1. Flodden Field

start: Kirk Yetholm
distance: 28 miles
OS map: 74

This route starts from Kirk Yetholm, 8 miles SW of Kelso, at the northern end of the Pennine Way. It is mostly on road but takes in a ford to cross the River Till at Etal - there's no easy way round this and you might get wet feet.

Take the road past the Border Hotel heading NE out of the village. This skirts the northern edge of the Cheviots and soon crosses into England. Follow it round to Kilham where you turn L for Howtel, West Flodden and eventually the A697 Coldstream-Wooler road. Turn L and, after half a mile, R to Ford. A mile or so along here and you'll reach a bridge over the Till and a T junction. Ford Castle is ahead of you and uphill but if you want a better view of it you'll need to turn R and go up the hill a bit.

Our route goes L and we're aiming for the village of Etal which has a pub, a shop and the ruins of Etal Castle. There's also a working narrow-gauge railway just behind the castle.

Go past the pub and turn R down the hill to the river. Unless things are really grim, crossing the ford shouldn't be a problem. The track ahead leads to a T junction at (913 394). Remembering that we're heading for Branxton and Flodden Field, the easiest way is to go L, R at the main road, then L again. It is, however possible to go straight on at the T junction, L at the farm, turn R at the main road (906 386) and then L at Crookham Westfield (888 384) to follow a vague track towards Branxton.

Take a few minutes to walk up to the monument at Flodden and reflect on how it could be that upwards of 12000 men were slaughtered in a single afternoon in the fields that you see laid out before you.

From here you head SW and, at the T junction, turn R for East Learmouth. Turn L and L again and its a fairly direct road now to Mindrum and Town Yetholm back in Scotland.

jb, galashiels

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