Best walks from Stow

Gorebridge Station to Stow Station

lovely blooming heather in early Sept. A long, quiet route through typical rolling Borders farmland: following the railway or river at first, then almost entirely on roads and well-made tracks, with grazed fields, a young plantation and stretches that sneak into heather moorland near the end. Exposed in places. There are no services along the route. Gorebridge has a Morrisons Daily; Stow has a small store, the Cloudhouse cafe/gallery and a cafe/restaurant at the station (check opening hours). The two stations are only about 18 minutes apart by train.

Tough: 30km, steep ascents.

Very exposed on a hot or windy day. The road from Tynehead to the Cowbraehill turnoff is fast with narrow verges. Cows graze some open fields the route crosses. A short section between Hangingshaw and Crookston Mains has no obvious path and could be tricky in cloud.

Lunch: No services along the route; stock up before setting off.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Stow Station to Galashiels Station

Tough: steep ascents. 12km.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route