Long distance
Cross Borders Drove Road
Follows ancient cattle-droving routes through the heart of the Scottish Borders hill country. Rolling moorland, hidden valleys and a genuine sense of stepping back in time. Best walked best south-to-north over 4 days. The full route covers 84 km (52 mi) with 2,000 m of climbing — a manageable mid-distance route.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 84 km/ 52 mi
- Typical days
- 4
- Total ascent
- 2000 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Start → Finish
- Hawick → Lauder
- Best direction
- South to North
- Water sources
- Peebles, Innerleithen, Traquair, Selkirk — all the Borders towns at either end have taps and shops. The middle moorland sections cross the Minch Moor and Three Brethren — burns are reliable but exposed. Carry 1.5L between Innerleithen and Selkirk.
- Mobile signal
- EE/Vodafone reliable in Peebles, Innerleithen, Traquair and Selkirk. The Minch Moor and Three Brethren high ground is out of signal. The route passes briefly through Glentress forest where signal recovers.
✔ Waymarked throughout
Approximate profile derived from per-stage ascent — accurate on total climb and pattern, not a pixel-precise GPX trace.
Our take
The Cross Borders Drove Road passes through some of the emptiest hill country in southern Scotland. The Cheviots and Lammermuirs have a bleak beauty that rewards solitude-seekers. Navigation is straightforward on the waymarked route but can be tricky if you stray. Hawick and Lauder are characterful Border towns worth exploring.
Highlights
- Hawick and the Borders textile heritage
- Craik Forest
- Ettrick Valley
- Lauderdale approach to Lauder
Day-by-day itinerary
A suggested 4-day schedule. Adjust to your fitness and conditions.
1Hawick to Roberton18km · 500m ascent
From the textile town of Hawick up into the Borders hills along ancient drove roads to the hamlet of Roberton in the Borthwick Water valley.
- Terrain
- Hill tracks, moorland paths, old drove roads. Steady climbing.
- Overnight
- Roberton has very limited B&Bs. Wild camping works well on the moors.
- Stats
- Hawick → Roberton · 18km · ↑500m
2Roberton to Traquair24km · 600m ascent
Over Craik Moor and through the forest to Traquair in the Tweed valley. The most remote section with big views across the empty Borders hills.
- Terrain
- Moorland tracks, forest roads, hill paths. Remote and exposed.
- Overnight
- Traquair has B&Bs. Innerleithen is 2km away with more options.
- Stats
- Roberton → Traquair · 24km · ↑600m
3Traquair to Lauder (via Galashiels)22km · 450m ascent
Through the Tweed valley past the Minch Moor ridge to Galashiels. Rolling farmland and panoramic views from the ridgeline.
- Terrain
- Ridge paths, farm tracks, descent into the Tweed valley.
- Overnight
- Galashiels has hotels and B&Bs. Good resupply point.
- Stats
- Traquair → Galashiels · 22km · ↑450m
4Galashiels to Lauder20km · 450m ascent
Over the Lauderdale hills on the final stretch of drove road to the Royal Burgh of Lauder. Open moorland and big skies to the finish.
- Terrain
- Hill paths, moorland tracks, descent to Lauderdale.
- Overnight
- Lauder has the Black Bull Hotel and B&Bs. A characterful Borders finish.
- Stats
- Galashiels → Lauder · 20km · ↑450m
Transport
To start (Hawick)
Bus · Borders Buses
Service X62 Edinburgh–Peebles–Galashiels (every 30 min) serves Peebles
Check times & book →
From finish (Lauder)
Bus · Lothian Country Buses
Service 44 from Edinburgh to Kirknewton
Harperrig itself is unserved (Little Vantage stop on A70 has no scheduled service — walkers typically use Kirknewton ~3 miles away).
Check times & book →
Best months
Accommodation
B&Bs at Hawick, Roberton and Lauder. Wild camping works well on the moorland sections. B&Bs in Hawick, Traquair (and nearby Innerleithen), Galashiels and Lauder; wild camping on the moorland sections is the obvious mid-route option in summer.
Resupply
Hawick has full shops. Very limited between Hawick and Lauder — carry 2 days of food. Co-op and Tesco at Hawick, Innerleithen, Galashiels and Lauder; longest gap is around 25km on the Roberton-to-Traquair stage — carry a packed lunch and snacks.
Connect with
Chain into a longer expedition by combining with adjacent long-distance routes.
Current conditions
Weather at the start point (Hawick)
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:28
- Sunset
- 21:55
- Civil dawn
- 03:29
- Civil dusk
- 22:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
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Getting to and from the Cross Borders Drove Road
Train and town anchors at each end of the route — on TripSCOT.