Eildon Hills, from Melrose

The three shapely summits of the Eildon Hills are a celebrated landmark. They make for a classic half-day, yet steep, hillwalk from the attractive town of Melrose.

Terrain

Good hillpaths, though steep in places.

Public Transport

Bus to Melrose.

Start

Nutwood car park, Melrose. Open start point in Google Maps for directions.

Users' reports

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Walk Description

Stage 1

The walk begins from the Nutwood car park, reached off the B6374 towards Newton St Boswells. Begin by taking the lane that leads to fine Market Square at the heart of Melrose. Turn left at the Merkat cross to head up Dingleton Road - signed for the golf club. The road leads under the bypass; a short distance further look out for a sign on a lamppost which indicates where to turn left onto a path between some houses; the route follows the signs for St Cuthbert's Way for the first few kilometres and so is marked with a white cross as well as the 'triple peaks' logo of the Eildon Hills. The path leads behind some gardens and then climbs a very long flight of wooden steps.

Stage 2

At the top, continue ahead up a path climbing between fields. As height is gained there are excellent views back over Melrose, and later Galashiels too. Pass through two gates to cross a track and keep climbing up the next field. After another gate turn right on the signed path, descending slightly, and then left straight up the slope at the next junction, climbing past a seat and continuing to reach the col between the two visible Eildon Hills. The Eildons are quite unlike the rest of the Borders landscape, being the remains of an underground volcanic eruption. The solidified lava was then uncovered as the softer rocks above eroded way.

Stage 3

Continue on the path until it reaches the saddle between the hills. At this point St Cuthbert's Way is left behind; instead branch right onto the wider and obvious path that climbs steepy up Eildon Mid Hill. The new path swings diagonally right up the slope before curving back left for the final rockier climb up to reach the flat summit.

Stage 4

The top is marked by a trig point and a view indicator - the latter reveals that this must rank as perhaps the finest viewpoint in the Borders, with the steep upper slopes ensuring the outlook has depth as well as distance. The southern side of Eildon Mid Hill is particularly steep, so to reach Eildon Wester it is best to first return the way you came back to the saddle. Turn right onto St Cuthbert's Way once more; you then have a choice of either following the Way down to the edge of the woods before turning right up towards Eildon Wester Hill, or short cutting by taking a path which contours the slope from the junction just below the saddle.

Stage 5

Either way, the flat area between Eildon Mid and Wester should be reached, and a broad path leads up towards the latter. There is one very short steep section before the path continues up to the tiny cairn which marks the summit of Eildon Wester Hill. The view here is less extensive than from its higher sibling, but it does offer a fine prospect of the other two Eildon hills. Retrace your steps all the way back to the saddle between Eildon Mid and Eildon Hill North for a third time.

Stage 6

This time take the broad grassy path that climbs up towards Eildon Hill North. When it forks keep right, then left, climbing with grand views down towards Melrose Abbey - to reach the large, flat grassy summit plateau. Eildon North Hill was the site of a huge bronze age fort covering 39 acres - 300 hut circles have been identified although it is likely that the site was only used for festivals and defence. Later this was the site of a Roman signal station for the nearby major fort of Trimontium (or 'Three Hills').

Stage 7

The summit is marked by a cairn with good views towards the Leaderfoot viaduct. Continue to the far end of the grassy top to find a path which descends the ENE slope. The path is much improved, with stone steps on the steepest part. Keep directly ahead all the way. Keep left alongside the trees to pass through a gate and continue down to reach a minor road. Turn right at the road; the route then takes the next left, but first you can detour briefly along the road to visit the Rhymer's Stone. This marks the spot where the Eildon Tree once stood and where Thomas Rhymer is said to have met the Queen of the Fairies, and delivered his prophecies during the 13th century. As well as having the gift of predicting the future, Thomas was also a popular poet and his rhymes are some of the earliest examples of Scottish poetry.

Stage 8

Retrace your steps briefly, then turn right onto a track which is part of the Borders Abbeys Way - note the AW waymarker. The track curves left and then right to reach the busy A6091. Turn right here to descend into a subway and then pass beneath the road, and continue under the old railway. Beyond this turn left and follow a path which eventually curves to the right and drops down to the road in Newstead. Turn sharp left up Dean Road and then immediately right onto a footpath (AW and three hills marker).

Stage 9

This old path - the Priorswalk - leads back to Melrose and was once used by the stonemasons of Newstead to go to work at the Abbey. When it reaches a housing estate in Melrose take the right hand branch of the road. Look out for a footpath on the right that leads to and passes through a playground before emerging beside the majestic Abbey ruins. Turn left to head back to the centre of Melrose and the start of the walk.

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