Walk Details
Hello, I am Charlie Sim, retired engineer living in the Scottish Borders town of Peebles. I love walking and being outdoors – and I’m delighted to be sharing some of my favourite walks here with you.
The Soonhope Circular is locally known as “Soon Up”. This is a short walk with some difficulty in terms of gradients, so good walking boots are advised as are sticks.
I started at the swimming pool car park in peebles which is the old town. I walked along tweed green to Keirfield Park, locally known as the Gytes.
You cross over the main road to Peebles Hydro onto the old railway line that is now a multi-use path that goes to Walkerburn 8 miles. There’s a lot of history around the Hydro, however it’s best known for its spa, food and facilities now.
As you turn right following the track to the start of Janet’s Brea (another walking route) you will see the Soonhope Burn.
As you follow the burn up into Glentress Forest you will go past some huts, these were set up pre WW2 for miners to get some holiday in the countryside. It was also said that they were used for Italian POW that supported the lumber Jill’s in wood production for the war efforts.
As you go up alongside the valley and approach the forest, there are small benches for resting and sign posts for the various routes. At the bench and sign post, this is where you head down the hill. At the bottom you will cross the Soonhope Burn. As you go up the other side this is where you see the fantastic views that make the effort worthwhile.
At the top there is a bench for a well earned rest! Turn left as the signpost indicates and follow the track down, this takes you past the rear of Peebles Hydro which you can access from the track, however you follow all the way back to the main Edinburgh Road. On your right you will see the entrance to Venlaw Castle, this is another walk.
Cross over the road (this was the railway station to Edinburgh in the day) past the Honda garage onto the Cuddyside, the local name for Eddlestone Water or back in the day Peebles River 1634. Follow the river back to a set of steps that brings you out at the old town where the courthouse and jail was. The car park is just past Cocoa Black.
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