Cross Borders Drove Road
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox hiking trail
| name = Cross Borders Drove Road
| photo = The Drove Road - geograph.org.uk - 592341.jpg
| photo_size =
| caption = The Drove Road at Whitehaughmoor, northwest of Hawick.
| established =
| location = Scottish Borders, Scotland
| length_km = 82
| designation = Scotland’s Great Trails
| trailheads = {{Plainlist|
- Hawick
{{coord|55.422|-2.787|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Hawick}} - Little Vantage
{{coord|55.851|-3.437|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline|name=Little Vantage}}}}
| use = Horseriding, hiking, mountain biking,
| highest_m =
|elev_gain_and_loss = {{convert|2165|m|ft}} gain{{cite web|url=http://www.scotlandsgreattrails.com/trails/|title=Trails|publisher=Scotland's Great Trails|accessdate=2018-08-22}}
| lowest =
| difficulty =
| season = All Year
| sights =
| hazards =
| website =
}}
The Cross Borders Drove Road is an {{convert|82|km|mi|adj=on}} long hiking trail in the Borders region of Scotland. The route is based on the main route used by drovers who used to drive cattle from the markets (trysts) at places such as Falkirk and Crieff southwards for sale in England.
Description
Much of the route utilises the original parallel dykes built to stop cattle straying, and is intended to be suitable for horseriders and walkers, with all obstacles such as gates and bridges being designed specifically to accommodate horses; much of the route is also suitable for mountain bikers.
It is listed as one of Scotland's Great Trails by NatureScot, and links directly to three further Great Trails: the Borders Abbeys Way, the·Romans and Reivers Route and the·Southern Upland Way.{{cite web|url=http://www.scotlandsgreattrails.com/trail/cross-borders-drove-road/|title=Cross Borders Drove Road|publisher=Scotland's Great Trails|accessdate=2018-08-22}} The route is now largely managed by Scottish Borders Council. The trail is waymarked using an image of a cow, reflecting the droving history of the route, although the section through Peebles is not currently waymarked.
File:Information Board on Cross Borders Drove Road - geograph.org.uk - 909389.jpg and Peebles.]]
As a drove road, the route was originally established by tradition, following natural passes in the Pentland and Southern Upland hills. Much of the route had become impassable by the 1990s due to obstructions such as fallen trees and poor drainage. An initiative by local members and officers of the British Horse Society saw community councils undertaking a series of mapping exercises, which identified numerous routes suitable for development as designated trails: the Cross Borders Drove Road was one of the routes identified.{{cite web|url=http://www.southofscotlandcountrysidetrails.co.uk/where-to-ride/cross-borders-drove-road/|publisher=South of Scotland Countryside Trails|accessdate=2018-08-22|title=Cross Borders Drove Road}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.southofscotlandcountrysidetrails.co.uk/where-to-ride/cross-borders-drove-road/ Official Website]
{{Long-distance footpaths in the United Kingdom}}
Category:Footpaths in the Scottish Borders