The Loan

Start location: West Linton (NT 150 520)
End location: Roman Road, Lyne Water (NT 143 530)
Geographical area: Lothian and Borders
Path Type: Drove Road
Path distance: 1.2km
Accessibility info: Suitable for pedestrians, Suitable for Bikes, Suitable for horses

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Route Description

The first half kilometre or so is fairly steeply up hill with houses either side. Eventually the track, which is rather rough, levels off and there are fields either side, with Leadlaw Hill rising to the east and views developing to the north. The last bit of the track, which remains rough levels off. The Roman Road (Old Biggar Road), at which this right of way ends, has a fairly good tarmac surface.

The Loan is promoted along with The Catwalk as a classic circular family walk by West Linton's community website, but owing to the Catwalk's steepness they do not recommend this route for unaccompanied children.  

OS Landranger 65 (Falkirk & West Lothian)

Heritage Information

The Loan has been said to be where the drove road which crossed the Pentlands via the Cauldstane Slap entered West Linton. In any case, the term "The Loan" was often given to tracks where historically drove roads came off the hills.

The centre of West Linton village is designated a Conservation Area. Previously known as Linton, the village dates back to at least the 13th century. In the 17th and early 18th century weaving took place in the village. There is a booklet available in the village bookshop which explains much of the history of the village.

Lead Law, to the east of this route, gets its name because lead mining took place in mediaeval times. The Siller Holes on the north side of the hill were where silver was formerly extracted.

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