Discover Ashkirk through its long local history and as a starting point for walking stages to Hawick or Selkirk. This raises two distinct questions for planning your trip: what historical traces give the village its character, and which section of the Hawick–Selkirk route suits your stay?
Early local history and literary connections
The first recorded mention of Ashkirk appears in the records of the Bishop of Glasgow from 1116. Ashkirk Church and the village can trace their origins back almost 1,000 years. These details shed light on different historical perspectives: 1116 marks the first written mention, while the nearly thousand years refer to the origins of the church and village. Thus, a precisely dated written record and a broader point of origin sit side by side; both help put the history of the place in perspective across different timescales.
The graveyard around Ashkirk Aisle contains gravestones, the oldest of which date from the late 17th century. This date refers to the gravestones, not to the age of Ashkirk Aisle. The graveyard therefore adds a later, clearly defined historical layer to the early local history.
Ashkirk was home to the poet William H. Ogilvie (1869–1963) for the last 45 years of his life. This connection adds a literary biography to the history of the church and village. The timeframe describes a specific period in Ogilvie’s life and can therefore be distinguished from the dating of the gravestones or the first recorded mention.
Walking stages between Hawick and Selkirk
The Hawick–Selkirk section can be divided into two shorter stages: between Ashkirk and Hawick, and between Ashkirk and Selkirk. The two destinations make the choice of direction clear: you can plan your stages towards Hawick or Selkirk, rather than viewing the entire section as a single route.
The recommended way to reach the Hawick–Selkirk section is to take the bus to Ashkirk; from there, walk along the road to the trail. Check current bus services before travelling, as transport options can change. Getting there is therefore part of the planning, not just choosing a walking stage.
Sections of the Borders Abbeys Way
Between Sunnybank and Salenside, the Borders Abbeys Way is continuously accessible to several types of users. There is an unlocked field gate beside every cattle grid. As infrastructure and access can change, check the Council’s current guidance before setting off.
The Borders Abbeys Way leads to Bishop’s Stone at 337 m, the highest point on the route. Whether the point is visible depends on the weather. The route also passes through a relatively large conifer plantation called Ashkirk Forest; trail conditions can vary seasonally. Weather and seasonal conditions affect different aspects of planning here: visibility of the landmark on the one hand, and trail conditions on the other.
Discover more destinations: Newcastleton, Selkirk, Roxburgh, Melrose, Heriot, Carlops, Earlston, Morebattle.
For the broader travel overview: The Scottish Borders.
