St. Mary's Loch Circular

Scottish Borders Walk

Maps

Walk Route Description

This walk in the Scottish Borders provides a pleasant half day circuit around St Mary's Loch which lies beside the A708 midway between Moffat and Selkirk. The loch is largest natural loch in Southern Scotland and was originally much larger with the Loch of the Lowes once an integral part of a single loch. The loch lies in a beautiful location surrounded by hills. The outward route follows a section of the Southern Upland Way before crossing to the north side of the loch for a return via St. Mary's churchyard.

The start is the parking area (grid ref. NT238204) at the southern end of the loch near Tibbie Shiels Inn and close to the James Hogg Monument. After parking walk briefly north beside the A708 and take the first tarmac lane on the right. Cross the bridge and continue through the Tibbie Shiels Inn carpark to join the Southern Upland Way which is followed for four kilometres to the eastern end of the loch.

Reaching the parking area at the end of the loch, cross the bridge over Yarrow Water and turn left. The route briefly follows the loch shore before turning right beside a stone wall back to the A708. Turn left and almost immediately cross the road with care to a stile with a fingerpost. You are following a drove road which runs above and roughly parallel to the A708. After about a kilometre you will reach a signpost pointing uphill to the right. Follow this path up to St, Mary's Kirkyard from where there is an excellent view.

Continue back down to the drove road and turn right (west) to follow the grassy track through to the small settlement of Cappercleuch where the path re-joins the A708. Turn right and follow the grass verge beside the A708 back to the start.

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