| The Hirsel |  |
| Walk 2: The Hirsel
Distance: About 3 miles. Start & finish: Hirsel Estate car park at the Homestead visitor centre. The Hirsel - the name means 'a grazing area' - is the estate of the Home family. The late Lord Home, who died in 1995 aged 92, was Prime Minister, as Sir Alec Douglas-Home, in 1963-64. From the car park, cross the road and follow the track on the left of the lake (blue arrows). Walk up the side of the lake. At a fork go right and continue on a path, swinging away from the lake through rhododendrons and then along a field edge to return to the waterside. |
|
 .  .  . |
|
|
Cross the road, turn right on a track for a few paces then left towards the house. For the rest of the walk, follow yellow arrows. Turn left before the house. Fork right and at cross tracks go straight ahead on a path, noting the Cow Arch bridge on the right. Follow the path down and across the Leet Water. Herons and dippers might be seen by the water, or even a Kingfisher if you are very lucky. Trout sometimes rest in the shady area under the bridge. Turn right along the woodland edge. A seat gives a fine view of the house, which dates back to around 1650. |
|
 . . |
|
| Do not recross by the next bridge, but continue on the attractive riverside path, which climbs onto a bank high above the water. Reach the Golf Course and cross the river by a second footbridge. Cross a small bridge and follow the clear track to the car park and visitor centre, which explains many aspects of the estate and is well worth a browse around. There are also craft shops in the complex here, plus a tearoom and toilets. | |
 |
|
