A Braw Walk for the Braw Lad: 17-22 mile original walk in the central Borders
Details
17 or 22 miles
600-700m ascent
5 km/hr walking pace (moderate)
Country roads, good footpaths and tracks, some steep
An original walk in the Central Borders on the big day of the Galashiels common ridings. Think pageantry, historical country houses, locals drunk at 9am in the morning, horses. Lots of horses. And hills.
The early start of the walk at Tweedbank railway station coincides with massed horses fording the river Tweed at the Braw Lads Gathering (https://tweedvalleyblogger.com/blog/the-border-common-ridings-and-festivals). Nearly all of the Border towns have these ridings in a week of festivities in the Summer. Their origins are in boundary markings ceremonies dating back to more troubled times in the Border region (15-16th century).
Thereafter our route follows the Southern Upland Way to the vantage point of the Three Brethren, dropping down to Broadmeadows in the glorious Yarrow valley, then continues to Selkirk via Newark Castle, Bowhill estate and The Haining. We may stop in the pub (The Fleece) in the centre of Selkirk for a well-earned refreshment, then catch one of the regular buses back to Tweedbank (4-5 miles; or we can leave some cars at Selkirk in the morning). It is also possible walk these miles on the Borders Abbeys Way, making for 22 miles.
There is plentiful free parking at Tweedbank station car park. Please share lifts from Glasgow. It is also possible to travel to Tweedbank by the Borders Railway line.
Note the early start.