Walking routes
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act became law in 2005. This gives rights of access to virtually all open ground, including for wild camping. However, it is important that you are familiar with The Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
The Lammermuirs are covered by two OS maps: 1:25000 map 345 and 1:50000 map 67.
Scotways (The Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society) has published a useful download called “Paths in and Around the Lammermuirs”, and Scottish Borders Council has produced a very useful guide to walks around Duns, including several in the Lammermuir area.
There are two long-distance paths that cross through the Lammermuirs, The Southern Upland Way and The Herring Road.
The Herring Road is the most famous old route across the Lammermuirs. It is thought to have been predominantly in use during the 18th and 19th centuries when the herring industry was at its peak, but records of the inland trade in fish go further back. The route was used by fishwives carrying huge creels of herring from Dunbar to the markets in Lauder, and by folk travelling to Dunbar to get a stock of salted fish for the winter. In places V-shaped gouges may indicate the repeated passage of heavily laden carts or packhorses over soft ground. The Herring Road’s recorded alignment has varied over time, so the signposted line long promoted by ScotWays, is just one suggested variant. The Southern Upland Way follows the Herring Road between Lauder and the Watch Water Reservoir.
A detailed route description can be found on the Heritage Paths website, or in the Scotways book, “Scottish Hill Tracks”.
The Whiteadder Reservior to Priestlaw Hill circuit allows you to see much of the breath-taking views of the Lammermuirs, especially from the summit of the hill. This 11 km walk includes part of the Herring Road.
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Alerts
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Cranshaws Woodland Walk
The circular walk is approximately 4km in length, taking about 1.5hrs. Off-road parking, picnic sites and viewpoints are provided. A community orchard is incorporated into the overall plan. (See Map) The walk follows the course of the Whiteadder river. Car parks are provided at the junction of the Harehead road, and at the foot of ‘Post Brae’. These are the starting points for the walk. From the Harehead road end (Dan’s Corner) the path takes you to the north of the river, climbing to a viewpoint (Neil’s View) before dropping down to the riverside. You then climb again to a second viewpoint high above the village (Kirk View), and from there, you pass through wooded areas, to a bridge at the Craigwindshiel road end. Your return path follows the road on the south side of the river to the Post Brae carpark, and then as a riverside walk for the rest of the return journey, past the orchard, to the carpark at the bridge at the Harehead turn off.
The Walk was conceived and constructed by Neil Anderson and Dave Lochhead, with help from Sheila Pattullo. It was funded by the Lammermuir Community Fund with monies received from Community Windpower Ltd.
