Old Biggar Road (Roman Road)

Old Biggar Road (Roman Road) Show path on map

Start location: Nine Mile Burn, northeast of Carlops ( NT 177 577 )

End location: Garvald Road, Dolphinton ( NT 109 479 )

Geographical area:

Path type: ,

Path distance: 12.7km

Accessibility info:

Route Description

From Nine Mile Burn (NT177577) head southeast towards Wanton Wa’s, then follow the track on the north side of the A702 into Carlops. Pass through the village, south of which at NT160554 proceed southwest by Hartside and Linton Muir for 2½km to join a metalled road near Stonypath (NT145534). Fork left there (signposted to West Linton), then fork right (i.e. don’t take The Loan to West Linton) at NT143530. After crossing the Lyne Water at Lynedale House, turn left (briefly coinciding with the route which leads to the Cauldstane Slap) then right to pass by West Linton Golf Course. Where the road swings right (the Old Lanark Road) at NT138517, instead go straight ahead (i.e. continue southwest) on a path which crosses the West Water via an old bridge, then continues by Hardgatehead and Ingraston to rejoin the A702, 1km from Dolphinton.

OS Landranger 72 (Upper Clyde Valley)

Heritage Information

This route follows a section of the Old Biggar Road from Nine Mile Burn (so named because it was nine miles from Edinburgh) to Dolphinton. Until the road now known as the A702 was constructed in 1831, this was part of the main road from Edinburgh to Biggar.

The West Water bridge (NT135514) is said to have been originally constructed in the 17th century. An old coaching inn is thought to be represented by the ruins between the bridge and the golf course.

Although there are slight diversions, the Old Biggar Road pretty much follows the course of a Roman road, and indeed is locally known as the Roman Road. This earlier road is said to have been constructed in 140AD and it connected Clydesdale with the Forth at Cramond. However, we've also read that the road was built earlier than that, circa 80AD by the Legion of Agricola - the Heritage Paths project would very much welcome any clarification regarding this.

Part of the Old Biggar Road has been incorporated into the Friends of the Pentlands (FotP) waymarked Pentland Way from Dunsyre to Swanston. FotP produce a free Pentland Hills map which includes this old route, available locally or downloadable online.

Gallery

NT135514: the old bridge over the West Water, said to have been originally constructed in the 17th century. The track swings leftwards to cross the bridge before returning to its straight Roman course past West Linton and on to Carlops. © Jim Barton, Geograph NT135514: the old bridge over the West Water, said to have been originally constructed in the 17th century. The track swings leftwards to cross the bridge before returning to its straight Roman course past West Linton and on to Carlops. © Jim Barton, Geograph
NT175575 looking NE along the now quiet back road from Carlops (2012). It crosses Monks Burn at the hamlet of Nine Mile Burn (also written as Ninemileburn), taking its name from the nine Scots mile distance from Edinburgh, about 10 statute miles. © Jim Barton, Geograph NT175575 looking NE along the now quiet back road from Carlops (2012). It crosses Monks Burn at the hamlet of Nine Mile Burn (also written as Ninemileburn), taking its name from the nine Scots mile distance from Edinburgh, about 10 statute miles. © Jim Barton, Geograph
NT174573: A sign at the foot of the track to Spittal farm at the junction with the old road between Nine Mile Burn and Carlops (2012). © Jim Barton, Geograph NT174573: A sign at the foot of the track to Spittal farm at the junction with the old road between Nine Mile Burn and Carlops (2012). © Jim Barton, Geograph
NT173573 looking SW along the old Roman Road, heading towards Carlops, West Linton, Dolphinton and Biggar (2015). © Anthony O'Neil, Geograph NT173573 looking SW along the old Roman Road, heading towards Carlops, West Linton, Dolphinton and Biggar (2015). © Anthony O'Neil, Geograph
NT163563 looking SSW along the path to Carlops (2014). The old road from Ninemileburn turns into this footpath that joins the A702 just north of the village. © Jim Barton, Geograph NT163563 looking SSW along the path to Carlops (2014). The old road from Ninemileburn turns into this footpath that joins the A702 just north of the village. © Jim Barton, Geograph
NT150543 view to the Pentlands looking NNE from Fairslacks. The unusual name is said to derive from a catch-phrase of the owner of the smithy which once stood here who, when asked how business was doing, was wont to exclaim 'Fair slack, fair slack'. © Anthony O'Neil, Geograph NT150543 view to the Pentlands looking NNE from Fairslacks. The unusual name is said to derive from a catch-phrase of the owner of the smithy which once stood here who, when asked how business was doing, was wont to exclaim 'Fair slack, fair slack'. © Anthony O'Neil, Geograph

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