Tarset in the
National Park
Two walks in one! You can choose
to take just the short loop and pass three bastle
houses, including the Black Middens Bastle. This
is one of the best preserved examples of these fortified
farm houses. Ideally take the short loop and then
the long loop to explore this stunning and remote
landscape.
Distance: 15.2Km (9.4 miles).
Route plan
Total Elevation: 163m (535ft).
Difficulty: strenuous
OS Map Reference: NY 776 890
GB Grid. Explorer
Map OL42, Landranger
Map 80
Parking: Free parking at the
car park next to house and picnic site.
Toilet Facilities: None
Refreshments Facilities: None at site, Pub in Greenhaugh
Accessibility: Can only be completed on foot. Boggy
in parts.
The Walk
From the Sidwood car park take
a right past the house. Follow the forestry Commission
road a short way and look for the red (Reivers Trail)
waymarker on your right. Take the trail and follow
it through the woods to the Tarset Burn. Follow
the trail with the Tarset Burn on your right. Pass
through two sets of kissing gates. Soon after the
second gate you will see a bridge crossing the burn.
Cross over the bridge. Enter the field and stay
close to the boundary fence which is on your right.
At the end of the field turn left toward the Black
Middens Bastle. Exit the field through the gate
that leads onto a hairpin bend in the road. Veer
left onto the road and follow this to Black Middens
Bastle.
After the Bastle continue on the road. The Tarset
Burn will be on your left. Eventually you will come
to a forestry commission road signposted “Highfield”.
Turn left onto this road. You will see the house
at Waterhead immediately on your left. Look for
the footbridge just past the house that takes you
over the Tarset Burn. Walk toward the house and
take the path leading to the right just before the
boundary wall. Follow the path round with the stone
wall on your left. This takes you to the remains
of “Waterhead” – another bastle
house.
Carry on past Waterhead on the Rievers Trail. The
Reivers Trail follows the path of the Tarset Burn.
This time the river will be on your left. The trail
passes the remains of a third bastle called “Hillhouse”.
Continue on the trail that will eventually cross
a footbridge over the Sidwood Cleugh. Take the trail
to the right immediately after the bridge. Turn
left onto the Forestry Commission road and head
back to the car park. Opposite the car park take
the bridleway to “Slaty Ford”.
Head up the bridleway. When you get the forestry
commission road turn right. After about 30 metres
down the road look out for a grassy track to the
left. Take the track. The bridleway continues to
Slaty Ford about 1.5km further on.
Cross the ford and head up to the track. Turn left
onto the track. Follow the track over another ford.
The veers round to the right. Stay on the track
and continue to follow it. The track will turn into
a tarmac road. The road joins the Donkleywood road
at a cattle grid. Continue ahead and start to head
down the hill. Cross the bridge over the Tarset
Burn. Just past the Redmire cottages take the footpath
left.
Follow the path through several gates. The path
follows the course of the Tarset Burn that will
be to your left. You will come to a footbridge.
Cross this bridge over the Tarset Burn. Follow the
path right and onto the road. Turn left onto the
road and head up the incline to the farm buildings.
The road continues through the farmyard. Continue
the follow the road up the hill. Near to the top
of the hill you will see a waymarker heading right
onto a grassy path. Take this path and head down
to the stream Cross the stream and continue to follow
the path veering ahead and left. The path follows
the line of a fence on your left. You should be
able to just see Thorneyburn Church ahead of you.
Follow the path and head toward the church. You
will come to a stone wall close to the church. Keep
the wall to your left and head down to the Thorney
Burn. Cross the stream and head up the opposite
bank. Pass through a gate at the back of the church
and go straight on. When you come to the road turn
right, keeping the church on your right. Follow
this road until you get to the “T” junction.
Turn left toward Redheugh Farm and Sidwood. Follow
the road into Sidwood. Look out for the orange trial
on your right. Take the trail, doubling back on
you. The trail follows the path of the Tarset Burn
that will be on your right. Stay on this trail as
it takes you back to the Sidwood car park.
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