Long distance
Cross Borders Drove Road
Follows the main route the drovers took south from the Falkirk and Crieff trysts — from Little Vantage on the A70 over the Pentlands by the Cauldstane Slap to West Linton, through Peebles and the Tweed valley to Traquair, over the Minch Moor to Yarrowford and on to Hawick. Best walked north-to-south over 4 days. The full route covers 82 km (51 mi) with 2,165 m of climbing.
Quick facts
- Distance
- 82 km/ 51 mi
- Typical days
- 4
- Total ascent
- 2165 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Start → Finish
- Little Vantage (near Harperrig Reservoir) → Hawick
- Best direction
- North to South
- Water sources
- Refill in West Linton, Peebles, Traquair and Hawick. The Pentland crossing on day one and the Minch Moor on day four have no taps — carry enough, and treat any burn water.
- Mobile signal
- Signal is reliable in West Linton, Peebles and Hawick. Expect gaps on the Pentland crossing and over the Minch Moor.
✔ Waymarked throughout
Approximate profile derived from per-stage ascent — accurate on total climb and pattern, not a pixel-precise GPX trace.
Our take
This is the old cattle road south, and in places you still walk between the parallel dykes built to stop the herds straying — between Peebles and Kirkhope Law most obviously. It starts boggy (the stretch from Harperrig Reservoir to the Cauldstane Slap on the west of the Pentlands), finds hidden glens like the Fingland Burn above West Linton, and asks real work twice: the climb out of Peebles by Gypsy Glen, and the Minch Moor from Traquair or Yarrowford. Waymarking is generally good, but the route crosses a lot of other local paths and is not waymarked through Peebles, where it runs on tarmac — carry a map.
Highlights
- The Cauldstane Slap over the Pentland Hills
- Fingland Burn, a hidden valley between West Linton and Peebles
- Walking between the drovers' parallel dykes between Peebles and Kirkhope Law
- The Minch Moor between Traquair and Yarrowford
Day-by-day itinerary
A suggested 4-day schedule. Adjust to your fitness and conditions.
1Little Vantage to West Linton
From the A70 near Harperrig Reservoir up over the west of the Pentland Hills by the Cauldstane Slap and down to West Linton.
- Terrain
- Hill path; some boggy sections between Harperrig Reservoir and the Cauldstane Slap. Less horse-friendly than the rest of the route.
- Overnight
- West Linton has accommodation.
- Stats
- Little Vantage → West Linton
2West Linton to Peebles
Through hidden glens such as the Fingland Burn into the Tweed valley and Peebles.
- Terrain
- Tracks and informal paths over rolling hills. The route through Peebles is not waymarked and is on tarmac road.
- Overnight
- Peebles has plenty of hotels and B&Bs.
- Stats
- West Linton → Peebles
3Peebles to Traquair
A hard climb out of Peebles by Gypsy Glen, then along the old drove road between parallel dykes by Kirkhope Law and down to Traquair.
- Terrain
- Steep climb, hill tracks, moorland.
- Overnight
- Traquair has accommodation; Innerleithen nearby has more.
- Stats
- Peebles → Traquair
4Traquair to Hawick
Over the Minch Moor to Yarrowford, then south to Hawick. A long final day — Yarrowford is the place to split it if you want five days.
- Terrain
- Hill tracks, forest and moorland.
- Overnight
- Yarrowford and Selkirk have accommodation mid-way; Hawick has hotels and B&Bs.
- Stats
- Traquair → Hawick
Transport
To start (Little Vantage (near Harperrig Reservoir))
Bus · Local bus services
No scheduled service to Little Vantage is listed — check Traveline Scotland for buses along the A70, or arrange a taxi
Scotland's Great Trails lists regular buses to West Linton, Peebles, Innerleithen and Hawick, which are useful for walking the route in sections.
Check times & book →
From finish (Hawick)
Bus · Local bus services
Regular bus services from Hawick (SGT, read 2026-10-27) — check Traveline Scotland for current routes
Check times & book →
Best months
Accommodation
Walkers can choose from accommodation in West Linton, Peebles, Traquair, Innerleithen, Yarrowford, Selkirk and Hawick. There is nothing at Little Vantage itself, which is a roadside start on the A70. Horse-and-rider accommodation is listed by SGT at Dunsyre, Peebles, Innerleithen, Ettrickbridge, Shirk and Hawick.
Night-by-night guide: where to stay →Resupply
Shops in West Linton, Peebles, Innerleithen and Hawick. Carry the first day's food with you, and a packed lunch for the Minch Moor section south of Traquair.
Connect with
Chain into a longer expedition by combining with adjacent long-distance routes.
Cross Borders Drove Road + Southern Upland Way
Listed by SGT as a linked trail; both cross the Minch Moor from Traquair
Combine the two through the Tweed valley for a longer Borders trip.
Cross Borders Drove Road + Borders Abbeys Way
Listed by SGT as a linked trail; both pass through Hawick
Finish the drove road in Hawick and pick up the Borders Abbeys Way circuit there.
Current conditions
Weather at the start point (Little Vantage (near Harperrig Reservoir))
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 07:11
- Sunset
- 16:44
- Civil dawn
- 06:32
- Civil dusk
- 17:23
NOAA Solar Calculator · 28 October 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.