Romans and Reivers Route

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The Romans and Reivers Route is a 52-mile trail for hikers and horseriders in the Southern Uplands, in Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire. It follows old Roman roads, forest tracks, drove roads and short sections of quiet lane through the heart of notorious Reivers country, hence its name.

The route is devised to be enjoyed on foot, on horseback or by bicycle. It runs mainly through sheltered woodland and forestry, with some sections through more open farmland.

The route

The route starts in Ae in Dumfriesshire, and runs generally north and northeast through the Forestry Commission's Ae Forest and up the hills beyond. It next reaches inhabited country at Earshaig, and eastwards into Annandale, crossing the major north-south routes of road and rail which come this way. It crosses the River Annan south of Moffat.

East, after following the Southern Upland Way for a few miles, the route passes up into the Eskdalemuir Forest, across the White Esk and joins a Roman road north-east into the Craik Forest, crossing into Roxburghshire to Craik. From here it descends to Teviotdale and on to Hawick, where the route finishes.

Linking routes

The Romans and Reivers Route links directly with the Annandale Way at Beattock and Moffat, and coincides for a short way south and east of Moffat with the Southern Upland Way. At its eastern end, the Romans and Reivers Route links directly with the Cross Borders Drove Road, Buccleuch Rides and Hawick Circular Riding Route.

Establishment

The Romans and Reivers Route was initiated by British Horse Society Scotland, and taken forward with a good deal of public money and the Southern Uplands Partnership. The Dumfriesshire side of the route (Ae to Craik Signal Station) was set up by Solway Heritage, and the Roxburghshire side of the route by Vyv Wood-Gee, under contract. The Romans and Reivers Route is now managed by the local authorities.

Sequential sections of the Romans and Reivers Route were launched in 2005 as part of the South of Scotland Countryside Trails network. The entire linear route from Ae to Hawick is now being waymarked.

See also

Outside links