Halmyre Wood

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Well, it probably can't officially be called an obelisk, due to having such sloping sides, but its only description on a map is 'pillar' (this only shows up on very detailed online mapping, which is a bit odd considering the size of the structure) which is probably even less accurate a term. The real conundrum with this thing regards what it is doing here in the first place! Investigations weren't that straightforward, but OS maps from around 1910 show the route of a pipeline, or 'conduit' as they put it, right at the spot of the obelisk. The pipeline runs underground (apart from occasional aqueducts) so it seems a little odd for it to get plotted on maps. It takes water from the two mile long Talla Reservoir, a good way south of here, to southern Edinburgh, and its overall length is around 35 miles. Although online information is a bit sketchy there are mentions of similar structures along the pipe's route. Apparently they are surveying towers. As the water gets to its destination solely by gravity accuracy was obviously required, but this still doesn't really explain why it is so grand. My best guess is that because the money required to convert a small water body into a massive reservoir was so huge, the money spent on these was just a drop in the ocean. Plus railway lines had to be constructed from various places to transport materials for the building of the reservoir at the turn of the 20th century. As with everything railway-related, there is a colossal amount of online information regarding them. Thinking information about the structure would be readily available online I didn't bother measuring it, but I reckon it's around 20 feet high with a four foot square base. There were no obvious markings.

A short detour from the large mobile phone mast, which is passed on the poorly waymarked (along this wiggly bit anyway) Cross Borders Drove Road, brings you to the trig point. This medium-length Long Distance Path runs from the Western side of the Pentland Hills to Hawick. It is based on the route said to have been used long ago by cattle drovers to get their animals to English markets. 'Based' is certainly the operative word round here as it seems highly unlikely that such an odd circuitous route would have been used for any length of time, even if there were access problems with some of the surrounding land. I was surprised to read that the route has been designed with horse riders in mind. They would certainly be advised to skip this section, and stay on the road until reaching the A701.

A good view opens up from the track on the Cross Borders Drove Road.

The path down from Broomlee Hill has been re-routed through a new tree plantation east of the quarry.

A fence with a pedestrian gate enclosing new tree plantation east of Woodend Quarry.

A signpost for the Cross Borders Drove Road taking a field edge route to the A701 and Romannobridge.

The Cross Borders Drove Road follows field edges southwest to reach the A701 and Romannobridge.

Vigilance needed here where the Cross Borders Drove Road from West Linton crosses a fast stretch on the A701.

A conversion abandoned in 2008 shortly after the removal of the roof. An attempt at revival of the project in 2011: NT1749 : Halmyre Mains

A conversion abandoned in 2008 shortly after the removal of the roof. An attempt at revival of the project in 2011: NT1749 : Halmyre Mains

A newer photograph of the milestone at Halmyre Mains on the original line of what is now the A701. See NT1748 : Old milestone. It is marked on the 1897 OS map.

A close up of the top of the 18 mile stone showing the cut benchmark and pin in the square recess.