GPS Cycle and Walking Routescycle iconwalk icon

Cross Borders Drove Road

52.20 miles (84 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This 52 mile walking route runs from Little Vantage to Hawick through some beautiful Scottish Borders countryside. It runs along the old drove road where cattle and sheep were driven through West Linton to Peebles and Traquair, and then on to Hawick via the Yarrow Valley.
The route starts at Little Vantage near Harperrig Reservoir in the Pentland Hills, just south west of Edinburgh.

Cross Borders Drove Road OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Cross Borders Drove Road Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

In Peebles the route links up with the Tweed Valley Railway Path. The shared cycling and walking trail runs from Innerleithen to Peebles along the old railway line. It makes up part of the long distance Tweed Cycleway which runs from Berwick-Upon-Tweed to Biggar. You can continue your exploration of the old railway on the Neidpath Tunnel Walk in the town as well. This will take you along the railway line to the Neidpath Viaduct before entering the murky tunnel. You can also access the excellent mountain bike trails and waymarked walks in the expansive Glentress Forest near here.
Hawick is also the start/finish point for the Romans and Reivers Route. This 52 mile route follows the old Roman Roads to the Ae Forest near Moffat. The Borders Abbeys Way can also be linked with here.
Also nearby is the Gypsy Glen Walk. The multi user route explores Cardrona Forest and the hills to the south of Peebles. It is popular with mountain bikers.
For cyclists the new Kirkpatrick C2C passes through Hawick. The epic Coast to Coast route runs across the south of Scotland from Stranraer to Eyemouth.

Photos

Ainville Friesians - geograph.org.uk - 50753

Ainville Friesians at Little Vantage near the start of the walk. Beside the Thieves road (Cauldstane Slap) a cultivated field won from the moor. Purple clad Pentlands beyond. This is not such a common sight, there are now half the number of dairy farms in Scotland that there were in 1985.

Information Board on Cross Borders Drove Road - geograph.org.uk - 909389

Information Board on Cross Borders Drove Road The Information board at the point where the drove road from West Linton to Peebles meets the Old Post Road from Eddleston to Peebles.

Birkscairn

Birkscairn Hill from the Cross Borders Drove Road to the north.

The Drove Road crosses Woo Law - geograph.org.uk - 592362

The Drove Road crosses Woo Law Near the crest of a ridge, looking in the direction of Hawick. Tractors not hooves mark the road now.

Harperrig Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 3697364

Harperrig Reservoir near the start of the route.

Gate and stile, Cauldstane Slap - geograph.org.uk - 5466216

Gate and stile, Cauldstane Slap

Thieves Road to Cauldstane Slap - geograph.org.uk - 5466185

Thieves Road to Cauldstane Slap

Baddinsgill Reservoir from King Seat - geograph.org.uk - 4998184

Baddinsgill Reservoir

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Cross Borders Drove Road.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)