Biggar, Hartree and Boghall Castle
A stroll around a country town that is full of surprises
Google Maps Open Source Maps| Statistics and Files | ||
|---|---|---|
| Start: Biggar | Distance: 4.3 miles (6.8 km) | Climbing: 80 metres |
| Grid Ref: NT 03877 37635 | Time: 2 hours | Rating: Easy |
| GPX Route File | Google Earth File | About Biggar |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Start: Biggar | Distance: 4.3 miles (6.8 km) |
| Climbing: 80 metres | Grid Ref: NT 03877 37635 |
| Time: 2 hours | Rating: Easy |
| GPX Route File | Google Earth File |
Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (1:25,000)
The Walk:
Probably nowhere in Scotland has so much of interest in one place as the little town of Biggar on the border of Clydesdale and Tweeddale. To make the walking, as long as the seeing worthwhile, the route makes a circuit outside of the town to take in some fine high level views over the surrounding countryside and hills.
Biggar is a medieval town that was created a free 'Burgh of Barony' by James II in 1451 as a mark of favour to the local landowner, Lord Fleming. The town retains its medieval layout, with a broad high street designed to house a market. Most of the prominent buildings are Victorian, though a few date from the 17th and 18th centuries.
High Street, Biggar
Millstone Park, Biggar
The starting point of the walk is perhaps at the oldest structure in the town, Cadger's Brig, a bridge over Biggar Burn. Legend has it that in 1297 William Wallace crossed it disguised as a cadger, or pedlar, to spy on Edward I's army. The bridge is on the way to the gas works. The building, which dates from 1839, houses Biggar Gasworks Museum which exhibits early gas appliances, and the production of coal gas is demonstrated in a video show.
It is just a short step to Burn Braes, a grassy valley through which gurgles the Little Biggar Burn. It incorporates Moat Park where Motte Knowle, the site of a former Norman castle, is found. At Moat Park Heritage Centre there are models of crannogs, brochs and other ancient buildings which were typical of the area.
Near to the Heritage Centre is the Old Kirk where an old throuch-stane (tombstone) marks 150 years of Gladstone family names, ending with Thomas W Gladstone, a cousin of the famous 19th century Prime Minister. Just along North Back Road is the Gladstone Court Museum, dedicated to the great man.
From North Back Road, the route makes its way out of the town, first passing Purves Puppet Theatre. This world famous attraction shows puppets illuminated by ultra-violet spotlights, and their bright costumes and painted features fluoresce on the darkened stage. There are matinees during most of the year. Between shows, visitors are shown round a museum of antique puppets and taken backstage to meet the 'cast' and their puppet masters.
Hartree Mill Burn
Boghall Castle, Biggar
Once you walk out of the town, the walk heads through park and farmland where Aberdeen Angus cattle and Clydesdale horses are bred. Further on, after crossing Hartree Mill Burn, the lower slopes of the Hartree Hills give views back over the placid Upper Clyde Valley to Biggar and the hills beyond.
You return to Biggar along a quiet road. short diversion up a drive leads to Hartree House, a Grade II listed building in the Victorian Scottish Baronial style. Parts of the house date back to the 15th century. It is now part of the Hartree Estates holiday accommodation venture and worth a look; for example the dining room ceiling is a copy of that in Mary, Queen of Scots bedroom in Holyrood Palace.
Heading back into Biggar, and just before the boundaries of the town, is Boghall Farm. Behind the farmhouse, in a field, are the scant remains of medieval Boghall Castle, the former home of Clan Fleming.
Acknowledgments: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.
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