Cross Borders Drove Road

The drove roads were the motorways of pre-industrial Britain — broad, unfenced routes used for centuries to move livestock from the Scottish Highlands to the markets of northern England. The Cross Borders Drove Road follows these historic routes from the Berwickshire coast through the Scottish Borders, across the Cheviots and south through Northumberland and the Pennines to Lancashire.

For trail runners it is a challenging four to six day route across some genuinely remote terrain. The Cheviot and Pennine sections involve high moorland navigation. The route is not fully waymarked and requires navigation skills on the open sections. It passes through several Border towns with strong drove road associations — Jedburgh, Hawick, Otterburn.

Cockburnspath to Jedburgh (~60 km): Through the Lammermuir Hills and south through the Borders to Jedburgh.

Jedburgh to Otterburn (~45 km): Across the Cheviots — the most demanding section. High moorland, minimal paths, navigation required.

Otterburn to Ribchester (~90 km): Through Northumberland and across the Pennines to the Lancashire finish. Passes through the South Pennines and the Forest of Bowland.

Start: Cockburnspath. Bus from Dunbar (train to Edinburgh).

Finish: Ribchester, Lancashire. Bus to Clitheroe; train to Manchester.

The route is long with limited services in the remote sections — carry sufficient supplies for two to three day gaps between resupply points.

Best time: May to September.