📌 Selkirk, Scottish Borders
★★★
The track that climbs onto Fastheugh Hill from Bowhill House is known as the Duchess’s Drive, and was once used to take estate visitors by carriage to enjoy the high-level views. Today the route is waymarked for the general public, and still has the ability to impress (though you now have to walk up instead). The circuit detailed below has a couple of variations on the official trail: it includes a diversion to the main summit cairn for the very best views, and returns along the delightful Yarrow Water – the latter is part of the separate Lady’s Walk. Also look out for red squirrels, grouse and the impressive ruin of Newark Castle.
📷 Chronological photo guide
1/17 Forest tracks at first 
2/17 Fauldshope Hill in the distance 
3/17 Ettrickdale from the ascent 
4/17 Fastheugh Hill 
5/17 Final ascent (keep right of the fence) 
6/17 Coplaw Cairn, Fastheugh Hill 
7/17 Red grouse 
8/17 Continuation to Newark Hill 
9/17 Yarrow valley to the north 
10/17 
11/17 Descent through Black Andrew Wood 
12/17 Red squirrel 
13/17 Newark Castle 
14/17 Track to Newarkmill 
15/17 Yarrow Water 
16/17 Lady’s Walk by the Yarrow Water 
17/17
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish at Bowhill House (off the B7039 2 mi west of Selkirk)
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 425278
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.540775,-2.912887
📝 Key info
🚌 Extremely infrequent bus stops at B7009 / B7039 junction (1 mi through estate)
🚗 Car park (charge to access estate in summer months)
▶ 12 km / 7 mi | ▲ 370 m | ⌛ 3-3.5 hr
Features: 🏰 Bowhill House ★★★★; △ Fastheugh Hill (501 m); 🏰 Newark Castle; 💧 Yarrow Water
⬤ Moderate | Mostly good tracks & paths. Briefly steeper & rougher to reach Fastheugh Hill summit – avoidable by remaining on main track which bypasses summit to north.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start & Bowhill House – Maiden Cross Bog – Fastheugh Hill – Newark Hill – Black Andrew Wood – Newark Castle – start via west bank of Yarrow Water. Route mostly follows waymarked Duchess’s Drive & Lady’s Walk estate routes 🔗 here
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Lots of red grouse on the hill, red squirrel near Newark Castle, dipper on the Yarrow Water. Horses in adjacent fields, sheep.
Weather: Often sunny with scudding clouds, remnant snow wreaths on highest hills. 5°C, strong wind.
January 2023
