Warning: Diversion in place. Part of this route is closed or diverted for now. The stretch between Pouterlampert and the car park is closed by windblown trees; walk it clockwise from Priest Hill car park. Source: forestryandland.gov.scot.
Up and down
About 101 m of climbing and 100 m of descent; highest point 205 m.
StartHighest point 205 mFinish, 2.3 miles
History
The Hanging Tree Trail is one of the waymarked walks that Forestry and Land Scotland has laid out from Priest Hill car park in Newcastleton Forest, in Liddesdale. It follows an old drove road past Belshiels, a farmstead long since abandoned, and comes back through older woodland. A short branch path leads to the reputed site of a hanging tree, one of many where rough "Borders justice" was administered in the turbulent times of the past; this one was an ash, which Forestry and Land Scotland calls a veteran tree. The route also passes the site of Pouterlampert, which Forestry and Land Scotland calls a 500-year-old farm. Scottish Borders Council's booklet says a large farm there was recorded as far back as 1376 and was held by the Armstrongs until 1632, and that it has been abandoned for at least 200 years, leaving only low turf walls.
Route line: Forestry and Land Scotland, Recreation routes, under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Forestry and Land Scotland).
