Around Newcastleton
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
around Newcastleton £2.00 Paths Around Newcastleton Paths Around Newcastleton Contents Route Distance Location Page Route 1 1½ miles/2km The Two Bridges 8 Route 2 3 miles/5km Ettleton 10 Route 3 2 miles/3km River and Woodland 12 Route 4 6 miles/10km Dykescroft & Castleton 14 Route 5 5 miles/8km Raltonside & Blackburn 16 Route 6 7 miles/11km Blackburn Falls 18 Route 7 3 miles/5km Demainholm 20 Route 8 4½miles/7km Mangerton Tower 22 Route 9 11miles/18km Across the Border 24 Route 10 1 miles/0.5km The Ponds Trail 26 /3 Route 11 3 miles/5km The Hanging Tree 28 Route 12 2 miles/3km Whitrope Viewpoint 30 Holm Bridge 2 3 Paths Around Newcastleton Paths Around Newcastleton countless skirmishes by the Border Reivers ensuing their violence, treachery, murder and raiding to those on both sides of the Border. Today, the village is an attractive quiet settlement sitting in fine open countryside. The street pattern of Newcastleton has Know the Code before you go... changed little and is still well preserved, as Enjoy Scotland’s outdoors - a walk around Newcastleton will show. The responsibly! village has a variety of shops dotted along the main street, various holiday accommodation Enjoy Scotland’s outdoors! Everyone has the providers, and in Douglas Square, the right to be on most land and inland water Liddesdale Hotel and The Grapes Hotel. for recreation, education and for going from To the south of the village the Liddesdale place to place providing they act responsibly. Heritage Centre and Museum can be found. These access rights and responsibilities are explained in the Scottish Outdoor Access Information on Newcastleton can be found at Code. The key things are: www.visitnewcastleton.com When you’re in the outdoors: The countryside around Newcastleton ● take personal responsibility for your own Macdiarmid Monument features fantastic rolling moorland hills, actions and act safely; woodlands, forests and follows the Liddel ● respect people’s privacy and peace of mind; . Introduction Newcastleton and the Water valley. It is home to some of Scotland’s ● help land managers and others to work safely best-loved wildlife, roe deer, brown and and effectively; This booklet includes 12 routes in and around surrounding area mountain hare, feral goat, otter, badger, hen ● care for your environment and take your litter the village of Newcastleton, which is 20 miles The village of Newcastleton or Copshaw Holm harrier, red squirrel, and wild flowers are all home; / 32km south of Hawick on the B6399. The or simply ‘Copshie’ is a prime example of a in abundance. In addition there are many ● keep your dog under proper control; village is only a few kilometres from the planned village. It was established in 1793 places to visit of geological and archaeological ● take extra care if you’re organising an event England – Scotland border. to a plan by William Keir of Whithaugh for interests. or running a business. the 3rd Duke of Buccleuch as a settlement for The routes described range from short strolls handloom weavers. The streets are laid out on East of Newcastleton there are extensive When you’re managing the outdoors: ● to strenuous rough hill climbs. Each route a grid pattern with plenty of open space and forests. Nearby is Kielder Water and Forest respect access rights; ● has a summary containing distance, estimated a main gathering area called Douglas Square. Park, in Northumberland. Some of the routes act reasonably when asking people to avoid time to complete, start and finish points and To the east, the streets run down to the Liddel in this booklet give access to Newcastleton land management operations; ● work with your local authority and other bodies an indication of the terrain to be expected. Water. The new village was established on Forest and directly onwards to Kielder. to help integrate access and land management; The route descriptions contain directions the site of a tower called Copshaw, but took Further information on forest trails can be ● respect rights of way and customary access; with wildlife and historical information. its names from the older settlement Castleton obtained from the Forestry Commission Further information is available from Visitor (passed on Route 4). Scotland or through their website Find out more by visiting Information Centres and the Liddesdale www.forestry.gov.uk www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot or The weaving enterprise was not particularly Heritage Centre which is open in the summer. telephoning your local NatureScot office. successful and the new inhabitants had to Access in Scotland make their living in other ways. Each house These routes were initially developed in in the village was given land (one acre for a The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and partnership with the Liddesdale Heritage single-storey, two acres for two