Hawick - Kielder walk (disused former Waverley Line)

[yorkie]

Looking at online maps, it appears some of the Waverley Line is walkable in Hawick itself.

It also appears that much of the trackbed could be walkable from just south of Hawick, towards Riccarton Junction with some obstructions but it looks like these can be by-passed.

From Riccarton Junction it is more clear that the walk to Kielder is possible, and heading the other way it looks to be possible to walk a bit more of the Waverley Line for a short distance too.

Has anyone attempted to walk any of this and does anyone know how much of the route in this area is accessible?

This snippet suggests the path from Shankend viaduct to Whitrope Heritage centre can be cycled, so walking should be no issue on that stretch:

The Waverly line ride

A cycle ride from Edinburgh to Carlisle on the Waverley line.

www.ramblingfatman.co.uk

I rejoined the trackbed at Shankend viaduct which raised the elevation to 1000 feet. On the descent I slam the brakes on to view the Whitrope railway heritage centre

And this page suggests Whitrope sidings to Riccarton Jn should be no issue:

Riccarton Junction Walking Route

This walking route is along the Waverley Line to the abandoned railway siding and village at Riccarton. Small detours to Will's Bothy and viewpoint beyond Whitr

www.townof1000trails.co.uk

Riccarton Junction was a railway village and station located 11 miles south of Hawick. In its heyday it had 118 residents and its own school, post office and grocery store. This walking route is along the Waverley Line to the abandoned railway siding and village at Riccarton. Small detours to Will's Bothy and viewpoint beyond Whitrope Heritage Centre well worth the effort.

And finally I have a book which promotes Riccarton Jn to Keswick as a viable walking route.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[bramling]

Looking at online maps, it appears some of the Waverley Line is walkable in Hawick itself.

It also appears that much of the trackbed could be walkable from just south of Hawick, towards Riccarton Junction with some obstructions but it looks like these can be by-passed.

From Riccarton Junction it is more clear that the walk to Kielder is possible, and heading the other way it looks to be possible to walk a bit more of the Waverley Line for a short distance too.

Has anyone attempted to walk any of this and does anyone know how much of the route in this area is accessible?

This snippet suggests the path from Shankend viaduct to Whitrope Heritage centre can be cycled, so walking should be no issue on that stretch:

The Waverly line ride

A cycle ride from Edinburgh to Carlisle on the Waverley line.

www.ramblingfatman.co.uk

And this page suggests Whitrope sidings to Riccarton Jn should be no issue:

Riccarton Junction Walking Route

This walking route is along the Waverley Line to the abandoned railway siding and village at Riccarton. Small detours to Will's Bothy and viewpoint beyond Whitr

www.townof1000trails.co.uk

And finally I have a book which promotes Riccarton Jn to Keswick as a viable walking route.

Many thanks in advance.

From what I gather, Saughtree to Kielder Village is walkable. We visited the disused station at Deadwater last month, and the trackbed towards Kielder is a forest track, and the trackbed towards Saughtree is marked as a permissive path. I queried all this with a local who said it was possible to walk both sections right through to Kielder and Saughtree respectively.

I would add the rider that we didn’t actually do it, so can’t confirm first-hand. My impression is there is some desire to keep it as a low-key walk to preserve the tranquility of the area, which seems fair enough to me.

 

[Kez]

I am sure that I recently stumbled on a blog which described walking the whole route divided into sections ... but obviously I can't find it now. I don't know if you found this one.

ERIC HALL THE WAVERLEY LINE RICCARTON JUNCTION TO WHITROPE TUNNEL

Scottish Borders Walking the Waverley Line Riccarton Junction to Whitrope Tunnel

www.erichall.eu

I'll keep looking.

On the subject of accessibility, remember Scotland has the right to roam on the statute books ; so all of the Scottish bits are accessible in that sense (I think) - so, hopefully, there should be no 'Gerrof my laaand'.

ON EDIT : I say that not in a patronising way but is something that even after 20 years, it is difficult to get used to the concept.

 

[yorkie]

Thanks. It certainly looks like at least some or even most of it is walkable; hopefully we can find out which parts aren't before we do the walk, so we don't hit too many dead ends and have to double back.

We'll be looking to do this some time in 2022.