St Mary's Loch – A Hill and Lochside Round in Hogg Country
About 5 miles on foot.
St Mary's Loch is the largest natural loch in the Borders, five kilometres of still water lying among the green hills of the Yarrow valley, with the smaller Loch of the Lowes at its head.
James Hogg, the poet known as the Ettrick Shepherd, knew and loved this spot, and his statue looks out over both lochs. A five-mile circuit climbs the hillside above them and comes back along the shore.
- Time
- About three hours: a circuit of 8 km, or five miles, with 250 metres of climb, on the council's figures.
- The path
- Good tracks and paths, with 250 metres of climb over open hillside and a return along the loch shore.
- Where to start
- By the James Hogg monument at the south end of St Mary's Loch, on the A708. TD7 5LH is the nearest postcode.
- When to go
- All year in daylight, in settled weather. The Tibbie Shiels Inn is closed. From November to January set off by 11.30am.
- Dogs
- Under close control: sheep graze the hill and the shore.
- Children
- For children who can manage five miles and a climb.
- Toilets
- A public toilet block at St Mary's Loch, by the car park.
- Before you set out
- Open hill for part of the way. The Tibbie Shiels Inn is closed: bring food and drink.
The walk
Park by the James Hogg monument at the south end of St Mary's Loch, on the A708 between Selkirk and Moffat. TD7 5LH is the nearest postcode, and there's a public toilet block here. The statue above the road is of Hogg himself, the Ettrick Shepherd, who was born in 1770, worked as a shepherd from the age of seven and taught himself to write. It was unveiled on 28 June 1860 and looks out over one of his favourite views, across both lochs. St Mary's Loch stretches away to the north, five kilometres long, and the Loch of the Lowes lies just to the south, with a neck of land between them.
The circuit here goes by Pikestone Rig and the Loch of the Lowes. Scottish Borders Council gives it as five miles, or 8 km, with 250 metres of climb. It's on good tracks and paths, and it comes back along the banks of the smaller loch. Allow about three hours. It's a hill walk for part of the way, on open ground where sheep graze, so wear boots, carry a waterproof and keep dogs under close control.
Hogg used to meet his friend Sir Walter Scott at the Tibbie Shiels Inn between the lochs. The inn is closed now, so bring your own lunch and a flask. From November to January, set off by 11.30am.
If it rains
The hillside is open and there's no shelter until you're back at the car. In rain or low cloud, keep to the shore by the monument and the neck of land between the lochs, which is lovely on its own.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Scullery in Yarrow, 8 miles away. Sleeps 2; next free Fri 13 Nov to Sun 15 Nov.
For further reading, before you go.