After a thoroughly enjoyable weekend in Aberdeenshire, including walks up Green Hill and around Castle Fraser, we now headed back home. Before we reached home, however, we popped in to see our friends Andy and Sylvia in Hawick. Then having spent the evening there, the following morning we went for a little local walk to the nearby Williestruther Loch.

Andy and Sylvia live in the West End of Hawick, or to be more precise, the south-western part of the town. So, we began by walking up Haggis Ha’ Brae, before turning off on to the track on the southern edge of Hawick Golf Club.  

After leaving the track, we crossed the golf course up to Vertish Hill.

Then made our way down another track down past St Leonard’s hut. This is from where the annual Hawick Common Riding takes place. Hawick Common Riding celebrates the capture of an English flag in 1514 – shortly after the Battle of Flodden – by the youth of the town at Hornshole. It also marks the ancient custom of riding the marches, or boundaries, on the common land.

In recent years it has been the subject to accusations of sexism and intimidation. A traditionally male dominated event, it is only recently women have been ‘welcome’ participants of the festival.

Continuing down the lane, we arrived at Williestruther Loch.

Williestruther (“struther” is old Scots for marsh), is situated on Hawick’s Common Good land. It forms part of Pilmuir Farm. 

The loch started its life as little more than a bog before being dammed in the early 19th century in order to provide water to the mills on the Slitrig River.

The walk around Williestruther Loch was officially opened in 2015.

After leaving the loch, we headed back up the lane again.

On our way back we passed old Hawick Curling Club pond. The site ‘Hawick Moss’, had provided the people of the town with peat for centuries. However, the club moved on to the site in 1866, but abandoned it in 1890 when a new pond was opened at Crowbyres, below Hardie’s Hill.

That said, the pond remained in use for skating and ice hockey up to the 1960s.

At the end of the lane we rejoined Haggis Ha’ Brae, and walked back down the lane.

We had walked nearly 4 miles and enjoyed some lovely scenery along the way.

You can view our Williestruther Loch Walk below: