Tuesday March 10th 2026
A7 Lilliesleaf Junction
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Two towns in the Borders are set to be united by a active travel path, it has emerged.
The proposed new shared-use path would offer walking, wheeling, cycling and horse-riding opportunities which would mean travelling between Hawick and Selkirk could be undertaken actively.
Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) Active Travel and Transport Team has successfully secured funding from Transport Scotland through the Active Travel Infrastructure Fund (ATIF) to undertake a feasibility study for the proposed Hawick to Selkirk Active Travel Corridor along the A7.
Following a Shared Access Routes community consultation in 2024 the route which would link the two towns was identified as one of the five most requested routes by the community.
It is now included as a priority route in the council’s Active Travel Strategy which was adopted by council in 2025.
SBC plans to seek public views on this project in early spring 2026. Information on how to get involved will be shared on its social media channels.
Hawick and Selkirk are 11 miles apart with a large amount of vehicular travel between the two towns.
Councillor Jenny Linehan, SBC’s executive member for Environment, Sustainability and Transport, said: “This proposed Active Travel route between Hawick and Selkirk represents an important step towards making everyday journeys safer, more inclusive and more accessible across the Scottish Borders.
“At the heart of this project is the aim of giving people of all ages and abilities a real alternative to travelling by car making it easier to walk, wheel or cycle between our communities.
“The feasibility study, alongside public input, will help ensure any future decisions are informed by local views and focused on strengthening connections and encouraging active travel for everyday journeys.”
The proposed route would follow the A7 trunk road connecting the existing shared-use path from Selkirk to the Active Travel Network (ATN) within Hawick.
Any design development and delivery of the project would be subject to SBC securing external funding.
SBC is working closely with local landowners’ and appreciate their support with this phase of the proposed project.
The benefits of active travel routes are to connect communities and key services and improve the health and well-being of local residents by making it easier to choose active travel, such as walking, wheeling, cycling and horse riding, for everyday journeys.
Tweet Share on Facebook
