Bigpee two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Bigpee here.

This route is an amalgamation of two paths crossing a single administrative boundary shortly after the start from South Lanarkshire to Scottish Borders. The first part between Biggar and Broughton is easy-going and there are plenty of signs of its use here as a bridle path.

But between Broughton and Peebles it is at times challenging, and indeed I broke my ankle on the section of route following the John Buchan Way out of Broughton on uneven path, though possibly by taking it too fast. It’s not a bad path at that point, but rain run-off can persist as slippery mud, and the path does rise/ descend quite steeply here (as elsewhere).

Broughton is the key refreshment point with its well-stocked community shop, and a cafe at Laurelbank Tearoom with tea garden. Provisions from the store here, or in reverse from one of many stores in Peebles, would enable a picnic at the picnic tables by the Manor Water near Kirkton Manor. There are some benches en-route on departure from Broughton too.

The 91 Borders Buses service runs a few times per day except Sundays between Peebles and Bigger, and it crosses this route at Stobo Kirk, and at Broughton. This is at roughly 1/3 and 2/3 points in the route, so good options for part-walking. The whole bus route takes 45 minutes. Where there are no bus stops, simply flag it down on demand or tell the driver where you’d like to get off. Borders buses timetable is on line, and there’s an app with live locations and mobile tickets - but be at bus stops in plenty of time and watch for the deviations to times (published) from school holidays, Fridays, Saturdays, etc. Also, be alert that there is another 91 bus from the same stops in Biggar, though it goes to Lanark, so don’t confuse the two. Both of these services intersect the reasonably regular 101/102 service (at May 2022 by Stagecoach) between Edinburgh and Dumfries, but don’t necessarily connect well for every arrival/ departure. The Peebles end of the route also intersects with regular Borders Buses X62 services from Edinburgh to/from Galashiels (with connections to ScotRail service and X95 bus between Carlisle and Edinburgh).

The route, depending upon season, passes through fields that may contain cattle, so be particularly alert for mothers with calves who may be aggressive. It is usually possible to widely circumnavigate them with caution. It is walkable with a dog, but there are many gates in some sections that should be left as found, and not climbed over at the non-hinge end. There are some stiles over which a dog may need help, or require a diversion to the nearest gate. Watch for some barbed wire on some gates. There is occasional flooding on the Biggar-Broughton section, though to either side rather than on the path. In heavy rain, the rest of the route can be boggy in places though navigable. Be careful on the brief encounter with the busier B road at Stobo, and the brief stretch of less-busy road at ‘The Glack’, but the Cademuir road section is single-track and quiet.

A pleasant route with, for proper slow-walking, overnight accommodations at various places en-route. Search for Broughton, Stobo, and Kirkton Manor for these, but check that they are as close to the John Buchan Way as desired. There is a health spa on the route at Stobo for the really indulgent

This route is an amalgamation of two paths crossing a single administrative boundary shortly after the start from South Lanarkshire to Scottish Borders. The first part between Biggar and Broughton is easy-going and there are plenty of signs of its use here as a bridle path.

But between Broughton and Peebles it is at times challenging, and indeed I broke my ankle on the section of route following the John Buchan Way out of Broughton on uneven path, though possibly by taking it too fast. It’s not a bad path at that point, but rain run-off can persist as slippery mud, and the path does rise/ descend quite steeply here (as elsewhere).

Broughton is the key refreshment point with its well-stocked community shop, and a cafe at Laurelbank Tearoom with tea garden. Provisions from the store here, or in reverse from one of many stores in Peebles, would enable a picnic at the picnic tables by the Manor Water near Kirkton Manor. There are some benches en-route on departure from Broughton too.

The 91 Borders Buses service runs a few times per day except Sundays between Peebles and Bigger, and it crosses this route at Stobo Kirk, and at Broughton. This is at roughly 1/3 and 2/3 points in the route, so good options for part-walking. The whole bus route takes 45 minutes. Where there are no bus stops, simply flag it down on demand or tell the driver where you’d like to get off. Borders buses timetable is on line, and there’s an app with live locations and mobile tickets - but be at bus stops in plenty of time and watch for the deviations to times (published) from school holidays, Fridays, Saturdays, etc. Also, be alert that there is another 91 bus from the same stops in Biggar, though it goes to Lanark, so don’t confuse the two. Both of these services intersect the reasonably regular 101/102 service (at May 2022 by Stagecoach) between Edinburgh and Dumfries, but don’t necessarily connect well for every arrival/ departure. The Peebles end of the route also intersects with regular Borders Buses X62 services from Edinburgh to/from Galashiels (with connections to ScotRail service and X95 bus between Carlisle and Edinburgh).

The route, depending upon season, passes through fields that may contain cattle, so be particularly alert for mothers with calves who may be aggressive. It is usually possible to widely circumnavigate them with caution. It is walkable with a dog, but there are many gates in some sections that should be left as found, and not climbed over at the non-hinge end. There are some stiles over which a dog may need help, or require a diversion to the nearest gate. Watch for some barbed wire on some gates. There is occasional flooding on the Biggar-Broughton section, though to either side rather than on the path. In heavy rain, the rest of the route can be boggy in places though navigable. Be careful on the brief encounter with the busier B road at Stobo, and the brief stretch of less-busy road at ‘The Glack’, but the Cademuir road section is single-track and quiet.

A pleasant route with, for proper slow-walking, overnight accommodations at various places en-route. Search for Broughton, Stobo, and Kirkton Manor for these, but check that they are as close to the John Buchan Way as desired. There is a health spa on the route at Stobo for the really indulgent