storeys) and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code came into The Scottish Outdoor Access Code gives Association and local landowners as part of the many villagers kept livestock and grew crops. effect in February 2005. The Land Reform detailed guidance on your responsibilities European Funded Border Paths Partnership (Scotland) Act establishes a statutory right of when exercising access rights and if you are Project. They are now managed by Scottish This area, Liddesdale, was plagued with wars responsible access to land and inland waters managing land and water. The Act sets out Borders Council. between Scotland and England as illustrated for outdoor recreation, crossing land, and where and when access rights apply. The by the troubled history of Hermitage Castle some educational and commercial purposes. Code defines how access rights should be (located 6 miles to the north). There were also exercised responsibly. 4 5 Paths Around Newcastleton Paths Around Newcastleton General Advice Toilet Facilities Waymarking and Maps Health Warning! Before setting off on longer walks, always Public toilets are situated in Langholm Many routes are way-marked, however check the weather forecast and prepare Street, just off Douglas Square. Coin Germs from animals can cause serious an Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50 000 yourself accordingly. Remember that operated entry. human illness. or Explorer 1:25 000 maps should be used weather conditions can change rapidly and Stay safe from diseases when out in the in conjunction with this booklet to help that hot weather, causing sunburn and/ or Livestock countryside by: identify the hills and other points of interest. dehydration, can be just as debilitating as Most routes in this booklet pass through a. Washing hands with soap & water rain or snow. Always carry adequate cover livestock farming areas. Please remember (or use wet wipes) after visiting for your body in all conditions. that the farmer’s livelihood may depend on the toilet, after activities, touching the rearing and sale of livestock, and always animals and before handling, On longer hill walks you should always wear act responsibly. Dogs can be a particular cooking and eating food or carry good waterproofs, proper walking concern for farmers during lambing time b. Taking care to avoid spreading boots, windproof clothing, and take food and (March – May) and when cows are calving animal faeces on footwear drink with you. These provisions may not be (Spring & Autumn). c. Avoiding camping or having a necessary on the shorter, low level walks, but picnic on land which has recently P a light waterproof and refreshments are still Dogs therefore should not be taken into been used for grazing animals worth taking, just in case. When out on the fields where there are young livestock. This d. Not drinking untreated water from hills, a map and compass should be carried includes all young livestock such as lambs, rivers, streams and lochs picnic area to aid navigation. calves and foals. In more open countryside e. Avoiding tick bites, cover legs when where lambs are present, keep your dog on walking through long vegetation Take great care when walking on country a short lead. roads. Contact the Public Health Department • Pavements or paths should be used if Disturbance at this time can separate young for more information 01896 82 5560 provided. livestock from their mothers leaving them • If there is no pavement or path, walk cold, hungry and exposed to predators. Walk it is the Paths to Health Project in the on the right-hand side of the road so Dogs should not be taken into fields of Scottish Borders and aims to encourage that you can see oncoming traffic. You cattle when they have calves, as the cows people to take up walking as part of a should take extra care and be prepared see a dog as a threat and may attack it. Go healthier lifestyle. Our walks are usually to walk in single file, especially on into a neighbouring field or onto adjacent short and easy though the routes can narrow roads or in poor light. Keep land. sometimes involve rough paths and low close to the side of the road. It may level gradients. You will find the Walk it logo be safer to cross the road well before During the bird breeding season (April – on routes 1,2,3 10 and 12 . We have chosen a sharp right-hand bend (so that June) keep your dog under close control these walks for length and level gradient. oncoming traffic has a better chance of or on a short lead in ground nesting areas. For information telephone 01835 825070 seeing you). Cross back after the bend. Without a dog, if you walk quietly through • Help other road users to see you. Wear livestock areas, keeping a safe distance Scottish Borders or carry something light coloured, from stock and watching them carefully, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight you should experience little or no difficulty.