Cross Borders Drove Road + GPX

Distance: 82 km Grade: 2 (Slightly harder)

The Cross Borders Drove Road (The 'Thieves Road') leading south to Cauldstane Slap
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Tim Heaton - geograph.org.uk/p/5856504

Cross Borders Drove Road NEW
Geographical data – 30,9 KB 62 downloads

© Copyright Jim Barton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

 

Description:

This trail is generally well waymarked but sometimes intersects with quite a few other local paths. This can cause confusion so it’s important to carry a map.

Winding its way along tracks and informal paths over the rolling hills and through the sheltered glens and woodland of the Tweed Valley, the Cross Borders Drove Road offers great variety in scenery, surfacing, cultural and other interest. From purple heather-cloaked grouse moor and idyllic glens where the drovers stopped for a wee dram. For almost 200 years small black cattle were driven through Cauldstane Slap on their way from Highland grazings to English markets. Robbers and reivers lurked in the heather, giving the route its sinister name The Thieves Road

Stages:

  1. Hawick - Middlestead 17 km (Easy)
  2. Middlestead - Traquair 16 km (Easy)
  3. Traquair - Peebles 14 km (Slightly harder)
  4. Peebles - West Linton 21 km (Easy)
  5. West Linton - Harperrig 14 km (Easy)