Dye Water

The Dye Water is a small river in the Lammermuir Hills, flowing through the Scottish Borders. It starts in the Hope Hills, follows the East Lothian boundary near Seenes Law, and travels east to Longformacus before joining the Whiteadder Water after 12.5 miles. The river’s name comes from the Gaelic Uisge Dhàidh, meaning ‘black water’. Two long-distance footpaths cross the area around Dye Water. The Sir Walter Scott Way and the Southern Upland Way both pass through Longformacus, offering walkers routes through rolling hills and quiet valleys. The hills around the river rise to over 400 metres, giving views across the Borders landscape. Longformacus sits at the eastern end of the Dye Water’s journey. The village is surrounded by farmland and moor, with the river running close to its southern edge. Walkers on the long-distance paths often stop here before continuing east or turning back into the hills.