Walk: Once upon a Tyne – Gorebridge gander

Gorebridge, Midlothian
★★

Along the upper reaches of the Tyne Water, old rights of way string together a series of nature and history sites, including a country park, collegiate church and 14th century castle. These are all accessible by car, but walking over the braes from Gorebridge is a perhaps a better way to appreciate the region’s scenic charms. Fortunately the area is blessed with an unusually dense network of paths, allowing a satisfying day’s circuit with a long return along the neighbouring Gore Water. Vogrie Country Park has a cafe should refreshments be required after the first hill.

Chronological photo guide

Location

Start / finish at Hunterfield Road (B704) / Greenhall Road junction, 0.5 mi north of Gorebridge town centre

O.S. Grid Reference: NT 340623

GPS coordinates: 55.849226,-3.055623

Train / bus to Gorebridge town centre, at slightly different points on the route

Street parking at start, or several alternative options elsewhere on route – see map

Key info

► 19 km / 12 mi | ▲ 390 m | 6-7 hr

Features: Vogrie Country Park ★★; Tyne Water; Crichton Collegiate Church ★★; Crichton Castle ★★★; Borthwick Castle; Gore Water

⬤ Moderate | Clear but sometimes narrow, rough or muddy paths for most of route. Short section after Borthwick Castle is pathless with a couple of gates to climb. Stepping stones across the Tyne Water and jumps over its tributaries could be difficult after rain, but there are local diversion options. Fairly complex navigation.

Clockwise circuit: start – Common Wood – Camp Wood – Newlandrig – Vogrie Country Park – Tyne Water – Crichton Collegiate Church – Crichton Castle – Borthwick Castle – B704 in Gorebridge by north bank of Gore Water – A7 at Shank Bridge by south bank – start

Download file for GPS

On our last visit

Wildlife: Sheep, lambs, goats, donkeys, horses all in adjacent fields. Highlands cows, grey squirrels, rabbits, lapwings, buzzards.

Weather: 20°C+ and sunny, but with a welcome breeze.

May 2020