The Border forests, particularly those owned and managed by Forestry Commission Scotland, provide splendid opportunities for recreation. The Tweed Valley Forest Park which includes Glentress, Cardrona, Thornilee and Yair, and the forests south and west of Hawick - Craik, Wauchope, Swinnie and Newcastleton - all have considerable networks of well maintained footpaths and trails. In addition, separate trails for mountain bikes and horse riders are provided.
The walks offered in the Border forests vary from short strolls of an hour or so, perhaps to see specimen trees or a waterfall, up to longer walks taking three or four hours and reaching viewpoints commanding extensive panoramas.
Detailed maps of the main forests are available from all our VisitScotlannd Information Centres why not call in when here, or call the brochure hotline on 01835 863170.
Some areas of private woodland are also open for recreation, for example the extensive woods of the Bowhill Estate near Selkirk. A walk here can (in summer) be combined with a visit to Bowhill House, one of the homes of the Duke of Buccleuch. The old carriage track known as the Duchess Drive links Bowhill with the Ettrick and Yarrow valleys and makes a fine circular walk of about 6 miles (10km). This route is also used for horse riding.