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Walk Statistics:
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| Length: |
10.8 miles / 17.4 km |
| Total ascent: |
2531 ft / 771 m |
| Total descent: |
2485 ft / 757 m |
| Estimated time: |
4 hrs 24 mins |
Brief route description
The
route from Innerleithen to Peebles is based on Hamish Brown's original
route and, basically, follows a hill ridge to the northwest for some
six miles, then runs down a forest track to reach Peebles.
Initially you should aim for Caerlee Hill, immediately to the west of
Innerleithen. There are several ways up but Hamish Brown's preferred
route goes via St Ronan's Wells. Walk along the town's main street to
the northeast as far as the junction immediately before the river
bridge. Turn left at the junction, then left again into a minor road,
which curves round to the right a little to run more or less
northwards. After some three hundred metres take another left turn;
this road goes down to St Ronan's Wells at the foot of the hill.
From St Ronan's Wells turn left again and take the track along the foot
of the hill. After about 250 metres take a right turn onto a path that
climbs the flank of the hill through woodland. You soon reach the far
side of the wood to find yourself on the ridge. Caerlee Hill is a
little way to the south, is crowned by a TV relay and commands a good
view of the town, so it's worth a quick visit. Your main route,
however, runs north along the ridge and visits a succession of hills.
The first major summit is Lee Pen, 502 metres high; it, too, has an
excellent view of Innerleithen. If my memory serves me correctly
there's a reasonable ridge path as far as Lee Pen but as you progress
it becomes sketchy, then nonexistent, until you reach the forest track
network a handful of miles further on. From Lee Pen the ridge veers to
the northwest. Drop down to the col and then take in the short ascent
to Lee Burn Head. From here there's an excellent view along part of the
Tweed valley to the west.
The ridge turns to the north again. From Lee Burn Head you progress to
Mill Rig, then to Black Knowe, the second major summit (522 metres).
From here the ridge, and your route, doglegs to the west and then the
north again, and you reach the edge of the extensive plantations of
Glentress Forest that ascent the hillside to your left. Your next major
summit is Black Law, which is 538 metres high and carries a trig
pillar. There's a real sense of loneliness out here because there's
little in view now except forest to one side and bleak moorland to the
other. There's a fairly steep drop to the col of Leithen Door, followed
by a fairly steep reascent to Leithen Door Hill. But for the forest to
your left this section would feel very much like the Cheviots a few
days before.
After a slight dip the ridge ascends to a nameless top, just before
which a route appears into the forest to your left. This would afford a
quick escape down to Peebles should you wish to cut the walk short.
Otherwise, press onwards along the ridge, which veers to the left
(west). The forest plantations now start to cloak the eastern slopes
you you effectively enter the forest itself. Shortly afterwards you
need to turn left and continue to follow the ridge uphill towards the
day's high point, Dunslair Heights (a round 600 metres high). A forest
track comes up from the left to follow the ridge to the summit, which
carries a small cluster of communications masts.
There's an open area beyond the summit, but it's really a wide ride and
doesn't actually allow a decent view, which is a great pity. Continue
to follow the ridge path beyond the summit until you reach the next
col, some six hundred metres distant. At this point you leave the ridge
to the left to walk down through the forest towards Peebles. At first
you follow a simple path, which descends a spur known as Tower Rig;
this path crosses a couple of logging tracks. It runs downhill for some
2 km to reach an outpost of civilisation known as the Shieldgreen
Centre. Now it's just a matter of following the Shieldgreen Centre's
access track downhill through the forest. After a further mile you
leave the forest plantation and come out into the open, and you
discover that you are descending the valley of Soonhope Burn, which
lays a little way to your right. As you descend you pass a series of
somewhat dilapidated shacks. These are actually holiday chalets. The
grand edifice of the Peebles Hydro Hotel soon comes into view on the
opposite bank of the burn and, a few minutes afterwards, the Soonhope
track reaches the main A72 just east of the town.
It just remains now to walk the final mile along the road towards
Peebles town centre. There is plenty of accommodation in the town,
otherwise there are regular bus services to Edinburgh and Galashiels.
Map: OS 1:25000 Explorer 337
(Peebles & Innerleithen)
This page last updated 14th December 2010
