There are numerous options with nearby hills to explore and various long-distance pathways are easily accessible. We love to run around the loch and the ‘house record’ is marked on the k whiteboard.  Here are some suggestions:

From Capperkirk

• Ring of the loch – 7miles / 11km around St Mary’s Loch. Walking anti-clockwise covers the section on the roadside first but means you reach the Glen café early in your walk. On a still day there will be fantastic reflections in the loch. For a shorter wander, the clockwise route will take you to St Mary’s Churchyard (possibly the site of  the Kirk o’ the Forest where William Wallace was anointed ‘Guardian of Scotland’ after his victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge and also a place where the Covenanters met in secret. There is a ‘Blanket Service’ held here in July in memory of these) and further round to Dryhope Tower.
• Megget Dam – 2 miles uphill along the road and then paths marked at the reservoir. Near the start of this walk there is a diversion off to the right to view Cockburn’s grave and you can explore up to a waterfall at the ?? Lynn.
• The Southern Upland Way includes the path along the far side of St Mary’s Loch and can also be continued north to Traquair or followed south-west.
• A drive west towards Moffat will bring you to The Grey Mares Tail, a nature reserve cared for by the National Trust for Scotland with walking tracks.

Longer Distance Tracks

• Borders Abbey Way – a walk in 5 stages visiting the significant abbeys – 65miles / 104km
• Berwick Coastal Path – extends from Cockburnspath to Berwick-upon-Tweed 28 ½ miles / 45km  This one is slightly more than 60mins from Capperkirk, but included for those who want to reach the sea.
• St Cuthberts Way – Melrose – Lindisfarne  62miles / 100km
• Dere Street – following a straight Roman Road from Towford – St Boswells – 18miles / 30km  Prt of this walk also follows St Cuthberts Way
• John Buchan Way

Information about other shorter local walks is kept at Capperkirk.

Please keep dogs under control