Discover Kershopefoot

Kershopefoot combines an impressive border landscape with a hiking route full of historical points of interest. The Across the Border route is listed as 18 km or 11 miles long and leads through an area where river landscapes, woodland and the history of the border between England and Scotland meet directly. This gives Kershopefoot both an active and a cultural-historical perspective for planning your trip.

The Kershope Burn and the landscape

The Kershope Burn forms part of the border between England and Scotland. It flows through a steep, wooded valley that separates Newcastleton Forest from Kershope Forest before flowing into the Liddel Water at Kershopefoot. Three kilometres east of Kershopefoot lies the Kershope Bridge SSSI in Liddesdale, on and along the Kershope Burn. The river is therefore a defining geographical feature for anyone wishing to get to know Kershopefoot through its landscape and border setting.

The Blackburn Falls are also among the area's distinctive landscape features. They lie at the confluence of Long Gill and Rough Gill. Such specific natural landmarks give a journey more than just a place name: they make visible how watercourses, wooded valleys and historic routes shape the character of the surrounding area.

On the Across the Border route

The Across the Border route crosses the Kershope Burn at the border between England and Scotland. Along its course, it passes over Tourney Holm, where cross-border disputes were settled during the Reiving period. It also passes Day Holm, a place mentioned in the ballad of Kinmont Willie. The walk therefore combines concrete route planning with insights into the border history and traditions of the region.

From Kershope Bridge, the route reaches Kershopefoot via a 2 km section of cycleway. In the Kershopefoot area, it uses a former railway crossing and then follows the old railway line. For planning your day, the length of the main route is an important point of reference: anyone taking the entire route into account should include the stated 18 km or 11 miles in their own plans. Those wishing to combine different interests can link the route with the landscape and historical themes surrounding the Kershope Burn.

Historical traces in Kershopefoot

The history of the place is not limited to the border route. The former Kershopefoot railway station operated from 1862 to 1969 and was opened on the Border Union Railway (North British Railway). Kershopefoot was also the first railway station in England on the Waverley Route. The old railway line, the former railway crossing and the information about the former rail connection give the walking route an additional historical dimension.

Another story is told by Kershopefoot camp. It was the first training centre for forestry workers opened in the North-West Conservancy. In 1931, an industrial camp was established in Kershopefoot to help the long-term unemployed return to working life. During the Second World War, the camp served as a forestry base for the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit. Later, from 1955 to 1985, it was used as a local office of the Forestry Commission. Anyone interested in labour, forestry and transport history will find several distinct historical periods represented in one place here.

The right accommodation for planning your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Kershopefoot, it is worth first deciding on the focus you want for your trip. If the Across the Border route is the main attraction, the length of the route should be considered alongside the 2 km section from Kershope Bridge to Kershopefoot. If the focus is more on landscape and history, the Kershope Burn, Tourney Holm, Day Holm and the former railway and forestry uses can shape the themes of your days.

Those travelling with different interests can use Kershopefoot as the basis for a varied itinerary: active sections of the route, border landscapes and historical themes can be combined conceptually, without every trip having to follow the same pattern. When choosing your accommodation, consider which daily rhythm and focus suit your travel group. For more travel ideas, you can also look at Clovenfords, Saint Boswells, Lilliesleaf, Ednam, Selkirk, Kelso, Galashiels and Walkerburn.

To the higher-level travel overview: The Scottish Borders.