Author’s granddaughter joins battle to save ‘The John Buchan Way’

JOHN BUCHAN’S granddaughter has joined the battle to save the footpath named after her relative from afforestation.

Ursula Buchan – a journalist who published a definitive biography in 2019 of John, author of the classic thriller The 39 Steps – has spoken of her grandfather’s “deep love” of the hills and hopes between Broughton and Stobo.

Stobo Resident’s Action Group (StoboRAG) has mounted a crowd funding appeal for legal fees to challenge Scottish Forestry, at the Court of Session, on its decision to approve a 10-square-km Sitka spruce plantation at Stobo Hope.

Protestors claim this will turn the John Buchan Way footpath from a track on open hillsides to a forestry way bordered by pine trees with no views.

The 13.75-mile route, with a total ascent of about 800m, was opened in 2003 and connects Peebles to Broughton.

Campaigners say the tree planting would alter the landscape, which Buchan enjoyed in the early 20th century while staying with his maternal grandparents at Broughton.

Ms Buchan said: “From early childhood, John Buchan knew and deeply loved the hills and hopes between Broughton and Stobo, since he spent time each summer with his grandparents in Broughton.

“He walked this path many times, played with his siblings, fished in the upland burns, and made friends with the shepherds.

“It is thought that the remote farmhouse at Stobo Hopehead was the model for the road mender’s cottage in his most famous novel, The 39 Steps.

“As John Buchan’s granddaughter and latest biographer, I wish the StoboRAG all success in their challenge to the plantation proposal.”

A Scottish Forestry spokesperson said: “Scottish Forestry carried out its own 28-day public consultation period and subsequent to this worked with the applicant to make further changes, which included more native broadleaves and a reduction of the size of conifer species within the National Scenic Area.

“After working with four different landscape architects and a number of statutory consultees, we are satisfied that that the applicant’s forest design proposals, which was significantly altered during the process, met the requirements for the woodland scheme to proceed.”