This walk starts at the Gatehouse and takes you up the drive to where the old Mansion House used to be, and then on to either the North Lodge or to the site of the former West Lodge.
The walk starts off in the village of Stichill, at the parking area at the top of the village, near the Parish Church and the old Post Office (Eildon View). You can park your car in the car park at the bus stop.
Start your walk by following the road through the massive gate structure at the entrance to what used to be the drive of the old Mansion House.
The road is uneven in parts and can be quite wet in parts (depending on the weather), but a pleasant walk can be had, up to the site of the old Mansion House. After this, depending on your route and the weather and the time of year, wellingtons or walking boots may be necessary.
The gates were built in 1869. This was the main entrance to Stichill Mansion House. The gates were built to the instructions of George Baird. The Baird crest is on the North side of the gate stanchions, along with the year they were built.
In the days of the Baird and Deuchar families, you had to use the bell-pull on the outside of the East stanchion of the gates, which rang a bell in the South gate house. The gate keeper would then open the gates.
Sadly, the gates themselves were removed as part of the war effort in the early 1940's, and since then the driveway has remained open.
This gatehouse was most probably built in 1869 at the same time as the gates.
Walking up the drive, you will see houses on the left which were built from the 1930's onwards into the 1990's.
After these houses (there are 4) you walk through the old woods, known as the 'Fair Oaks' or 'Farrock's Wood'.
Emerging from the woods you reach a clearing where you can see the grass parks in front of you.
At the end of the driveway stood the Mansion House in all its glory.
The Mansion House was built in 1863 and stood where the house called Butler’s Chase? now stands.
The Mansion House only existed from 1863 until 1938. By 1938, it was thought to be worth more in pieces than as a house, so it was knocked down for the stone, lintels, slates, marble wood etc. The cost of the building, in 1861-63, was £34,000.
Today there is little sign of the Mansion House although it is possible to make out some room sizes and also a staircase, drainpipe etc.
On the South side of the ruins, you can still see an old, rustic set of gates, probably taken from around the house at some point, and used, now, as the entrance to the little bungalow which sits there (Butler’s Chase?).
From here there is a choice of three walks - to the North Lodge or to the site of the old West Lodge near Sweethope via the south side of Laird’s Hill or the north side of Laird’s Hill.
At the first fork in the drive as you approach the site of the old Mansion House, take the road to the right. Walk past the entrance into the houses called Lairdshill and High Field, and continue along the road.
Laundry Buildings
The old laundry buildings are on the right, which were later used as part of a piggery business, but are now converted to form a house.
Stables
Further along this road are what used to be the stables for the Mansion House. In its heyday, they stabled 20 horses in comfort, with the staff to look after them. Gone are the old clock, bell tower etc.
From the stables, continue along the drive to the North Lodge, past the newer houses called Ardbeg and Woodend.
Alongside the road you will see the remnants of the original metal fencing lining the driveway and also an old hand-operated water pump.
From this point you can see, to the North-west, the site of the water works on the side of Sweethope Hill which supplied the Mansion House. These water works consist of a holding tank and a pump house, both of which are still in reasonably good condition. The water was pumped from there into a holding tank and then to the big house, a great improvement on the previous supply which had been sorely inadequate.
Return to Stichill
Turn and walk back the way you came to the junction.
You can either retrace your steps down the drive to Stichill or walk out to the site of the former West Lodge.
This route is difficult walking in parts, so boots or wellies recommended. Unless you particularly want to walk this route, you may find it easier to take the route round the north side of Laird's Hill (see below).
At the first fork in the drive as you approach the site of the old Mansion House, where you went right to the North Lodge, take the road to the left.
This road takes you along the south edge of the house called Lairdshill, past a house called Butler’s Chase on your right, and on past a modern house on your left.
On a good day this is a particularly pleasant walk as you have Laird's Hill to your right, and a wide expanse of land on your left overlooking the recently created ponds, on the site of the original pond. In the distance you can see Peniel Heugh at Ancrum, with the Cheviot Hills providing the backdrop.
Laird’s Hill
Laird's Hill is full of earth workings near the top, and is the site of an Iron Age fort.
On a winter's day, when the vegetation has died down, it is possible to see and walk some of the old walks in what were the 'Ornamental Woods'. Originally there were fine specimens of beech, oak and lime interspersed with silver fir and other trees. There used to be thousands of rhododendron bushes in the area. Only through the imagination will you be able to envisage what it looked like when at its best.
Old Walled Garden
The same is true of the walled garden, which remains as a double wall, stone outside and brick and stone inside. The east entrance is an arch with a 'Weather God' face both inside and outside. The inside of the garden is totally derelict, as are most of the buildings associated with the garden, though the remains of the bothies may be worth a quick inspection.
From the gardens you can
Walk through the woods to Parkend and continue on to the road
or
Continue around the bottom of Laird's Hill and out to the site of the former Sweethope West Lodge, where you rejoin the road.
Return to Stichill
When you reach the road, either from Parkend or from the site of the former Sweethope West Lodge, turn left and follow the road down to a T-junction on the Stichill/St Boswells road. Turn left at this road to return to your starting point in Stichill.
The walk back to your starting point is about 3 miles from Sweethope Lodge and about a mile less from the Parkend junction.
This route is along a much better track than the route above and it’s often used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
At the junction where you can go east to the North Lodge or west via the old Mansion House around the south side of Laird’s Hill, take the road to the right – for North Lodge. At the house called High Field leave the road for North Lodge and follow the track to the left (the track is actually straight ahead of you as you walk past High Field).
As you reach Laird’s Hill you will see a nature reserve at the start of the wood on your left.
Dunter’s Park is the field on your right, and beyond that is Sweethope Hill with Jock and Jenny (two old trees) on the top.
You can see the site of the water works on the side of Sweethope Hill clearly. The water works supplied the Mansion House and consist of a holding tank and a pump house, both of which are still in reasonably good condition. The water was pumped from there into a holding tank and then to the big house, a great improvement on the previous supply which had been sorely inadequate.
The track is lined with beech, chestnut and oak trees along to the site of the old West Lodge.
On reaching the end of the track turn left onto the road to return to Stichill.