This section is 125 miles / 19 Km of varied track, field and river
walking. There are two ascents in the first section to Denholm then the
Way is level on the banks of the River Teviot.
From the Abbey walk into the Square and then left up the Castlegate. At
the top of this road take to the small road to the east of the
Castle,
but if you have time stop and visit this building which was once a
jail and is now a museum.
The minor road passes round the side of the Castle and the cemetery
then opens out with views over the Jed Water and back to the Town.
Where the hard surface road ends, take to a path and track, cross the
burn and climb up the steps before rejoining a track that reverts to a
minor road near to Todlaw.
At a sharp left bend on the road turn right up a country track heading
in a westerly direction. Soon this joins another farm track at right
angles turning left and south. This track crosses a series of fences,
grazing land then a ribbon wood before running along the edge of a
large field as it descends towards Merlin Dean and another wood.
At Merlin Dean do not enter this wood but turn right and having crossed
a small footbridge climb up along the side on the wood, but on the
field side, until the top of the wood. Cross the stile and enter the
very top of the wood at the side of Black Law. This section is very
short before you exit the wood and enter high open countryside on the
west side of Black Law. Shortly there will be new vistas to the west
with Rubers Law being the most dominant of landmarks.
From the high point there is now a descent towards Bedrule. This is a
fine walk first to Blacklaw Strip, a small but dense clump of tree.
From below the Strip the path turns south and away from the direct line
to Bedrule before a right angled turn down a farm track into the small
village.
In Bedrule that is a War Monument then a turning down towards the Rule
River. On the right are the attractive church and a few houses before
crossing the river and turning sharply to the left on the road to
Bonchester Bridge. It is not long before the Way leaves the road and
heads over farmland on its way to Spital Tower. On this section Rubers
Law is dominant and to the southwest.
Having reached the buildings at Spital Tower cross a small bridge on
the left and climb gradually up along the side of a field till you
arrive at a line of trees. A left turn and a very short distance bring
you on the right to a narrow break in the wood and a path through the
gap. Take this path, know as the Loaning, and start down through the
wood and then into open farmland as it descends towards Denholm.
The Loaning is a good vantage point for new views over the Teviot
Valley and to the Minto Hill. As the Loaning descends there is a right
hand corner then gradually the surface starts to change to a rough
track then road through some housing before joining the Hawick to
Jedburgh road. Turning left the Way quickly enters the Green with its
attractive obelisk to John Leyden (poet) who was born in the village.
This was also the birthplace of John
Scott and James Murray.
From the Green the route takes the road marked to Minto and immediately
after crossing the Teviot the path descends onto the riverbank and
heads west towards Hawick.
The Way is first on the flood plain then takes to a minor road going to
Knowetownhead. As this road starts a gradual climb watch out for the
path through the trees on the left leading back down to the river bank.
Once on this riverside walk the Way continues without interruption
until a road crossing at
Hornshole Bridge. Cross the minor road and
return to the riverside for the last kilometre of country walking
before the riverside walk enters Hawick.
There is on entering
Hawick still a further kilometre of riverside
walking, but now there is industrial, sporting and housing developments
on the right. Hawick is well know from the
textile and hosiery trade,
sadly not as extensive now as in the first half of the 20th century.
The walk does pass some still active mills along with more current
builders and public services yards. One notable sporting location is
Mansfield Park, the home of the "Greens", the Hawick Rugby Football
Club. This has been the site of many great games and the home to many
Scottish Rugby Internationalist.
Continue along the road at the side of the Teviot until arriving at the
Teviotdale Leisure Centre, this being the end point of the section. A
short walk across the Teviot Bridge takes the walker into the High
Street and the "Horse", a statue of great significance to the
inhabitants with the inscription "Teribus ye Teri Odin".
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