Braidshawrig & Dabshead hill
| Distance | Approximate Time | Height Gain | OS Map |
| 19.2 kms | 03:30 (hrs:mins) | 380 metres | OS Explorer: Lauder |
Description
This walk uses part of the Southern Upland Way, diverting to take in a moorland section and climbing to a fine viewpoint.
Lauder is an ancient town and was known in the 12th century as a 'Kirktown'. The town received several visits from royalty of both Scotland and England. William the Lion granted Lauder a Royal Charter in the late 12th / early 13th Century, and King James IV, who frequently held court in the town, renewed this in 1502.
Although there are no records of when it was built, or of any repairs, it is said that Lauder was in the past surrounded by a Burgh wall with gates at both the West and East Port. (Unfortunately, all traces of this wall had been removed by the early 20th century). The Burgh still preserves its original medieval form of a single main street and two back lanes, a layout at one time typical of many small Scots market towns, which may support the claim of a Burgh Wall.
Lauder escaped massive expansion during the Industrial revolution. Although most of the houses date from the 18th and 19th century, extensive backfilling of the back garden areas did not occur. Expansion in Lauder has taken the form of adding more storeys to the buildings. Good examples of this can be seen at 4 The Avenue and 31 East High Street.
From Lauder High Street, walk south to pick up the Southern Upland Way signs at the south end of the town (opposite the police station). Follow the signs close to Thirlestane Castle.
The central east-west turreted block of the castle dates from 1590 and is built in the centre of a large English artillery fortification. Sir William Bruce, the Kings master mason, according to the plans of Robert Mylne, transformed it for the Duke of Lauderdale during 1670-7. Robert Mylne also employed several foreign craftsmen to carry out the decorative plastering inside the castle. Several of these workers had previously worked on Holyrood House in Edinburgh.
There is a great debt owed to Sir Walter Scott for the preservation of many of the Border ballads and none more so than 'Auld Maitland'. It is said that Sir Walter rode and tramped through the Borders to collect and write down all the fragments of old stories that he could find. 'Auld Maitland' is interesting as it includes Sir Walter's notes as editor of the piece in 1802.
'Auld Maitland' is thought to have been Sir Richard Maitland of Thirlestane who is said to have been in possession of the estate in 1250.
Further to the east of Thirlestane is Lauder East Mains Farm the childhood home of William Brockie.
William Brockie was born at Lauder East Mains on the 1st March 1811 and lived his whole life in the Borders. He was a great scholar and despite his initial employment in law and then teaching, he was a well-respected editor of several Border newspapers, most notably the Border Advertiser.
The path crosses fields, enters woodland and turns right along a lane. Cross the A697 with care and walk up the access road for Wanton Walls Farm. Continue up the track into woodland, turning right at a junction. You may see pens for rearing young pheasants here.
Reach open ground and swing left, following the markers over the rise ahead, crossing a stone dyke and then descending to the Snawdon Burn. There are often cattle in this area, so please keep dogs under close control. Climb over the rise ahead and then drop down to cross the busy Blythe Water by a substantial footbridge. The path climbs again to follow a fenceline and reach the plantation on Scoured Rig, its name indicating a windy spot! Turn left onto the track leading down to the buildings at Braidshawrig.
Leave the Southern Upland Way here, turn left over the bridge and walk past the buildings to pick up the track heading north-west over a low rise. After about 800 metres, turn left on another track which skirts round the north side of Edgarhope Law (367m), making sharp left and right turns. Keep on this track for a further kilometre. Just before it starts to descend into the valley of Earnscleuch Water, turn left along a lesser track which runs along the top of the slope, heading just west of south.
Follow this track and path for 3km to the site of the fort on Dabshead Hill. There is a great view to the west of the valley of the Leader Water to the Eildons and further beyond to the soft outline of the Tweeddale hills. Behind you the moorland slopes of the Lammermuirs swell gently.
From the hill top, head south passing through a gate in the dyke and then walking along the edge of the wood. At the top of the rise you will see a gate into the wood on your right. Go through this gate and follow the ride (a gap in the trees) down to the forest track.
Turn left tan follow this track for about 1.5km to the junction where you pick up Southern Upland Way (SUW) signs. Follow SUW through Wanton Walls and around the policies of Thirlestane Castle, back to lauder and the end of the walk.
