Walks Undertaken 2019-20 Winter Season
DETAILS ON LAUDER WALK
Lauder is approx. 35 /40 mins from Edinburgh, after leaving the bypass travel straight
down the A68 through Pathhead and over Soutra. Lauder is an ancient town situated by
the river Leader on one of the oldest routes between Edinburgh and England.
We will gather at the Lauderdale Hotel which is the first hotel on the left hand side after
entering Lauder. They have a large carpark and we are doing a circular walk ending
back at the hotel for lunch.
The walk starts by following part of the Lauder town trail where I will point out some of
the buildings, then goes along the High Street by the busy A68 for a few hundred yards
before entering the parkland of Thirlestane Castle. We will follow a public footpath
through woodland passing by the castle which is one of the oldest inhabited castles in
Scotland owned by the Maitland-Carew family. The castle itself is closed for the winter
season.
The path eventually takes us back to the A68 by the petrol station and the Lauderdale
Hotel.
Generally walking on pavements and tarmac roads but advisable to wear good walking
shoes/boots as going on woodland paths as well. I reckon the walk will last approx. one
and a half hours.
Sat Nav directions
Lauderdale Hotel
Edinburgh Road
Lauder TD2 6TW
Tel 01578 722231
REPORT ON LAUDER WALK 12th October - Leader Sheena West:
A walk round Lauder called off last year due to heavy rain - fortunately this year we were blessed with dry and sunny weather.
From the car park we strolled through some of the quaint loans & wynds of this former Royal and Ancient Burgh.
Sheena pointed out spots with historical significance eg Townhouse/Tollbooth and the site of the house where 'Johnnie Cope' lodged
on his retreat south after defeat by the Jacobites at Prestonpans. Lauder was on the coaching route to England; today it is on the
Southern Upland Way.
Leaving the town for the beautiful adjacent countryside, we skirted Thirlestane Castle, puzzled over the supersized bath-like tubs in a field,
before walking around woodland beside the River Leader. An architectural curiosity was 'Chuckie Cottage' which was clad in neatly placed
hand-sized pebbles. After modest exercise in congenial company, lunch was taken at the Hotel. Many thanks to Ivor Yule for the photo shots.
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DETAILS ON PEEBLES-TWEED WALK
Directions to parking and start of walk:
From Fairmilehead Crossroads, take the A702 over the City Bypass and past the entrance to Hillend Ski Slope.
At the junction just past this entrance, take the middle road, A703, and follow this to Penicuik and Auchendinny.
The road becomes the A701 and just after the Gowkley Moss Roundabout, take the B7026 into Auchindinny and onto Howgate.
At the Howgate roundabout go straight on - the road becomes the A6094 to Leadburn.
At Leadburn turn left and follow the A703 to Peebles (approx. 10 miles). Total journey: 21 miles, time: 35 minutes approx.
On entering Peebles follow A703, Edinburgh Road, to the roundabout where the A703 and A72 meet.
Turn right here and follow the A72 along Eastgate and into the High Street.
The Tontine Hotel is in the centre of Peebles on the LHS of the High Street.
There is limited parking at the front of the hotel and a car park at the rear, accessed by driving down the side of the hotel,
or from Tweed Green. We will try to get parked at the hotel. If this proves difficult, then there is a car park on Kingsmeadows Road.
From the Tontine Hotel, go to the end of the High Street and turn left. Cross Tweed Bridge and keep to the left.
Kingsmeadows Car Park is immediately over the bridge and on the left just as Kingsmeadows Road starts.
(This car park is free on a Saturday morning and may therefore be busy.)
Walk description:
From rear entrance to Tontine Hotel, walk along Tweed Green and up Tweedbrae turning right at Eastgate and walking to the roundabout at the BP Filling Station.
Continue towards Innerleithen, crossing the main road to the N side. Turn left at the main entrance drive to the Peebles Hydro and then take the side road
on the right leading to a path through the Hydro grounds. (Look out for conkers.) At Janet's Brae, join the Tweed Valley Railway Walk and follow
this tarmac path until it joins the A72 Innerleithen Road at a lay-bye. Cross this road, taking great care as the traffic is very fast and continue
along the pavement until you reach the steps down to the Tweed. There are 53 steps, they are steep but have a hand rail.
We continue along the banks of the river looking out for Goosander and Mallard. This part of the walk could be muddy.
Cross the old bridge over the Soonhope Burn, taking care as the stones are very uneven and turn left through a gate towards a path along by the river.
