The Eildon Hills/A Melrose Wander

[Christo1979]

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From the square in Melrose town centre, I headed uphill and joined the St Cuthbert's Way path, from which the paths up the Eildon Hills are clearly signposted.

Looking up at the Eildon Hills by Christopher Watson, on Flickr

I mistakenly decided to follow the path marked on my OS map up North Hill, which turns out not to be a path at all. I wasted some time cutting through thistles, thorns, and rough grass, before giving up and returning to the visible path, and followed this around the bottom of North Hill and then ascended via the busy, steep, 'regular' path. Lesson learned - don't go off-piste if you don't need to I soon reached the summit of North Hill, and then headed down the clear path and up to Mid Hill, which would be the only Sub2000 of the day.

Atop Eildon North Hill by Christopher Watson, on Flickr

On the way up Eildon Mid Hill by Christopher Watson, on Flickr

Atop Eildon Mid Hill by Christopher Watson, on Flickr

From Mid Hill, it was a steep but straightforward descent to Wester Hill, after which I headed down toward Old Wood and enjoyed a nice woodland walk back towards Eildon village, and the Rhymer's Stone. This place is full of legend and folklore, and even thought the hillwalking is pretty low level stuff, the atmosphere of the place is fantastic.

Atop Eildon Wester Hill by Christopher Watson, on Flickr

Leaving Old Wood by Christopher Watson, on Flickr

I followed the road back down toward the Roman Fort of TRIMONTIVM, and soon found myself at the Leaderfoot Viaduct, an impressive Victorian bridge which looms over the smaller, older bridge over the Tweed.

Leaderfoot Viaduct by Christopher Watson, on Flickr

From here, I headed up toward Bemersyde Hill. As is so often the case, I came across a huge herd of cattle and their young calves, none of whom seemed pleased to see me. I carefully headed up Bemersyde Hill and enjoyed the view back across to the Eildon Hills, before walking down the road to see the Wallace statue, heading through the woods to see the Temple of The Muses, and then taking the riverside path into St Boswells and catching the last bus to Berwick.

All in all, a pleasant day of walking. The Eildon Hills may be small, but they certainly have attitude.

Eildon Hills from Bemersyde Hill by Christopher Watson, on Flickr

Temple of The Muses by Christopher Watson, on Flickr