Wiliestruther Loch and Acreknowe Reservoir

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The town of Hawick historically obtained its water supply from Hawick Common, the high ground to the south of the town situated on the ridge between the River Teviot and the Slitrig Water. This is the expanse of Williestruther Loch.

The old dam at Williestruther.

The dam casts a large shadow in the low late afternoon sun as we look down the valley below the dam. The overflow travels a short distance to join the Slitrig Water which in turn meets the Teviot in the centre of town.

The Acreknowe Burn marked the boundary of Hawick Common, and in the 1870's Hawick Town Council decided to acquire land on the opposite bank of the burn and build a new and larger dam, in order to provide an improved water supply for the town. A half mile walk up a track from Williestruther takes us over the next ridge to this vista of Acreknowe Reservoir.

The old dam at Acreknowe, constructed in 1881.

The valley below the reservoir spillway, where the Acreknowe Burn continues a short distance to join the Slitrig Water.

Nowadays the town's water supply comes from the much larger Alemoor Loch, some ten miles to the west, from where it is piped to a covered reservoir at the summit of Gala Law, on the other side of the Teviot Valley, and Acrewknowe provides a leisure facility for fishing, walking and horse riding.

Have kilt will hike.