Section K: Walks in the Selkirk/Galashiels/Melrose area.


Route One.
SELKIRK ---> ROAD (unclassified) LEADING WEST OFF A708 AT GRID REF. NT457286 ---> TRACK VIA CORBY LINN TO RESERVOIR AT GRID REF. NT442299 ---> PATH (boggy in places) VIA CAIRN RIG TO THE THREE BRETHREN (very distinctive cairns) ---> FOLLOW S.U.WAY WEST, then WNW TO FOUR LORDS LANDS ---> PROCEED ON TRACK DOWN CAMERON BURN, then GRUNTLY BURN GLENS TO BROADMEADOWS/YARROWFORD ---> OLD BROADMEADOWS (Youth Hostel) ---> JOIN TRACK AT GRID REF. NT 418304 and ASCEND NORTH, then ENE TO GRID REF. NT423308 ---> SUMMIT OF FOULSHIELS HILL AT GRID REF. NT427303 ---> DESCEND EAST TO FORD AT GRID REF. NT435303 ---> F.P. TO RESERVOIR (Grid Ref. listed earlier in route) ---> RTN. TO SELKIRK VIA TRACK USED ON OUTWARD JOURNEY ("Corbylinn Road").

Route Two.
SELKIRK ---> PROCEED AS OUTLINED IN ROUTE ONE TO THREE BRETHREN CAIRNS ---> FOLLOW S.U.WAY VIA RED SCORE NICK, YAIR BRIDGE and SE FLANK OF HOG HILL TO GALASHIELS.

Route Three.
CLOVENFORDS ---> TRACK FROM MEIGLE FARM TO MEIGLE HILL and WALLACE'S PUTTING STONE (cairn) ---> DESCEND NE, then ENE TO CHEVIOT VIEW ---> GALASHIELS.

Route Four.
MELROSE ---> EILDON HILL NORTH ---> EILDON WESTER HILL ---> ST. CUTHBERT'S WAY VIA BROAD WOOD, BOWDEN, WHITELEE, NEWTOWN ST. BOS- WELLS, ST. BOSWELLS and GREAT STENHOUSE TO MERTOUN BRIDGE ---> TRACK FROM B6404 AT GRID REF. NT611321 TO B6356 AT GRID REF. NT 610324 ---> FOLLOW B6356 TO GRID REF. NT595328 ---> TRACK TO WALLACE'S STATUE ---> DRYBURGH ---> NEWTON ST. BOSWELLS ---> ROAD (unclassified) FROM GRID REF. NT575321 TO EILDON MAINS ---> RTN. TO MELROSE.

Route Five.
MELROSE ---> S.U.WAY VIA TWEED VALLEY TO GRID REF. NT515353: TAKE F.P. ON YOUR LEFT BEFORE OTHERWISE CROSSING THE BRIDGE ---> TWEED- BANK ---> GALAFOOT BRIDGE ---> F.P. VIA ABBOTSFORD, UNDER THICKET and FALDONSIDE TO A7 AT GRID REF. NT489323 ---> FOLLOW A7 (pave- mented) TO ROAD JUNCTION AT GRID REF. NT480309 ---> TURN LEFT OFF A7 and CONTINUE ALONG ROAD (unclassified) VIA BRIDGELANDS TO SELKIRK.

These five walks, following roads, tracks and paths, would be suitably undertaken during late autumn, winter and early spring. In high summer, the dense vegetation and bland verdancy does nothing, in my view, to enhance the landscape. Yet in late October and April/May, the rich pageantry of colour is little short of spectacular: indeed, sights to behold...

The Selkirk/Galashiels/Melrose area is covered by a good public transport network with links to the cities of Edinburgh and Carlisle. Information can be obtained at Galashiels Bus Station.


Copyright 23rd August 1999 and 19th September 1999:
RICHARD M. STANBROOK,
"Howden,"
18 Drove Road,
Langholm, Dumfriesshire DG13 OJW.