Hardens-hill
Starting and finishing from the market town of Duns this long circular route starts and finishes in the parkland around the castle but takes you on forest paths and into the surrounding rolling hills for a close encounter with wind turbines. There are good views of the Cheviots and the Eildons and plenty of opportunity to spot wildlife, from the array of birds and maybe a squirrel in the reserve to pheasant, grouse, rabbits and hares on hills and maybe a deer in the forest. This is a long walk which can be easily be shortened if desired.
TERRAIN
Very varied with tarmaced roads and paths, woodland paths and tracks and open hillside, over rough and sometimes boggy ground. Short stretches can be boggy even when the weather has been dry.
STAGE 1---------Park in the car park in Duns opposite the police station on the A6105. From the parking area turn right along the road and then left onto the A6112 towards Preston; as the road bends left go ahead onto Castle Street, entering Duns Estate through the arch. Just beyond the cairn marking the 700th anniversary of the birth of John Duns Scotus, turn right onto a path. Continue on this around the Hen Poo loch, following the sign to turn left and go past the hide on the opposite shore. A little way after the hide take a right turn and walk up past a cottage. Continue on this track for about 2.2km, passing a sign for the squirrel hide. At a fingerpost take the track to the left, signed Black Hill 5.5km. Climb steadily up this track which turns left at the top; there are fine views back down to Duns Golf Course and to the Cheviots. Continue on the track which appears to head for the radio mast on Black Hill but then veers off down through a stretch of woodland to the Snuffy Hole Car Park. Just before the car park is reached there is a short offshoot that leads to a view point where a plaque announces that this is where Robert Burns first viewed Duns and the Merse in 1787. The Snuffy Hole car park is an alternative starting point from which it is possible to shorten the route leaving out the section through Duns Castle.STAGE 2----------Exit the car park onto the Longformacus Road, turning right and then almost immediately right again to cross a stile onto a farm track that leads up to the radio mast. On a clear day, looking back to the left, the distinctive shape of the Eildon hills can be picked out in the distance. Just beyond the mast go through a gate and then turn left and walk along the line of the raised earth bank. This grassy track can be very boggy. Pass through a gate - frequently waterlogged. As the wind turbines are approached drop down to the access road, staying this side of the mast numbered 22. Join the access road and follow it up the hill passing turbine 21 and 20 on the way. At a cattle grid, do not cross, instead turning right and following the fence up to the corner and through a gate. There is another raised bank behind an electric fence wire. Follow the line of the bank down to the end of the field where there are 2 gates. Pass through either, then heading over to the access track and across a cattle grid. Turn right and follow the fence line. At the end cross a stile and continue in the same direction as before with the fence now on your left. Cross another stile and again continue, now with the fence on your right. You will pass Commonside, the ruin of a house on your left. Carrying on you will reach another stile; the Southern Upland Way now joins from the left.STAGE 3---------Follow the Southern Upland Way as it passes through a gate, heading for a finger post in the field beyond. At this point you could shortcut by following the sign for Burnhouses off to the right and dropping down with the Burnhouses Dean Wood on your right to join a later part of this route on the track to Kidshielhaugh. For the full route, remain on the Southern Upland Way, dropping down and passing through a gate before meeting the B6355. Here there is another chance for a short cut by following the main road until it rejoins the route where it leaves the road at Kidshielhaugh. For the full route, turn left onto the road and then leave the road shortly afterward on the right, still following the Southern Upland Way. The track climbs uphill to reach a fingerpost; continue to the corner of Hen Toe Burn Wood. Enter the wood through a gate at the top of the field. Keep a look out and you may be lucky to catch a glimpse of deer. Follow the woodland path until it is crossed by a much wider track; turn right here and follow the track all the way to the end of the wood where it meets the road.STAGE 4----------Turn right onto the road. The hill on your left is Cockburn Law - a fine viewpoint - though best left for another day. Follow the road as it rises and falls until reaching the turn off for Windshiel farm on the right. Take this turning and carry on down past some houses at Oatleycleugh, where there are chickens and ducks, and continue down to Windshiel Farm. Turn left and pass up through the farm to the rejoin the B6355. Turn left and follow the road down to the sign for Kidshielhaugh and The Brambles. Ignore a signed footpath which doubles back on the right, and continue 100m further before turning right down a track towards Kidsheilhaugh. Follow this - after 800m it crosses a stream, and about 100m beyond turn sharp left. At the top of the track pass through the gate and across the field, passing through another gate. Turn uphill and at the top follow the field margin round to the left until you come to a gate on your right. Pass through this gate and turn left, following the field margin which runs initially along the side of a wooded area. Where the fence turns left, around the wood and heads downhill, look across the field in the direction you have been walking and you will see a gate that leads out onto a track. Head around the field margin to reach this gate, ignoring all others. Go through the gate and turn right onto the track, heading up away from Burnhouses. Pass through another gate at the top of the rise and continue on the track which descends and heads through another gate.STAGE 5----------Cross the road and continue downhill on the track. At the bottom turn left (Duns paths marker post) up into the field. Walk round the field edges with blossom trees on your left until the cornerd. Carry on in the field margin for a little way alongside the edge of Birkenside Dean and you will see more Duns path markers indicating the way into the wood. Follow the path through the wood and continue through two hunt gates. Continue, keeping the wood on your left until another gate. Beyond this gate you can see Plendernethy Hill that rises to 278m. Following another marker post cross the bridge over the burn and go left up the track to reach the fence at the field margin. Climb up with the fence on your left until you reach a gate into the next field. The usual route passes through this gate and continues on up the field margin to pass through another at the top of the field - However at the time of writing there were notices posted to prohibit entry to that field and a short diversion followed a track through the wood towards Castle Mains. There is a junction off the track on the right which takes you through a gate and back to the normal route avoiding the field in question, which remains in view throughout the 'diversion'.STAGE 6Climb up to the top corner of the field and towards Jeanie's Wood. Pass through a gate into the wood and continue to a Duns paths marker. Turn left here and then left again to follow the track that descends back down towards Duns Castle. After some time you will come across the fingerpost that directed you early in the day towards Black Hill. At this point carry straight ahead, retracing your steps down past the squirrel hide to reach a sign post which points to the left and to Colonel's Walk. For a little variety take a left here and shortly afterwards you will come to another sign pointing left along a narrower wooded track (this sign also says Colonel's Walk on the reverse side). Follow this turn, running down and following the stream. At a raised bench the track descends to cross a footbridge over the burn. Turn right on the far side to follow the track to a junction. Turn right, signed for the Mill Dam. Pass the dam - a good spot to sit awhile at one of the benches to rest your feet. Continue up the track taking the left turn when it reaches the Hen Poo and retracing your original steps back to the start. If you still have the energy and inclination, just before leaving the castle grounds there is a path on your left up into some woods which makes the short ascent to the top of Duns Law. This modest hill gives good views over Duns and to the Cheviots. Once you have enjoyed the views simply retrace your steps back to the start.
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