Watch out for tree roots. After passing through a second gate, keep left on the tarred path back to Tweed Green; this brings you back to our starting point.
Approximate walking time: 1 hour 15 minutes.
Faster walkers can extend this walk (time permitting) by crossing the silver footbridge and walking along the S bank of the Tweed to Fotheringham Bridge,
crossing this to the N side and returning to Tweed Green and our starting point.
REPORT ON PEEBLES WALK 2nd November Leaders John & Jenni Hamilton:
Our walk on Saturday in Peebles was most enjoyable. The weather was very pleasant, dry, but overcast.
We walked from the Tontine Hotel towards Innerleithen, past Peebles Hydro and along the old railway line, admiring the beautiful autumn tints.
We crossed the Innerleithen Road and down to the banks of the River Tweed past Kingsmeadow House which was built in 1795 at a cost of £600
for Sir John Hay, an Edinburgh Banker. In 1952 it was acquired by Standard Life. The house is now privately owned and stands in 15 acres of ground.
Our walk finished with lunch at the Tontine Hotel. (Report by Jenni Hamilton)
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DETAILS ON MORTONHALL ESTATE WALK
Directions to parking and start of walk:
The walk starts at the Stables opposite the mansion house at Mortonhall where there is parking.
We then walk up past the stables and turn right into what becomes Stanedykehead and walk along towards Alnwickhill past the north of the caravan park
and reach a gate. We continue through the gate as far as Seven Acre Park where we turn left into the “no access” road and walk along
it to the greyhound kennels. Just before the locked gate into the grounds of the kennels we turn left on to a narrow path
(unfortunately it is muddy but it is short) which leads into a large grassy area and a wide grass track.
We proceed up the slight incline of this track from the top of which there are good views. We continue in a NW direction to the end of the track
which meets Liberton Drive just south of the trees bordering the golf range. Crossing the ditch we turn left into Liberton Drive and
walk up this tree-lined country road with the golf course on our right and go past Meadowhead Farm on our left. The road continues round a corner
and ultimately reaches the junction with Stanedykehead where we turn right and go down to our original starting point.
From there we should drive down to the Mortonhall Garden Centre where lunch has been booked at the Topiary Restaurant for between 12noon and 12.15.
Tables will be reserved (under my name) and once we have put our things there we must remember the number and then go to the food counter
where we each order what we want to eat and pay individually at the cash desk before going back to our seats.
If we order cooked meals the table number is put on to the order slip and the food will be brought to the table once cooked.
Coffee, scones and cakes are chosen at the counter before we reach the cash desk and so can be taken straight to the table after payment.
Tap water is available if one asks when ordering the food.
The walk will take about an hour and a half but if we finish early there is plenty to view within the garden centre which already has its Christmas
displays including a polar scene with the incongruous juxtaposition of bears and penguins and a splendid model village complete with trains,
ski lift and sundry other delights. The singing reindeer fortunately are outside amongst the plants. With the exception of the large grassy
area the route is either on metal road or gravel path parts of which are thick with leaves. The incline on Liberton Drive is gentle.
We may meet a few bikers, an occasional vehicle and a number of dog-walkers. Strong walking shoes or boots are advisable because of the muddy area
near the kennels and for sure-footedness over the grassy area.
REPORT ON MORTONHALL WALK 23d November Leader Kathleen Patrick:
17 people enjoyed a companionable walk on the scheduled route which was new to several and as they were walking briskly
to finish before the forecast rain arrived most then proceeded to explore a short circuit near the mansion house before moving on
to to a good lunch in the warmth of the Topiary Restaurant whilst it poured with rain outside.
A few then greeted the singing reindeer in the sheltered area outside and browsed the many tempting displays of goods for sale in the shop.
(Report by Kathleen Patrick)
DETAILS ON EAST LINTON / HADDINGTON WALK
Directions to parking and start of walk:
We will meet at Braid at 10.00am as usual. We will then drive to East Linton using the by-pass and the A1 and find parking in the High Street
close to the road junction signposted for Preston Mill on the right at the end of the village.
Our walk will take us past Preston Mill and along part of the John Muir Way before returning to East Linton along the River Tyne Walkway.
Our route is a combination of road, good track and a field path that will almost certainly be heavy underfoot. The walk is on the flat.
We will finish back at our starting point c 12.30.
We are booked for c 1.00pm at the Riverside Bistro, Haddington where we have had lunch before.
DETAILS ON PRESTONPANS & COCKENZIE WALK
This walk combines history and the surrounds of the Firth of the Forth.
