Circular Route on roads and tracks Distance approx. 6.5 miles Time approx. 3 – 3.5 hours

Descent/ ascent approx. 800 feet Parking in Cousland Village

Bus Service Edinburgh Coach Lines Service 328 www.service328.co.uk

Walk east through Cousland village and downhill past Hadfast nature reserve. At Pardivan cottage where the road bends sharply right go straight ahead through the gate. Follow the recently restored path, a daily shortcut previously used by local miners going to and from the coal mines at the present railway walk. There are views of the Lammermuir hills to the right, and of Cousland Park house and stables to the left. Turn left onto road; go straight on at Cousland Park entry then straight on again onto path. On reaching Pencaitland Railway Walk turn right. Along the way are memorial stones to the Bellyford, Oxenford & Limeylands coal pits and Memory Boards recalling details from their working lives.

COUSLAND WALKS

Ormiston Inner Circle

A 6.5 mile walk on quiet roads, tracks and paths.

The route starts and finishes in Cousland Village and takes you through rich farmland and wooded estates passing recent and ancient reminders of the area’s rural, wartime and industrial history.

Cousland

The village of Cousland has a long and varied history documented as far back as 1110 when William St. Clair became first Baron Cousland. In the 1690s the Dalrymples of Oxenfoord & Stair took possession of the lands of Cousland. The origins of a new life for Cousland date from this period with the construction of a model village, blacksmiths, windmil At the stone bridge turn right, signposted to Ormiston. After the Cockburn Halls, turn right onto Main Street, then left along Meadowbank Road and right onto Tynemount Road. Follow this road out of the village through Tynemount farm. Turn left at T junction and past the road signposted Cousland After about half a mile turn right at the road to Airfield Farm, then the track over the hill back to Cousland village. Pause at the top of the hill for a last view back over the rich farming country to the Lammermuirs with their 21st century windmills. history of Cousland and village life today please visit www.cousland.net or come back for a history tour of the village and smiddy.

COUSLAND WALKS

Ormiston Outer Circle

An 8 mile walk on quiet roads, tracks and paths.

The route starts and finishes in Cousland Village and takes you through rich farmland and wooded estates passing recent and ancient reminders of the area’s rural, wartime and industrial history.

Cousland

The village of Cousland has a long and varied history documented as far back as 1110 when William St. Clair became first Baron Cousland. In the 1690s the Dalrymples of Oxenfoord & Stair took possession of the lands of Cousland. The origins of a new life for Cousland date from this period with the construction of a model village, blacksmiths, windmill, pottery and walled garden. To find out more about the history of Cousland and village life today please visit www.cousland.net or come back for a history tour of the village and smiddy.

Circular Route on roads and tracks

Distance approx. 8 miles Time approx. 3.5 – 4 hours

Descent/ ascent approx. 900 feet Parking in Cousland Village Bus Service Edinburgh Coach Lines Service 328 www.service328.co.uk

Keep left where the track forks to reach the remnants of Ormiston Hall, which burned down in 1944. Around the remaining walls and old walled garden are several restored or new houses. After the modern Great Yew cottage turn right along a track with a large tree trunk across its entry. About 100 yards along on the right is what looks like a Yew hedge. Follow the tunnel into its centre to the Ormiston Great Yew, reputed to be 1000 years old. There is a record of a parchment signed here in 1474, John Knox is said to have preached below it, and a flowery poem written in 1824 speculates “Perhaps thy earlier shoots might form the trusty bow on Flodden's plain”

Walk east through Cousland village and downhill past Hadfast nature reserve. At Pardivan cottage where the road bends sharply right go straight ahead through the gate. Follow the recently restored path, a daily shortcut previously used by local miners going to and from the coal mines at the present railway walk. There are views of the Lammermuir hills to the right, and of Cousland Park house and stables to the left. Turn left onto road; go straight on at Cousland Park entry then straight on again onto path. Onreaching Pencaitland Railway Walk turn right. Along the way are memorial stones to the Bellyford, Oxenford & Limeylands coal pits and Memory Boards recalling details from their working lives.

Rejoin the path and follow it through woodland, turn left on reaching a track and almost immediately right onto the B6371 to Humbie. Take the first road on the left, turn right at the T junction and follow the B6367 back down to the Pencaitland Road, passing the North Gate to Preston Hall, which dates from about 1740. Cross the A6093 and follow the verge along for about 100 yards, past the old road bridge. Take the unsignposted road to the right, follow it to Airfield Farm and then the cart-track over the last hill back to Cousland village. Pause at the top of the hill for a last view back over the rich farming country to the Lammermuirs with their 21st century windmills.

At the stone bridge turn right, signposted to Ormiston. After the Cockburn Halls, turn left and cross road (shop & café on left) onto High Street. Turn right at the T junction (history boards) and follow the pavement out of the village to the A6093. There are benches for a rest and another history board here. Cross road to enter woodland slightly to the right. Follow the track into the former Ormiston Hall estate. On the left is a memorial to Polish servicemen who were based here during WW2. The White Eagle of Poland and Lion Rampant of Scotland are faintly carved into the stone, and someone still regularly leaves fresh roses here.