Thieves Road, Hawick to Newcastleton Show path on map

Start location: Hawick ( NT 502 145 )

End location: Newcastleton ( NY 483 875 )

Geographical area: Lothian and Borders

Path type: Rural Path

Path distance: 30km

Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians

Route Description

Leave Hawick by the Howegate, heading generally southwards on the minor public road for 9km via Pilmuir and Dodburn to Dod (NT473059). Then go south uphill on a good track and along a forest ride and edge by the Thieves Road over Dod Rig and down to join the forest road, soon crossing Priesthaugh Burn. Follow this track for 800m to a quarried scree slope at NT474009 where, from the far top edge, a path climbs ESE to a ride which leads south to open ground beyond the gate on the watershed (NT473003). Continue down Swire Knowe by the Queen’s Mire to Braidliehope (ruin) and Hermitage Water. Then go uphill from Dinley, then southeast by Flowsware Rig, Thief Sike and west of Hartsgarth to Redheugh to reach Hermitage Bridge (Smiddy Brig, NY496896), from where it is 2.5km by road to Newcastleton (Copshaw Holm).

OS Landranger 79 (Hawick & Eskdale)

Heritage Information

Mary Queen of Scots used the Thieves Road in October 1566 to travel from Jedburgh to Hermitage Castle to see Bothwell who had been badly injured in a border skirmish. She rode there and back in a day, and there's a well-worn tale that the journey was that of a scandal-hit Queen visiting her lover. However, historians now tend to portray the visit as relating to advice necessary for governance of her realm. The placenames of Queen's Mire and Lady's Knowe may both relate to that journey - it is in the former that her horse is said to have stumbled, throwing the Queen and resulting in the loss of her watch.

It is not just not regal place names that have left their mark on modern maps. Thief Sike, Thiefsike Head and Thieveshole Sike likely relate to a more nefarious history, that of the reivers.

Gallery

NT474002 looking north towards a forest ride near Swire Knowe (2014). This is where the path from Braidlie, to the south, passes into the forest. © Douglas Law, Geograph

NY473996: Queen's Mire, looking north (2008). A shallow and slightly boggy col between Winterlair Hill and Swire Knowe to the north. © Callum Black, Geograph

NY474992 looking east from the line of the Thieves Road. The Barley Burn runs down a steeply sided valley, so is not visible in this view taken from the slopes of Winterlair Hill. The heather-clad Reedy Edge lies beyond. © Callum Black, Geograph

NY474987: no hope at Braidliehope (2007). A sad sight as the substantial house falls into rack and ruin. Probably now past repair as masonry is starting to collapse. The Crib Burn is behind looking up towards Cauldcleuch Head. © Adam Ward, Geograph

NY473977 Braidley Burn (2008). The track to Braidliehope crosses several fords at the junction of the Braidley Burn and the Tongue Burn. © Callum Black, Geograph

NY476970 Farm track, Old Braidlie (2007). Provides access to Braidliehope and is a popular route to Cauldcleuch Head and Greatmoor Hill. © Walter Baxter, Geograph

NY475971 looking ESE to Old Braidlie from the track (2007). © Walter Baxter, Geograph