A historic walking trail and a route across Hawick’s bridges offer different perspectives. Hawick combines a richly historic townscape with trails that take in history and local attractions. When looking for a hotel in Hawick, your travel plans can help guide your choice: would you like to focus on the town’s history or spend time on the trails?
Textile history in the townscape
The Hawick Conservation Area encompasses the entire High Street and the historic town centre to its south. A substantial mill lade system and industrial textile buildings have been preserved there. Together, these structures offer a glimpse into Hawick’s industrial history. The former William Beck’s Stocking Shop marks the transition from domestic to factory industry around the turn of the 19th century. The building is now a residential property, providing historical context from the outside; it is also the only surviving building of its kind in Hawick.
Eastfield Mill is also part of the town’s textile history: textile manufacturing has been based there for more than 140 years. The town’s connection to the textile industry therefore extends beyond a single building. Anyone interested in Hawick’s development can explore this long history of manufacturing alongside the surviving buildings and the mill lade system.
Traditions and architectural history
The Hawick Common Riding commemorates the capture of an English flag in 1514. Young people from Hawick captured it at Hornshole. The Common Riding also preserves the old custom of riding around the boundaries of the common land. This blend of local history and inherited custom gives the event a distinctive place among Hawick’s cultural themes.
Another historical point of interest is Drumlanrig’s Tower. The original building was a three-storey tower house with an L-shaped floor plan and an attic. The Douglases of Drumlanrig built it in the late 16th century. Its form, construction date and builders make the tower a concrete example of architectural history that can be explored alongside Hawick’s industrial heritage.
Choose trails by length and theme
The Hawick Town Trail is 4.5 miles long and gives visitors another way to learn about local history and the town’s development. Check the route details before setting off. The Bridges Trail is about 8 kilometres long, connects all 14 of Hawick’s bridges and highlights various local attractions. It runs between Jooglie Bridge and Hornshole Bridge along the active travel network; route details may change, so it is also worth checking the latest information before setting off.
The two trails have different focuses: the Town Trail centres on local history, while the Bridges Trail follows the sequence of bridges and offers views of local attractions. There are 13 listed routes around Hawick, ranging from 2 to 8 miles. Sections of the Borders Abbeys Way are also among the trails around Hawick. The stated distances provide a practical basis for planning, without implying any particular walking time or level of difficulty.
Wilton Lodge Park and the river
Wilton Lodge Park has a long boundary along the River Teviot and is situated on the valley slope. The park is also home to a cycling-path project: a £100,000 initiative to improve cycling paths was delivered by Sustrans Scotland through the Community Links Programme, in partnership with Scottish Borders Council and funded by the Scottish Government. The park thus combines a prominent riverside setting with a documented infrastructure project for cycling.
Plan an archive visit
The Scottish Borders Archive is located at the Heritage Hub in Hawick and brings together more than 800 years of Scottish Borders history. Visits for on-site research require an appointment in advance. As collections and access arrangements may change, check the latest information before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Carrbridge, Edinburgh, Forfar, Jedburgh, Longniddry, Newtonmore, Kingussie
For the main travel overview: Scotland.
