Old Road to Duns Show path on map

Start location: Ellemford ( NT 727 601 )

End location: public road, near Monument on Peat Law ( NT 694 643 )

Geographical area: Lothian and Borders

Path type: Rural Path

Path distance: 5.5km

Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians

Route Description

Our survey follows this old route away from Duns:
Near Ellemford Bridge, a signpost at NT727601 states Harehead 4 miles. The track heads uphill and in a short distance, where it forks, take the right hand route and continue up the hill. The first section of this right of way has been up-graded to become a timber extraction road and is in very good condition until NT711623 where the extraction road turns right to the northeast. Here, walk straight on, leaving the extraction road on the right, through the gate and up a gentle hill, staying west of the forestry. There are some boggy patches in this section of open grazing until reaching the gate at NT703630, but the track remains clear to see. The gate leads into a 20m wide strip of rough ground with no visible path which runs down the southwest side of a narrow strip of forestry to another gate at NT700631 with views across open countryside and down to Harehead Farm. The track follows the east side of the field fence down to where it joins the signposted track coming up from Harehead Farm. Here, at NT699634, there is a choice to drop down to Harehead or to continue northeast following the fence line to gain open moorland and the public road near the monument on Peat Law.

This old route is included on the Paths In and Around the Lammermuirs map leaflet – available from ScotWays, either digitally or in hard copy.

OS Landranger 67 (Duns, Dunbar & Eyemouth)

Last surveyed August 2026.

Heritage Information

This old road can be seen clearly on the Ordnance Survey first edition 6" maps and is marked as a more significant route than nearby footpaths. However, placename evidence indicates it may be far older, as it passes over Kirkgate Hill heading towards the now skant remains of Ellem Church, north of Ellemford Bridge. Thought to date to the thirteenth century, the church is said to have fallen out of use in the early eighteenth century.