Walk 3612 - printer friendly version

Ettrick Hills Horseshoe Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.0 miles / 13 km

Ascent - 1700 feet / 515 metres

Grade - mod/hard

Start - OS grid reference NT189093
Lat 55.3709650 + Long -3.2811935
Postcode TD7 5JD (approx. location only)

This walk in the Southern Uplands of Scotland explores a wild area of hills lying northeast of Moffat. The route covers several summits including Bodesbeck Law (665 m.), White Shank (662 m.), Smidhope Hill (644 m.) and Capel Fell (678 m.) so you can expect some re-ascents during the walk. The route has sections where paths are feint so a good sense of direction in this complex landscape is essential. However, from Bodesbeck Law to the final decent you do have a stone wall to help with navigation. Despite this the walk should not be completed when low cloud covers the summits. You can also expect to encounter some wet ground during the walk.

The start can be reached along a minor road leaving the B709 at Ettrick. Continue until you reach the end of the tarmac road at a large turning circle (grid ref. NT189093). Go through the gate (signed Ettrick Horseshoe) and walk half right on a clear rising track. Keep straight ahead at the first junction after 400 metres (grid ref. NT186095) and continue climbing. The track continues through the forest and reaches open ground. Go left along the fence to cross a stile by a gate. Follow grassy track uphill onto the flank of Bught Hill. When the track ends bear left and head west along an often soft and indistinct path which leads to a wall. Cross the wall and head to the summit of Bodesbeck Law (grid ref. NT169104). The view from summit is excellent and you can also assess the onward route south.

From Bodesbeck Law head south towards the wall (on your left) and continue alongside it down to a rather wet col. Cross the track and start an ascent again with the wall on your left. The wall bears right and then left to reach the top of Faulside Hill. A short descent to another col with a slightly steeped ascent onto White Shank. Continue following the wall (on your left) over a col to reach Smidhope Hill after a steep ascent. Continue down the narrow ridge keeping the wall on your left. Go through the gate in the col and complete the steep ascent onto Capel Fell. This is the highest summit of the walk and it is worth taking in the view across the wonderful landscape from this vantage point.

Follow the fence down to a gate and follow fence downhill with dramatic Rae Grain on your right. The path descends steeply to a col (grid ref. NT172064) and the Southern Upland Way. Turn left over stile by a gate and head towards the forest. Descend through woods with a stream on your right. You soon join a track (grid ref. NT174067). Turn right and follow the Southern Upland Way. The route leaves the forest with the track running along the edge of forest on your right with Ettrick Water on your left. The track veers left to Over Phawhope. The track bends left and then crosses Ettrick Water soon veering right. Continue to Potburn (grid ref. NT183088). Continue along the Southern Upland Way back to the start.

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