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Directions:

From the Centre walk up the road and turn right up the glen (1). After going over the cattle grid (dogs may use the gate), you will pass the Millennium Wood on your right (2). Younger visitors may wish to try their hand at finding the animals here. You can buy an entry map at the Glenholm Centre.

Continue on the road for ½km passing the track down to the Holms Water river (3) and the hide overlooking Glenholm pond. Feel free to pop into the hide for a closer look at the wildlife on the pond.

Beyond the hide the road crosses a small burn and your route turns left up onto the hill (4) passing the Iron Age settlement ring on your right. Having left the road your path crosses back over the burn and along the right side of Fiona’s wood. Crossing over the stile (5) waymarking posts lead you initially along the side of the fence and then along the valley side.

About 400 metres up this gully the path turns back on itself (6) and a steep track to the left takes you up to the Chester Rig Fort (7).

From the Fort follow the way markers up the ridge to Chester Rig Head and the dyke marking the farm boundary (8). At this point you may make a short but steep detour up to the summit of Blakehope Head and back. To get to the summit you have to cross a stile with no accompanying gate.

From Chester Rig Head, the route follows the farm boundary across Wrae Hill (9 and 10) as far as the bottom corner of the wood (11). At the corner turn left. We strongly recommend that you do not take a short cut across this corner as the terrain to the left can be very wet and boggy.

Glenholm Wildlife - Blakehope Walk

Farm Etiquette

When walking in Glenholm please observe the following guidelines:

¨ Leave gates as you find them

¨ Keep dogs on leads when near livestock

¨ Do not walk near sheep with dogs during March, April and May when lambing is in progress.

¨ Never take dogs into fields containing cows

¨ Avoid fields that contain cows with young calves

¨ Avoid walking directly across cultivated fields

¨ Take your litter home with you

¨ Avoid picking any wild flowers

¨ Keep clear of the farm steading and all farm machinery

¨ Avoid walking through private gardens

Please note that visitors to Glenholm explore the area at their own risk. Where possible please follow the routes which have been waymarked for you and if you see anything that concerns you please take no direct action but notify the Glenholm Centre as soon as possible.

Approximate Total Length: 6½ Kms Terrain: Moderate - one steepish slope up to the Fort; may be wet in some areas; one stile alongside a gate so usually suitable for walkers with dogs; look out for cattle in School Brae.

Chester Rig Fort

(333m)

Settlement

You can buy booklets about the wildlife, agriculture and archaeology of the glen, farm and wildlife identification sheets, as well as a range of wildlife related goodies from the Glenholm Shop.

400

metres

After crossing the Glenachen Burn, follow the fence on your right until you reach the gate through the dry stane dyke into the School Brae (12). Go through this gate and down the side of the School Brae field back to the Glenholm Centre. If you are walking with dogs please check that there are no cattle in the field and that your dogs are under control before entering this field.