THE COUNTRYSIDE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE, PEEBLESSHIRE, ROXBURGHSHIRE AND SELKIRKSHIRE

A PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION AND SUGGESTED ROUTES FOR EXPLORERS ON FOOT.

These areas are covered by the following Ordnance Survey maps :-

• LANDRANGER SERIES (1:50000 Scale):
• No. 71 - Lanark and Upper Nithsdale area.
• No. 72 - Upper Clyde Valley, Biggar and Lanark.
• No. 73 - Peebles, Galashiels and surrounding area.
• No. 78 - Nithsdale and Annandale area.
• No. 79 - Hawick and Eskdale area.

• PATHFINDER SERIES (1:25000 Scale):
• No. 482 - Leadhills.
• No. 494 - Durisdeer and Enterkinfoot.
• No. 471 - Tweedsmuir.
• No. 483 - White Coomb.
• No. 495 - Moffat.
• No. 497 - Teviothead and Stobs Castle.
• No. 507 - Eskdalemuir.
• No. 508 - Hermitage and Saughtree.
• No. 519 - Langholm.

• OUTDOOR LEISURE (1:25000 Scale) No 44 - Tweed Valley (Peebles to St.
• Boswells, Galashiels, Melrose and Selkirk).

In addition, I can recommend the 1:40,000 (approx. one and a half inches to the mile) maps covering the Lowther Hills and Peebles, Manor Hills and St. Mary's Loch. These two important additions to the region's cartography are published by Harvey Map Services Ltd., Doune, Perthshire.

The majority of walkers prefer the extra detail of the 1:25000 maps. Unfortunately, the Pathfinder series (currently being gradually replaced by the "Outdoor Leisure" and "Explorer" sheets) do not show the dramatic increase in forestry plantations which have occurred during the past decade, especially in the Langholm and Eskdalemuir areas. Therefore, despite the otherwise excellent detail, the rambler should carry the relevant O.S. Landranger maps - which do include recent forestry developments - in addition to the requisite Pathfinders.

I will not attempt to describe either geology, natural or socio-political history, or current flora/fauna of this region despite its rich heritage: authorities far more competent than I have produced a wealth of such literature. For those who would like to discover more, the following can be recommended:-

• THE SOUTHERN UPLANDS by K.M. Andrew - Scottish Mountaineering Club District Guidebook: 2nd Edition, 1992.
• A GUIDE TO THE SOUTHERN UPLAND WAY by David Williams - Constable and Co. Ltd., London, 1989.
• THE BORDER COUNTRY: A WALKER'S GUIDE by Alan Hall - Cicerone Press, Milnthorpe, Cumbria, 1993.
• BORDER PUBS AND INNS: A WALKER'S GUIDE by Alan Hall - Cicerone Press, Milnthorpe, Cumbria, 1994.
• DAVID AND CHARLES TOURING COMPANION TC79: HAWICK AND ESKDALE AREA - David and Charles Plc., Newton Abbot, Devon, 1990.
• THE ILLUSTRATED BORDER BALLADS by John Marsden - MacMillan London Ltd., 1990.
• IMAGES OF PEEBLESSHIRE by Liz Hanson - Liz Hanson Images, Peebles, 1993.
• THE STEEL BONNETS by George McDonald Fraser - Pan Books Ltd., London, 1974.*
• HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS IN THE BORDER by Andrew and John Lang - MacMillan and Co. Ltd., London 1913: 2nd Edition, 1929.
• TWEEDDALE by Will Grant - Oliver and Boyde, Edinburgh, 1948.
• THE LOWLANDS OF SCOTLAND by George Scott-Moncrieff - Batsford Ltd., London, 3rd Edition, 1949.

The last three books are believed to be currently out of print. However, it is highly probable that copies are available in the region's public libraries.
* Mandatory reading!

Copyright 23rd August 1999 and 19th September 1999:
RICHARD M. STANBROOK,
"Howden,"
18 Drove Road,
Langholm, Dumfriesshire DG13 OJW.