B7009

The western end of the B7009

The B7009 is a route along the valley of the Ettrick Water in Selkirkshire. The road was originally unclassified but had gained its number by 1932.

The road starts in the suburbs of Selkirk by turning south off the B7014 Muthag Street and climbing along Mill Street, which has the air of an ordinary residential road. The A707 Heatherlie Terrace is soon reached and there's a short multiplex to the right. After a left-hand bend the B7009 regains its number by turning left onto Ettrick Road. We climb along this S2 road and soon reach open country. The road comes out up the side of a valley with woods in the area.

Continuing ahead we descend into the valley bottom and briefly run alongside the Ettrick Water. We remain skirting this edge of the flood plan and at this point actually follow a more winding course than the river to the north. The valley opens out and the road becomes straighter but this doesn't last and we're soon forced to climb up the valley side to avoid crossing the river.

We continue upstream and come alongside the river again and the B7039 comes in from the right, crossing a bridge immediately before joining us. We remain on the same bank for a couple of miles until we reach the small village of Ettrickbridge where we cross to the left bank then run along the main street. The road now seems narrower as it winds its way alongside the river or up the valley side, winding along with the valley. Presently we reach the hamlet of Crosslee where we cross a burn and end on a TOTSO on the B709.