Proceed via Edinburgh by-Pass South.Turn off at Bankton Junction towards North Berwick.
At the first roundabout go straight over as if going to North Berwick.
At the 2nd roundabout turn left, then after 200 yards turn left again, signposted Sports Centre, after a short distance turn right into car park.
East Lothian Indoor Bowling Club is immediately in front of you.
There is an opportunity to climb the bing to the Prestonpans Battle Memorial, some may require a helping hand, but it will be well worth it.
After returning to the car park, we take a short journey to Cockenzie.
If we have time, we will walk along the John Muir Way, taking in the harbours of Cockenzie and Port Seaton.
Lunch will be at Cadell House at 1 pm.Parking is on the main road
REPORT ON PRESTONPANS COCKENZIE WALK 4th January 2020 Leader Bill Gardiner:
Braid Strollers undertook their first walk of 2020 on Saturday 4th January. This took in the site of the 1745 Battle of Prestonpans
and the harbours at Cockenzie and Port Seton. Ably led by Bill Gardiner we skirted a reclaimed pit bing and passed the remnants of
the old Tranent Wagonway where horse drawn wagons once transported coal down to the harbour.
We visited the main field of battle where a 1953 memorial commemorates the soldiers on both sides who fought in that battle. (For those unfamiliar –
the Jacobite army under Prince Charles Edward Stuart took the government forces by surprise early in the morning and within less than an hour had
routed the Redcoats who broke and fled under the onslaught of the famed Highland charge
. The commander, Sir John Cope fleeing back to Dunbar.
– The somewhat onesided Jacobite version of the battle is captured in the song Hey Johnnie Cope
)
Returning from the battlefield – now planted with a variety of green vegetables – we ascended the pit bing which provides an excellent viewpoint
over the location and has been provided with a number of information boards detailing the course of the battle. Bill pointed out in the distance
Bankton House the residence at that time of one of the Government commanders – Colonel James Gardiner – mortaly wounded in the battle.
(Bill disclaims any family connection with this Gardiner of Prestonpans – but I think I'll keep an eye on future Who Do You Think You Are
episodes
just on the off-chance.)
Returning to the cars we drove to Cockenzie and after a stroll along a short stretch of the John Muir Way between Cockenzie and Port Seton Harbours
an excellent lunch was had at the Cadell Restaurant. Thanks to Bill for leading this enjoyable and well informed walk.
(Report by John Culbert)
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DETAILS ON COLINTON & ENVIRONS WALK
"And here is a mill and there is a river,
Each a glimpse and gone forever"
FROM: A RAILWAY CARRIAGE - a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson
And now the words are painted on the old railway tunnel in Colinton which the poet
visited, by train, on his holidays.
Our Braid Bowling Club walk on Saturday 25th January will take us to the village,
down Bridge Road and turning right into Gillespie Street where there is generous
space for parking but can fill up early with walkers. The tunnel is a mere 100 yards
further on and we hope to spend some time walking through it. It is an ongoing
project which the artist Chris Rutterford hopes to complete this year. Children from
local schools have worked on board-based art projects which are then attached to
batons on the brick wall but on our visit last week, we found quite a few spaces yet
to be filled - some Spring weather might help!
Weather permitting - that's to say, sun shining - we can choose to return up to
Spylaw Park and the Water of Leith Walkway for a walk for an hour or so. However
strong winds would make it nicer to stay in the woods walking downhill to the stone
bridge but returning by the same route as the first bridge is closed to all walkers
awaiting its winter overhaul (might happen, might not!)
This morning's walk is really under the two hours - we can daudle in the tunnel of
course - so we've booked lunch at The Spylaw, changed hands now but we have
lunched there before, for 12.15pm. This should give us enough time to return to
cars to change footwear etc. - we can then walk from there, under the bridge and
up steps into Spylaw Street. Of course some of you will have already viewed the
tunnel as it progressed from dank and dark brickwork to its well-lit gloriously vibrant
scenes of Colinton life, but I'm sure you won't mind another look.
Colinton residents may wish to meet us in the Bridge car park - please let Anne or I
know the previous evening and also if you will be joining us for lunch.
Meet at BBC prior to 10am Saturday 25th January, 2020
Boots or stout walking shoes advised
Anne Gordon - 441 1600 and Lindsey Fyfe - 664 6012
REPORT ON COLINTON & ENVIRONS WALK 25th January 2020 Leaders - Lyndsey Fyfe & Anne Gordon