Dun Rig and the Glen Sax Circuit

The end of Glen Road by Peebles

The historic burgh town of Peebles sits in the heart of the Borders, around 30km south of Edinburgh. The River Tweed heads eastwards through the town, with the town centre and main roads on the northern bank.

On the southern bank, just east of the bridge over the River Tweed, Springhill Road heads south-east from the B7062. Follow this road uphill, as it changes name to Glen Road and comes to an end by the entrance to Haystoun Estate.

A layby close to the road end has enough parking space for around 5 vehicles.

Split in the track below Craig Head

On tarmac, leave the parking area behind and head south-east into woodland on the well sign-posted old Cross Borders Drove Road. In the woodland, the track crosses the Haystoun Burn via a footbridge , then begins a climb uphill aside a wall. Through a gate, woodland is gradually left behind. A little further on and just beyond another gate, the Drove Road comes to a junction with the Drove Road heading left and a well worn path heading right by the wall - either direction will do, though the right fork will most likely be favoured as it leads over Craig Head and therefore gives better views.

Beyond Craig Head, the path and track merge and once through another gate, this is followed for the next 2km to meet with the edge of some forestry and onto Kirkhope Law . On this minor summit stands a cairn by the side of the track and accompanying fence-line.

The fence-line and drove road turn south-west and are followed for another 1km to reach yet another gate , where the drove road heads of south-east. Keeping to the fence-line, and now on a trod through grass, begin up the slope of Birkscairn Hill. The trod becomes a more obvious track and the hill's summit is reached on which stands a rather large and untidy cairn.

Dun Rig from Birkscairn Hill

Dun Rig from Birkscairn Hill

On Dun Rig, looking to Glenrath Heights

From Dun Rig's trig point, initially follow the fence-line aiming south-west. Underfoot becomes more boggy and before long the faint path disappears into peat-hags. The fence-line, now travelling south-north, is met again , crossed over to its western side, where a worn line of ATV tracks are picked up and followed down to the bealach of Glenrath Heights.

Continue following the tracks and fence-line uphill to the minor summit of Middle Hill , simply marked by a boulder by a turn in the fence-line.

Glenrath Heights leading to Middle Hill

Glenrath Heights leading to Middle Hill

Remains of the track descending Huddleshope Heights

Standing by the trig point on Huddleshope Heights, look north-east and you can make out three parallel lines of grass-clumps heading downhill through an otherwise heather clad hillside (see pic) - these are the remains of an old track, still marked on the OS Landranger maps, but not on the OS Explorer maps. Follow these lines of grass downhill and gradually a path forms which in turn meets with a track to follow over Dead Side.

Further on and after losing some height, a junction in the track is met - either direction will do - I headed north to drop into Glen Sax by the patch of forestry above the farm buildings of Upper Newby.

Last descent of the route, looking up to Craigs Head

Last descent of the route, looking up to Craigs Head

Uphill on the Gypsy Glen Hill Race

Taking place each year in May, the Gypsy Glen Hill Race has a little bit of everything - some road, grassy tracks, heather trods and a few steep rock and boulder sections.

From a grassy area close to the River Tweed, the race route travels up onto Glen Road to follow to its end, then follows the route described above.

Upon reaching the split in the Cross Borders Drove Road , the path is followed aside the fence up and over Craig Head to the meet with the Drove Road again . Runners are then directed northwards back onto the Drove Road to run around Craig's Head, then return back towards the town.

Gypsy Glen Hill Race descent back to the woods

Gypsy Glen Hill Race descent back to the woods