We love countryside walks and this is probably the activity we do the most of. We are slow walkers, appreciating what is around us in terms of landscape, nature and history. The walks that we share here are mostly fairly straight forward and under 10 miles long, so no massive challenges, just regular countryside walks that we recommend to our friends.
To help your enjoyment we have included a route map, stats of the route and highlighted things to look out for on the walk at different times of the year. Where we can, we will recommend where to have your picnic/brew-up and where to stop for coffee and cake.
We frequently look up walks in local information booklets, websites or books and these will be referred to in each description - what we have done is enhance the walk description with our personal experience.
We have a joke that when Sam chooses the route we go down dead-ends and when Peter chooses the route they are always much longer than anticipated. To allow for these foibles we always carry plenty of drinks and a map. Unless it is a short walk and the weather is settles we also take layers of clothing including waterproofs and wear stout walking boots.
Waterloo Monument Nisbet circular route
The Waterloo Monument, Nisbet is a very prominent feature of the countryside between Jedburgh and Kelso. This circular walk is a little gem and another one that features in the Scottish Borders 40 Favourite Walks book. We did a slight change by starting from Woodside Garden Centre, following a bacon butty from their coffee shop.…
St Abb’s Head in June – Guided Walk
I was back at St Abbs Head in June to lead a second walk on behalf of the Berwickshire Marine Reserve. This time we met with 8 people for the walk including the two new summer Rangers from BMR. We took pretty much the same route as we did in May, just returning by a…
Hirsel Circular Route, Coldstream
We have lived in Coldstream in the Scottish Borders now for 7 months and this is the first time I have written up a walk from the town. There are two reasons for this: Both Scottish Borders Council and The Hirsel Estate have some very well waymarked and published walks, so I didn’t want to…
Guided Walk St Abb’s Head
We were delighted to be able to lead a guided walk at St Abb’s Head on 11th May as part of the Berwickshire Marine Reserve’s volunteer series of events. Alex from BMR joined us to explain about the reserve, which was very welcome. The aim was that this would be a nature walk and we…
Stunning Walk in the Cheviots
It was a sunny and (relatively) warm Easter Monday when we set out on this walk in the Cheviots, exploring the Scottish side of the range. Whilst the OS map of the English side is riddled with rights of way, these indications of routes stop once you get to the Scottish border. The general right…
Wallace Statue and St Boswells Circular
The 10th April is our wedding anniversary so what better way to celebrate this auspicious occasion than enjoying good weather in the Scottish Borders with some friends. We chose a St Boswells circular route, taking in some local landmarks and getting us back in time for lunch at Mainstreet Trading. (I might have accidently bought…
Stunning Spring Walk in the Shropshire Hills
On our way down for a few days in Cardiff in late March we stopped off with friends and took the opportunity of the beautiful spring sunshine for this walk in the Shropshire Hills. This is an overlooked part of the country for holidays, but this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an excellent base…
Kelso Circular Route
Views, Viaducts and a Famous Junction. A lovely late winter morning saw us setting off for a trail run with a friend on this Kelso circular route. Once again we had seen the route in the “Borders 40 best walks” book, however we did it in the reverse direction. Due to flooding en route we…
Greenlaw Circular Walk
Blackadder and a hillfort This splendid Greenlaw circular walk is the first walk we have done from Robbie Porteous’ “Scottish Borders 40 favourite walks” book – a very welcome Christmas gift from my sister. Of course, in true Sam and Peter style we didn’t follow the exact route as described, as you will find out…
River Till circular walk | Northumberland
A Winter Walk in Northumberland I love a winter walk, particularly between Christmas and New Year when there is a real need to blow away the cobwebs. When the sun finally came out this “twixmas” we happily set off armed with the OS Explorer Map of the area (great Christmas present, thanks Matthew) and a…
