The Cross Borders Drove is a rambling trail that follows the paths of old drovers as they transported their cattle from the Pentland Hills, to the market at Hawick. Classed as one of Scotland's Great Trails, it sees suprisingly little traffic, but don't let this put you off. The 52 mile journey takes you through towns, woodland, hills and farms, a bit of everything! It is perfect for taking your time over a few days and enjoying the changing scenery, but also makes a great challenge if you choose to take it on a bit faster. The route is signposted, however maps are compulsory as at times the signs are sparse.
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NT1017162928 This first section of the route, crossing the Pentland Hills, is a pleasant walk, and you are unlikely to meet anyone else. It gives a nice taste to the more remote parts of the Pentlands.
© Dan Bailey - UKHillwalking.com
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NT1496552029 The next section mostly along roads is less interesting and I would recommend avoiding the detour up Broomlee Hill in wet weather. A good place to end the day is where the rivers join which can provide a nice, remote feeling camp, however you may choose to camp elsewhere, or push on to Peebles and stay the night there.
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NT1856346278 Going through Harehope Forest and descending into Peebles is a fantastic part of the walk with some beautiful woodlands and an interesting transformation from countryside to town, with a shorter option removing some hills from the walk available. End the day in Peebles if you wish.
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NT2505040375 Crossing the hills into Traquair provides some fantastic scenery and you have the choice of a longer or shorter option. Camp in the hills with a late arrival and early start, or stay at official accomodation in Innerliethen.
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NT3305734652 Hiking over Minchmoor and neighbouring hills is a highlight of the walk, with camping opportunities along the ridge, and the so-called "cheese well;" top notch facilities! Otherwise take a detour to Selkirk for the night.
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NT4526126498 Enjoy the last rambling day of the walk to the finish. For most the route will finish in Hawick, however the finishing point has been moved about over the years.
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Looks like an interesting project. Given the name, is there a continuation beyond Hawick which goes over the border?
A Hawick/Newcastleton/Langholm circular could actually be a very logical, impressive, long distance path.
Driving S from Newcastleton the accommodation gets tricky of course, we used the Crossings inn (maybe an old drovers thing) and a lot of small roads.
Thanks, but I'm not sure from your post - did you walk, cycle or drive your circuit? I've walked a little around Langholm and in the Craik Forest near Hawick but can't claim to know the area well myself.
Walked. The hills are mainly grassy and quite howgillish but far less short cropped, so harder going except when you hit ATV tracks. You'd need to camp somewhere on the way. Hawick to Newcastleton is maybe the more logical of the two for a continuation. Checking Haldane today, the historic drove route used the Presithaugh valley and Swire Knowe to get S. That's a 450m col with easy gradients.
Sadly swallowed by pine trees. So we went up Skelfhill valley and over/down Tudhope hill - only a maniac would have tried to drive cattle down that slope :)
The historic droving routes from there also don't seem useful in the modern day, but there's a modern track based alternative to use into Newcastleton. Swing E a bit to go up Caulker grain and that track should go all the way to Newcastleton via a fine waterfall or two. We tried swinging round over Cooms fell/Tinnis hill instead from the trig but I'd be cautious - much harder going. Then for further S, the old railway helps a bit, yellow roads etc. You could likely get to Longtown from Newcastleton if aiming at Carlisle.
Thanks, that's a lot of useful detail. We used to get out in the Borders quite often, usually on the way to bag Munros or breaks in the Moffat area. Last year we were standing by the big monument (White Hill?) above Langholm looking north and thinking those hills resembled the Howgills.