📌 Lammermuir Hills, Scottish Borders
★★★
The peaceful hamlet of Abbey St Bathans sits in a particularly remote corner of the Scottish Borders, but this is a district well worth seeking out. Scattered across the local hillside is a fascinating collection of ancient settlements, forts and cairns, including Cockburn Law’s Iron Age ramparts and Edin’s Hall Broch. The scenery on this circuit either side of the attractive Whiteadder Water is rewarding even without the history aspect, with views across the Lammermuirs, Cheviots and southeast into England from the higher parts of the route. Call in at The Woodlands Cafe at the start / finish, and let us know what you think!
📷 Chronological photo guide
Whiteadder Water near the start 
Early road section 
Whiteadder Water 
Leave the road at the “TOOT” sign 
Climbing away from the burn 
Ascent to Cockburn Law 
View back from the ascent 
Cockburn Law summit 
Edin’s Hall Broch 
Descent from the broch 
Whiteadder Water 
Elba footbridge 
Whiteadder Water under the footbridge 
Track north from the footbridge 
Road return 
Fields beyond Moorhouse 
Edgar’s Cleugh 
Joining the Southern Upland Way (fording burn not required) 
Crossing the Whiteadder Water at the finish
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Abbey St Bathans
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 763619
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.849605,-2.380389
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 11 km / 7 mi | ▲ 360 m | ⌛ 3.5-4 hr
Features: △ Cockburn Law (325 m); ⭕ Edin’s Hall Broch ★★
⬤ Moderate | Mixture of minor roads, tracks and hill / country paths with some ascent and descent. Paths are fainter and braided on ascent of Cockburn Law.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit with extension to summit: start – leave minor road at bend at 🧭 NT 767612 – path junction / fence at 🧭 NT 769603 – Cockburn Law – return to path junction / fence – Edin’s Hall Broch – Elba suspension bridge – Moorhouse – Edgar’s Cleugh – start by Southern Upland Way
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Cows in nearby fields, sheep; a kestrel, a grey squirrel, grey herons, pheasants, gulls, crows, domestic geese. Mallard ducks, buzzards, tame chickens on a previous visit.
Weather: Generous sunshine, 10-14°C, breezy on the summit.
October 2024
