Scottish Borders Council

I wrote to the Council asking about the rights to use railway tracks and got a very friendly and helpful e-mail from a ranger there. I appears that the state of the tracks is not completely clear, some are designated as what they call "core paths" and others are not yet designated. On the Borders Council web site is this description.

What are Core Paths?

The majority are off-road, though some may be pavements or reached by quiet roads. These paths vary in type and quality. Natural grassy swards, trodden paths or high-specification constructed paths - a choice that satisfies needs for all users and all abilities.

Above all, Core Paths should be fit for purpose. The Council will endeavour to assist with this duty by signposting Core Paths and assisting with routine maintenance over the coming two years.


He also sent me instructions and a link to access the maps of the Borders showing these paths which I think are essential viewing for walkers and the public interested in walking in the Borders. I reproduce it below and wish to thank the ranger and the Council for the help. Its nice to find our public servants are doiugn good work and friendly and communicative.

1.Go to Maps
2.Click on ‘LocalView’
3.Click on ‘On the Map’
4.Click on ‘View map layers’
5.Scroll down to find ‘core paths’ or ‘wider path network’ and select
6.Click on ‘ Display on map’
7.Click on ‘Zoom to location’
8.Select area from drop down list
9.Click ‘Zoom to area’



You can zoom in or out using the + and – buttons or move around the map by clicking on the hand symbol and dragging the map, click on ‘Map help’ for further instructions.

Join the Mission

This is not my fight, I'm not Scottish by birth (although distantly related to the Buccleughs), but I love walking, and I think the old railway lines should be ideal for walkers and particularly the disabled as they are basically flat. Please join me if you are a walker who knows these routes or anyone with an interest in preserving the finest industrial heritage in the Borders. Send me your details and I will acknowledge all contributors and bless you for helping. If you have pictures of Borders railway walks, bridges, stations or anything send them and I will publsih.

Leaderfoot Railway Bridge

All over the Scottish Borders there are miles of old railway tracks. Some of them like this stunning bridge at Leaderfoot on the A68 are world class views and incredible industrial archeology. This is not unique, there are a lot of bridges and viaducts, tunnels and walks, with views to knock your socks off.
This web site is devoted to exploring the railway tracks, documenting the history of these unique places, and giving detailed guides on the walks, with maps and directions. Not all are so easy to find or so well sign posted as this splendid example of 19th Century bridge building. This bridge crosses the Tweed, the most important river in the Borders. It crosses it at the point the Leader a smaller river joins the flow of the Tweed, hence the name Leaderfoot. The Leader runs through Earlston, famous for Thomas the Rhymer whose predictions have proved more accurate than those of Nostradamus. Thomas as legend has it fell in love with an Elvish Princess and was taken beneath the Eildon Hills for seven years. When he came back he was put under a spell, and could only talk in rhymes of the wonders he saw.
Well there is no spell on this web site and we intend to tell all.