Southern Upland Way near Abbey St Bathans

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The Southern Upland Way is Britain's first official coast to coast long distance foot-path. It runs 212 miles (340 km) from Portpatrick on the south-west coast of Scotland to Cockburnspath in the east and just 9-miles from Dunbar, where the John Muir Way begins and takes walkers 130 miles (215km) to Helensburgh in the east.

The route takes walkers through the beautiful village of Abbey St Bathans in the Lammermuir Hills alongside Whiteadder Water.  The path follows the river for a mile before heading east towards Cockburnpath.


 On Saturday I walked this small part of the Southern Upland Way and also through the village itself in the warm spring sunshine.  The colours of leaves and wildflowers were breathtaking and the only noise came from the wind in the trees, the bird song and the bubbling of the water on the rock in the nearby river.


 There are also some walks on the bank of Whiteadder Water that are not part of the Southern Upland Way but are worthy of mention as well.  These secondary paths are well marked.


Crossing the footbridge near the church, the Kirk of Lammermuir, I turned right to follow the path through the woods that line the Whiteadder. Oak, Beech and Birch were amongst the many trees that make up this forest and in the distance pines were growing on the hillside.  On the ground wildflowers grew amongst the undergrowth and on tree stumps.

Rhododendrons also grow alongside the tall trees and at this time of year are in full flower.







 After walking for about a mile I came across a ford that leads back across to Abbey St Bathans and takes the Southern Upland Way away from the Whiteadder towards Cockburnspath 10.5 miles away to the North East.

I decided to turn back the way I had come and follow the path back to the footbridge near the Kirk of Lammermuir so I could take some shots of the church yard before returning to the car.
















 Abbey St Bathans is certainly a beautiful place, nestling in the tranquility of the Lammermuir Hills.  There is more to explore, especially Edin Hall Broch, an iron age roundhouse that is a couple of miles outside the village.  I will be returning to Abbey St Bathans to discover more very soon.

 CLICK HERE for more information on the Southern Upland Way


 All images taken on a Fujifilm X-T1 with either a 10-24mm f4, 18mm f2, 56mm f1.2 or 55-200mm f3.5/4.8
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