Biggar Ramblers had a splendid day for a recent 4.5 mile walk from Broughton Place up the ridge and along to Hammerhead, taking in Trahenna Hill as well.  The walkers made the steep climb to the ridge and half way along towards Hammerhead, they headed off over the fence to Trahenna Hill (549m). There they enjoyed views to Dawyck, to Drumelzier, to Glenholm and down the Tweed Valley towards Worm Hill. They returned to the ridge by a slightly different route through a convenient wooden gate on hooks and continued along the steep valley end to Hammerhead’s cairn (513m). On the way they passed another group of walkers who had come up from the opposite direction and were enjoying a sunny rest in the quarry near the summit. After enjoying the breeze at the top Biggar Ramblers set off to make the sharp descent and joined the John Buchan way back to the walkers’ car park.  Although this is a relatively short walk it gives stunning views of the area and is highly recommended.

 

Eight members of the Biggar Ramblers travelled out to the beautiful Bowhill
Estate near Selkirk to undertake the 'Duchess's Drive' walk following tracks
through woodland and over moorland to the north west of Bowhill House.
Climbing through the maturing woodland they began to get glimpses of the
Ettrick Valley and the restored Aikwood Tower through the trees. The group swept
around Fastheugh Hill and passed a line of traditional stone grouse butts.
Rising to the crown of the hill they enjoyed panoramic views of the Moffat
Hills, the Eildon Hills towards Melrose and across the Yarrow valley. Lunch
was taken on the peak of Newark Hill, sheltering from the blustery winds
behind its substantial cairn. A quick descent took the walkers along a track through
Black Andrew wood, much of which had been devastated by last autumn's
storms. Emerging onto a tarmac road they headed back to the start point but
not without passing the significant structure of the Newark Tower, built
originally as a hunting lodge nearly 600 years ago. The courtyard at Bowhill
House boasts an excellent tea room, where the ramblers took welcome
refreshment after their 7 mile hike.www.biggarramblers.org.uk

 

On Wednesday 15 th June eight members of Biggar Ramblers enjoyed a seven mile circular walk around the spectacular hill hollow of The Devil’s Beeftub north of Moffat.

 They started from a forestry track by the A701 and walked along a path, which is the start of the Annandale Way, over 3 hilltops offering great views south as far as the Lake District. On reaching a large cairn they turned down the valley of Tweed Hope through a native Scottish woodland planted around 12 years ago by the Borders Forest Trust. The group had a pleasant lunch stop by a sheltered stream and continued down into the valley. At the foot of the hills they enjoyed views of sheer sided hills that make up the Devil’s Beef Tub before following farm tracks back up the hillside and back to the starting point. It was a sunny afternoon and a fairly strenuous uphill walk to complete the circuit, a tiring end to a great walk. www.biggarramblers.org.uk 

 On 11^th June Biggar Ramblers explored a series of recently opened routes with interpretation boards by the Logan Burn and around Worm Hill. They followed tracks to an iron age fort and visited the ruins of a 16^th Century Bastle house or fortified farmhouse, built to keep livestock safe against Border Reivers. It is believed that the homestead was occupied until the 18^th Century when it was abandoned during the clearances. At this site another interpretation board drew their attention to signs of the Talla Reservoir Pipeline route which took water to Edinburgh at the beginning of the 20^th Century.  

 

Leaving the relative shelter of the homestead, the group braved the strong winds and headed off up the East Grain valley to Macfumart Head on the slopes of Worm Hill. The track follows part of the old drove road from Tweedsmuir to Biggar and took the walkers up to the saddle between Blakehope Head and Worm Hill. Indeed it was tempting to continue the exploration in the Biggar direction, but perhaps in more clement weather as the sun was banished by sporadic sharp showers that came on with strong gusts of wind. From this high saddle, they turned back along a track down the shoulder of the hill back to the start. At this point, re-reading the interpretation board was useful to confirm the various historical points.

 

The Tweedsmuir community has worked together with landowners and Biggar Archaeological Society to apply for funds from Scottish Borders Council and Windfarms to develop these routes. The verdict of the walkers was that this was very worthwhile and made an already outstanding area of great scenery even more interesting by providing clues of its historical past. And it’s not far from The Wee Crook. Take a look when you get the chance. www.biggarramblers.org.uk