Walking in the Southern Uplands

Route 11 Criffel

This route has been hugely improved, by a well made path on the descent route from Criffel summit towards Ardwall, in progress winter 2020 and due for completion spring 2021. The ascent path from Mid Glen to Knockendoch is also being improved, for completion late summer 2021. The upgrade of the paths from soggy bog makes Criffel into one of S Scotland's most attractive hillwalks.

Route 8

Route 8 is now obstructed by deer fencing on the slopes of Cairnsmore. The route can still be used over Moorbrock Hill to the bothy, with return by the track along the valley floor. Cairnsmore and Benninner can be accessed from the southwest at Green Well of Scotland, north of Carsphairn, using Route 19 in The Galloway Hills.

Rubers Law Walk 32

Walk 32

The original route up Rubers Law has been enclosed in high fencing for red deer – and these semi-wild animals are unsafe to walk among. The following route has been kindly suggested and approved by the farmer at Whitriggs.

After passing along Denholm Dean, the track beyond it runs southwest to end at a lane. Turn left to the lane junction where the road to right is signed for Bonchester Bridge. However, keep ahead for another 50m. As the lane bends left, take a track ahead into a small wood. Cross a shallow ford to gates at the wood edge.

Take the left-hand gate, and go uphill to left of a wall to a gate. In the next field, slant up left, north of east, to a wall gate. But the field has livestock, instead head left along its foot then up the side.) Through the gate, head up to left of the wall, through another gate and again to left of a wall. As the field opens out, slant up right to a gate at its top right corner. This leads into open, heathery ground. Pick your way among rocky outcrops to Rubers Law's summit trig point. Working round to the left to approach the summit from the north will let you arrive up a scrambly little cliff.)

The hill's East flank now has deer fences too. The waymarked path has been renewed. On p185, 2nd full paragraph, amend to:

Head downhill to the right of a wall and reach a gated path beside a deer fence. Follow the waymarked path through two further gates into the woods on your left. At once take a signposted track downhill into the plantation, to reach a T-junction just above the Rule valley road.

Walk 15 Ford to Roughting Linn

Walkers should note that the crags on Goatscrag Hill hold some well defined and intriguing rock carvings. To find them, take a faint bracken path along the foot of the crag, to find the rock shelter at NT 9771 3701. The four carved animals are of no definite species, though one does resemble a camel. They're dated to either the Romano-British or the early Mediaeval times – making this a walk with five different ages of remains.

Thanks to reader Mick Borroff for these updates.

Walk 25 Broad Law

A new deer fence runs across the slope of Hog Hill above Hearthstane. It may be possible to get through this by following the contouring track to the left east) – if you should verify this, do get in touch with Cicerone!

Page 145-6 paragraph 2 amend to:

Continue straight uphill, soon meeting a contouring track and following this to the right below some masts through a gate into the forest. Turn up left up the forest edge, following the fence all the way up to cross a ladder stile onto open hill at the minor summit of Hog Hill.

Walk 25 Broad Law

Paragraph 2: A contouring track is reached just above the valley floor with a radio mast above). There's a fresh planting involving a new deer fence crossing above the radio mast. This can be climbed, with some difficulty, but the alternative is to head to right along the track, to go up a faint quad bike track next to the older plantings. After a steep start the slope eases off towards Hog Hill summit, and there's a substantial stile in the deer fencing.

(Thanks to Gordon Hodge and his friend Mick for the update.)

Walk 32

A route over Rubers Law may be made without Denholm Dean).

From Denholm, follow Borders Abbeys Way up SW to foot of plantation. Follow bottom edge of plantation SW to its corner, then follow field edges to E left) of a long plantation strip uphill. Turn R above its top then S to summit.Descend E, down to R of wall with clear-felled plantation behind it, then in track just inside woods, to junction just above Rule valley road. Take track W of N to Blaewearie, then pass along top of woodland below the house to stile into field. Follow BA Way back to Denholm.

Walk 32 Rubers Law

The owner of Whitriggs farm has informed us that the part of the route that goes from the main road though the farm is no longer passable due to there being 2m high deer fencing. The gates are now padlocked for public safety due to the presence of red deer stags. Please do not attempt this part of the route.

A route over Rubers Law may be made without Denholm Dean).

From Denholm, follow Borders Abbeys Way up SW to foot of plantation. Follow bottom edge of plantation SW to its corner, then follow field edges to E left) of a long plantation strip uphill. Turn R above its top then S to summit. Descend E, down to R of wall with clear-felled plantation behind it, then in track just inside woods, to junction just above Rule valley road. Take track W of N to Blaewearie, then pass along top of woodland below the house to stile into field. Follow BA Way back to Denholm.