Windlestrae
Windlestraw Law (known by locals simply as Windlestrae) is the highest point within the parish of Innerleithen. The trig on top of the hill sits at 659 metres so we aren’t talking Ben Nevis here, however it is our Ben Nevis in Innerleithen so it’s worth poking about it a bit to see what stories we might be able to find!
The hill is the highest point in the Moorfoot Hills, that boggy, rounded group of hills which act as a frontier between the Southern Uplands and the lowlands of central Scotland. These hills huddle together, presumably for warmth, and are heavily managed for Forestry, livestock farming, Renewables and Shooting Estates. It may be quite wild looking but this is a managed, working environment and, with the exception of some hidden cleuchs, not a place for lovers of native woodlands. The range is roughly diamond shaped, being bound by the Tweed Valley and A72 to the south, the A703 and Eddleston Water to the West, Midlothian to the North and Gala Water & the A7 to the East. Only two public roads dissect the range, the B709 running from Innerleithen to Heriot and the B7007 from Middleton to Garvald. Both these roads are known interchangeably as ‘The Granites’ but to be accurate it’s only the latter road which should adopt the name, passing as it does a rare granite intrusion to the native greywhacke stone, which has been quarried on the escarpment of Torfichen Hill, just inside Midlothian.
Windlestrae stands at the Eastern side of the B709 and can be hiked from all sides, though the majority of ascents will be undertaken from the South and West. The ‘baggers’ route (for it does sit on various hill lists) is to abandon your car near Blackhope Byers and begin the long pull up from the roadside. Much of this is on Land Rover tracks and it is the quickest way to the top. Many determined hikers will double up with Whitehope Law across the valley, as the reports on the Walk Highlands website attest to. The more traditional route from Innerleithen is a fine high level trod over Kirnie Law, Priesthope and Glede Knowe before the twin summit of Windlestrae is achieved. Slightly frustratingly the second summit, which houses the trig point and is the high point by 2 metres, is a kilometre or two out and back hike to get to, over occasionally very soggy ground. The views are slightly out of kilter with the hills relatively high height - the size of the rounded summit robbing a lot of distance, especially to the North. Still, to the south the Eildon Hill and Cheviots are prominent. If I’ve not sold the summit very well then it’s with good reason, it isn’t the most interesting part of the hike!
I’ve always had a romantic view of hikes up Windlestrae - a tougher and rarer proposition than Lee Pen or Minch Moor, Innerleithen’s other main hills. I think a lot of this comes from my dads tales of days gone by when a squad of Innerleithen men, including many of my family, would go up Windlestrae armed with a bottle or two of sherry to see off the cold and accompanied by dogs in need of tiring out. Back then Caberston Forest was in its infancy so more direct routes could be plotted through what now is thick trees. Alas, my father has confessed that the sherry bottles may not have all been recycled and there is a decent chance someone digging a mountain bike trail may uncover a cache of 40 year old Co-Op Oloroso Sherry bottles! Before we judge too much we should consider if the energy drink cans that often litter the same hill today are any better or worse….
Anyone who has made it to the top of Windlestrae has a few options to come down. My favoured route would always be to branch off towards Scawd Law and Cairn Hill on a broad, easy going ridge. In years to come this will be sight of a new windfarm, which will hopefully bring employment and income to the area. I favour this route as not only does it give the walk a loop via Walkerburn, but you also get great views into the upper reaches of the Walker Burn valley, including the small set of falls at its head. The truth is these can be heard more than seen but it is a hidden wee world up there, seldom visited.
Glede Knowe and Walker Burn Falls
Eventually you will arrive at the top of Cairn Hill where the remnants of a TV mast can be seen. This once provided two channels to the people of Walkerburn for a modest subscription. Within living memory of my parents generation - how things have changed. From here it’s down to The Burn, picking your way past bike tracks, and home to rest weary, wet feet and plan your next adventure.
