Kirnie Law from Innerleithen
From the top of Kirnie Law you get a full 180-degree sweep over Innerleithen and the Tweed valley, and in August the whole hillside turns purple with heather. All for a short climb from town.
Effort: Moderate distance, manageable climb
Underfoot: Open fell or rough terrain
E2·T3 — how we grade routesAn 8.9km loop from Innerleithen up onto Kirnie Law, a heathery hill above the Tweed with the remains of Scotland's first hydro scheme. Short, quiet hill running with a big 180-degree view from the top.
From the top of Kirnie Law you get a full 180-degree sweep over Innerleithen and the Tweed valley, and in August the whole hillside turns purple with heather. All for a short climb from town.
The route
Start in Innerleithen and climb south out of the town onto Kirnie Law, making an 8.9km loop over the hill and back to the Tweed. It is a short outing but a genuine hill one, rising steadily from the riverside to open moorland with the reservoir and its old waterworks on the way. The climb is front-loaded, so once you are up the running opens out across the broad, breezy top.
The hill
Kirnie Law rises above Innerleithen to give one of the best short viewpoints in the Tweed Valley, a 180-degree sweep over the town, the river and the surrounding Border hills. The reservoir below it was built in 1919 to power the mills in the town, part of what is remembered as one of Scotland's first hydro-electric schemes, and the remnants still sit on the hillside. In August the heather comes into bloom and the whole slope turns purple, which is the hill at its finest.
Why it works
This is a route for a quick hit of height without a big day. The distance is short, the climb honest, and the reward is out of proportion to the effort. Underfoot it is a mix of track and open moorland path, boggy in places and rough on the top, so it is more than an easy jog despite the length. Navigation needs a little care on the open ground in cloud, where the paths thin out, so carry a map. Peebles at the foot is a proper Borders town with cafes, shops and the Tweed for afterwards, and the Glentress trails sit just up the road if you want to make more of the day. As a lunchtime hill loop with a view like this, it is hard to beat anywhere in the Borders.
The open top is boggy and the paths thin out, so navigation needs care in cloud. Exposed moorland catches the weather despite the short distance. Grouse moor nearby means possible shooting in season.
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
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