A Pilgrimage for James Hogg

This longer than usual podcast episode follows my 20 plus mile walk from Innerleithen to Ettrick Kirk, a personal pilgrimage in honour of James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd and founder of St Ronan’s Border Games. The route took me through the landscapes that shaped his imagination from the very familiar Leithen Valley, on to the Southern Upland Way, across moor and forest to the wide Yarrow valley where I dodge cows and grab lunch before finally reaching the pastoral beauty and absolute peace of Ettrick. Along the way I reflected on Hogg’s poetry and the legacy he left both in his writing and in the life of our community in Innerleithen.

A huge part of this journey was guided by the James Hogg Poetry Trails booklet, created by Sue Briggs and a wide number of people also involved in the project. It was my companion mile after mile, a wonderful piece of work that helped me connect the physical landscape with Hogg’s words. I think more people should be aware of this booklet and hope this walk can help with that.

I also used the walk to raise funds for St Ronan’s Border Games, contributing around £250 toward the future of the event Hogg founded. With the Games approaching their remarkable 200th anniversary in 2027, it felt important to give something back, a small gesture of gratitude to the tradition he started and that continues to give Innerleithen much of its identity.

I hope you enjoy joining me on this walk, following the footsteps of James Hogg…