Hawick to Selkirk - Tales of walks along the Borders Abbeys Way
The 1514 memorial was our start point in Hawick. The Horse commemorates a victory at nearby Hornshole over a section of Lord
Dacre's army in that year. From this fight came a captured flag which was flown by those connected to Hexham priory. A version
of the flag is carried every year by the cornet. On the flag of the statue, blue and yellow ribbons were tied, still there
from when it was "bussed" at last year's common riding.
We had no teries (locals from Hawick) amongst us and so we did not know the tune to the refrain. "Teribus ye Teri Odin, Sons
of Heroes slain at Flodden, Imitating Border Bowmen, Aye defend your rights and common."
On our walk we crossed the Teviot and watched sand martins from the old road bridge, now open to foot traffic only. There
were 27 of us walking, some had come some distance to explore our countryside. Folk from Dumfries, Dumfermline, Edinburgh,
Whitley Bay and all over the Borders made up our group.
The first section of the walk was a climb up the road out of Hawick. Some of the group saw a big dog fox a field away from
where we walked. They were impressed by the size of it.
Soon we were in the fields by Drinkstone Hill. My colleague Mike Baker pointed out the hills in the distance: Broad Law, the
Tweedsmuir Hills to the West,and behind us the Liddesdale Hills and Rubers Law. He pointed out a buzzard flying above Salenside plantation, ahead of us. Above us a skylark was calling high in the sky.
Fala Cleuch is a small sheltered grassy area in the forest. We stopped for our lunch and heard a curlew in the distance. It
was a clear day, quite cool, but just right for walking. We walked along a ride in the woods passing pine, spruce, fir and
larch trees. At the side of the path we saw a wee vole. It stood totally still while we all watched it. After a while, it
uncurled itself and scurried back into the thatch of last year's grass.
After Salenside we joined the Thief Road at the Woll and Wollrig. Further along we got views of the Cheviot behind us and
we had a look for the Bishop's stone in the dyke. This marked the lands around Ashkirk, once owned by the Bishops of Glasgow.
At Hartwoodmyres we got our first view of our destination and we also had a good view of Bowhill House, surrounded by trees.
Ahead of us we could just make out the Three Brethren, Linglie Hill, Meigle Hill and Langlee. The tops of the Eildons were
just visible too.
In the farms along the next few miles, the lambs were jumping around in little gangs, old enough now to spend some time just
a few metres away from their mothers.
After Haining Loch, just visible through the trees, we stopped a while at the ruined doocot. The pigeonholes of sandstone once held the squabs for the laird's pigeon pie. After passing Haining House with its many shutters,
we reached Selkirk and soon the Ettrick Water.
We had walked from one river to another. Our Ranger-led walks continue throughout the year and are open to all. For details
of the walks look up the Outdoor Diary website or contact the Ranger Service on 01835 830281. Leaflets on the Borders Abbeys Way are also available.
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