continued on the route up to Horsebyres Road. They experienced quite a bit of ice on the track which only seven days earlier had been a bit of a quagmire.

Leaving the Southern Upland track they turned right onto the waymarked Earlston route which took them onto the open moorland of Weathercote rig. It was here they were given majestic views looking towards the Cheviots which were glistening with the white snow covering of the past few days. Crossing the moor they dropped down to Sorrowless Field Mains Farm. On passing through the farmyard some of the walkers were greeted by the farmer and his sheepdogs with pups in tow, all of eight weeks old. It was suggested that the leader should put one in his rucksack to take home to his wife as they had recently lost their pet. But the farmer was hanging onto the pups. On leaving the farm it was decided to take an early lunch stop in the sunshine and shelter from the slightly cool air. Replete the group headed down the road to cross over the busy A68 and pick up a section of the Earlston pathways Jubilee Walk.

Along this route, which follows the River Leader, we had a quick look at the badger bench which was carved out of a solid tree trunk by a local chainsaw expert. We also came across a new seating arrangement made out of stones giving people the opportunity to sit in one of four positions. We than passed Drygrange on our right with the old Dynamo building below us on the banks of the water this provided electric for the big house.

On reaching Leaderfoot we left the Leader Water to cross the River Tweed via the old road bridge, which, if it was still in use today, would create a bottleneck to say the least.

It is worth noting that the railway viaduct still looks splendid especially with the blue skies behind. Passing up through the Trimontium site we came to Newstead, the oldest village in Scotland, where we turned right to pick up the footpath following the River Tweed upstream arriving back in Melrose with a good view of the Abbey to our left.

Even at this time of year there were visitors paying money to go and view this monument. Arriving back at the cars shortly before 3pm having covered approximately 11 miles of a very pleasant Sunday walk.

The 'B’ walk, all two of them, followed the 'A’ group over the chain bridge and continued up through Gattonside village to Faulhope. Onwards to Pincushion Plantation and Chesterknowe where they were rewarded with tremendous views of the Tweed Valley below.

Walking over Easter Hill they dropped down to Leaderfoot and then took a circuit via Ravenswood back t to Newstead and the cars in Melrose.

The next walk on Sunday, January 11, will be a Bowden circular, again starting at Nutwood car park at 10am. Further details from Evelyn Horsburgh on 01750 76214.