Things to do > Walking and hiking

Demainholm

From the car park, turn left up the track into the forest. After a short section of more mature trees, you soon enter the young plantation. These conifers will be cropped when they are 30/35 year sold so the planting is a long term investment.
Turn left on another clear track and cross a small burn. After climbing gently for a while, the track levels out and there are wide views across the valley and to the surrounding hills. The quarry on Greena Hill, ahead, is clearly seen. Bird life in the forest includes buzzards and short eared owls, which feed partly on the thriving population of voles found here. Where the yellow walk goes left on a rough path, keep ahead on the track. Pass a small pond where mallard ducks can sometimes be seen, and also dragonflies in summer, and reach the end of the track.
The walk goes straight ahead on a rough ride. It is worth persevering, but if you are uncertain about the going under foot you can simply retrace your steps from this point.
Keep going along the ride to reach a point overlooking a small burn. On its far side is a sturdy stone dyke, and beyond that a more mature plantation owned by the Forestry Commission. Turn left here and walk between the young and older trees. You reach an area of fine old trees, including venerable beeches and descend a rough bank to the left to walk through a grassy area with the Tinnis Water chuckling along on the right beyond the dyke.
This are is designated as a Ste of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of the old trees and general nature conservation of the site. It will therefore be maintained in its present state and carefully managed for conservation.
After about 300 metres a sign directs you left on to a rough track that climbs steeply. At the top of the slope it swings left and becomes grassy, running on for about 400 metres to return you to the main track. Turn right and walk back along the track to the car park, enjoying the wide views up the valley of Liddesdale.

Walk Details

Distance: 5km/3miles
Start/Finish: Demainholm Forest Car park on the west of the road 2km south of Newcastleton.
Terrain: Generally good paths. Rough and often wet section in the middle. Boots or strong shoes recommended.
Toilet: None on route, nearest in Demainholm
Notes: Demainholm is owned by Buccleuch Estates, and was planted in 1995, so the trees are still young. The estate has laid out two walks, one of which is described here. The walk is also still young and at the time of writing the central section was quite rough and undefined. However, it is well waymarked and is not difficult to follow. This section can also be wet underfoot after rain. For this walk, you are following orange markers.

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