Devils Beef Tub

Crawford Macnab

24 August 2026

Mike decided to have a break from the festival, so we had a strong team of 11 Marauders all arriving within moments of each other at the devils beef tub layby – Mike, Willie, Robin, Keith, Claire, Pamela, Crawford, Moira, Sheila, Stuart and Karen.

Welcome to Claire on her first Marauders walk!

Boots on and raring to go in the bright morning sunshine we paused for a group photo in front of the beef tub information board.

The walk starts on the Annandale Way going briefly along the A701 before turning north east on a steady drag up some grassy slopes to Annanhead Hill.

Continuing onward, a look back to our starting point gave great views of the Devils Beef Tub.

The path continues over Peat Howe with views to Whitehope Heights and Hart Fell in the distance. From here we could see the Strait Step contouring around the slope of Great Hill before it descends down to Corehead below.

Thankfully this was not our route for the day as a few parts of the path looked to have been badly eroded or missing!

As our high point at Chalk Ridge Edge was a bit exposed we continued for another 15 minutes dropping down to the cairn that marks the start of the Annandale Way.

This was a pleasant resting place to take first lunch.

From here there is a path that continues up to Hart Fell but our route took us south on more of the Annandale Way. Although the path was fine it was obvious that this part of the Way did not get too many visitors!

Eventually the path opened up into gentler slopes as we continued down to the valley floor.

A solidly built wooden structure and benches provided an excellent location to take our second lunch.

Suitably rested we continued along a track to reach Ericstane Farm where some swallows (and others) were resting on the wires.

The farm was at about 175m so it was a bit of a pull back up to the A701 at 346m. At this point the Way crosses the road and continues NNW over Ericstane Hill before dropping down to reach the layby where we started.

The Wee Crook was a short drive back on the A701 where well deserved tea, coffee, and cakes were taken on the sunny benches.