The cross border route to Newcastleton is mainly using a popular cycling trail that connects the small towns of Kielder and Newcastleton.  The checkpoint in Liddesdale is not too far in a direct route over the hills but is quite and outing by vehicle.  This leg is the second longest of the race and again the vast majority is on good, solid forest tracks.  It does however have stretches of footpaths and exposed areas up high where you’ll get great views but where the weather can have an impact.  If inclement weather is going to be part of the 36 hour race weekend then you might want to factor that into the equation when deciding where to put this in your order of four legs.

The Lakeside Way is an easy and low level start but once you turn away from the reservoir and track the banks of Lewis Burn you then start the steady climb to the cross border stone.  Up through Akenshawburn you go on the logging trail before peeling off and heading cross country up to the old Boundary Stone on the Bloody Bush pass.  It’s here to the comms mast where you’re open to the elements with the high fells of Newcastleton looming into view.  The trail then picks its way down the hill, traversing across Newcastleton forest where you need to keep a sharp eye out for turns.  Eventually the trail gives way to a road that descends all the way to the western edge of Newcastleton and you quickly head to the centre of town to the checkpoint.  Refuel, plan, execute.

It’s a shorter, steeper climb on the reserve journey than the one from the English side.  Once again picking your way through the forest and soaking in the views between the trees before hitting the final steep ramp up to comms tower.  Now you have a lovely, enjoyable descent all the way to the Lakeside Way.  At 55km and just over 900m of climbing it is a fair run in it’s own right.

Route map for North Star (West) Newcastleton by Drew Swinburne on plotaroute.com