St Cuthbert's Way: Melrose to Harestanes

Summary

Beginning at the spectacular ruins of Melrose Abbey, St Cuthbert's Way leaves the charming town of Melrose, climbing steeply to pass between the shapely Eildon Hills. This stage includes a lengthy stretch alongside the beautiful River Tweed and another along the ancient Roman road of Dere Street. It ends at the Harestanes Centre near Ancrum although many choose to detour to Jedburgh for accommodation.

Grade

Bog Factor

3.5/5

Rating

Terrain

Very varied paths, including woodland, farmland, plenty of hills and quiet country roads. There are many wooden steps.

Getting there

Start

Melrose.

Public Transport

Bus to Melrose.

Start Grid Ref

NT547341

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 24.1km / 15 miles
Time: 6 - 7 hours
Ascent: 428m (Profile)

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Walk Description

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Stage 1

The walk begins at Melrose Abbey, which St Cuthbert first joined around 651, becoming Prior from 664; he became Bishop of Lindisfarne in 685. Begin the walk by following Abbey Street southwards to reach the Market Square. Go straight across up Dingleton Road, signed for the golf course; it heads steeply uphill, passing under the A6091. After a short distance take the slightly hidden, signed path on the left between the terraces of houses; the path descends steps into a dell and then climbs a long flight of wooden steps beyond. At the top cross a stile and continue ahead up a path climbing between fields. Pass through two gates to cross a track and keep uphill to a signed junction.

Stage 2

Turn right here, then left at the next junction, continuing uphill past a seat to reach the col between Eildon Hill North and Eildon Hill Mid. At the col keep straight ahead onto a grassy path (unless you want to detour to either summit). Almost immediately bear right onto a larger path and stay on this, ignoring another path off uphill to the right, and head into the trees. Ignore another path joining from the right, and when a t-junction is reached turn right. Follow the wide path until leaving it where it bends right - taking instead the signed path straight. The path now runs along the inside edge of the woods, turning left at a junction. Go straight across at a track but then bear right when the path ahead leads to a bridge over a burn. The route continues through the trees, eventually aiming left down some wooden steps.

Stage 3

Go straight across a track, then cross the field and then a bridge to pass through the right edge of a copse of trees. Leave the trees at a gate, and keep straight ahead on a grassy path (ignoring the path off left), eventually passing through a picnic area and playpark to reach Bowden. Keep ahead along a lane to reach the main street - noting the octagonal Pant Well. Turn right briefly here, then left on a minor road signed for Bowden Kirk. When the road bends right turn left onto a path. Keep following the waymarkers ahead, ignoring paths on the right and left to reach and cross a bridge.

Stage 4

The route soon joins and follows a grassy bank, passing through several gates to reach the road at Whitelee. Bear left along this, eventually heading under the old railway bridge to reach Newtown St Boswells. There's a shop and inn off left here, but to continue the route go straight across the main road, keeping left of a fence. At the next junction go straight across and up the lane with the stone cottage on the right. Just before the lane passes under the A68 bear right onto a path, cross a footbridge and then up two flights of wooden steps to follow a path high above the Tweed. There are good views of the wide river below with the Eildon Hills in the background.

Stage 5

At the suspension bridge you can detour to visit beautiful Dryburgh Abbey on the far side (3km round trip - admission charge). Otherwise the route continues along the river. Cross a minor road and continue on the riverside path, which has several more sets of wooden steps before it eventually bears right to reach a lane in St Boswells. Bear right along the lane, then left along Hamilton Road and left again onto the Main Street. This leads through the village centre, passing several shops and a cafe. After 400m turn left along Braeheads Road.

Stage 6

Turn right at the end and then left downhill to reach the golf course - then turn right on the signed path which keeps to the near edge of the course. After the end of the golf course the path reaches the beautiful bankds of the River Tweed once more.

Stage 7

Follow the banks of the Tweed to Mertoun Bridge - heading up steps to reach the road. Cross and head down the far side to regain the riverside path. After a gate the path diverts from the river briefly to avoid an eroded section of bank, before rejoining it further on. The path re-enters woodland and crosses a boardwalk - ignore steps off right. After a footbridge over a tributary the path bears right up steps. Note the Crystal Well on your right - the well preserved building above it contains a horse engine where mules once powered a pump to feed fresh water to nearby Benrig House in the mid 1800s. Soon after the path forks right, comes alongside a wall and then climbs a steep flight of steps.

Stage 8

Turn left at the top to head through more woodland, ignoring a stile on the right and crossing several boardwalks. Go straight across at a track, followed by more bridges and boardwalks. The path soon reaches the lovely Maxton Kirk; pass to the right of this across grass to meet a minor road. Turn right at the road and follow it to the A699. Go right briefly then take the first left, keeping left at a junction on a bend. Stay on this road until almost at the A68, turning left just before onto a woodland path. The next section of the Way follows the route of Dere Street, a Roman Road which once ran from York to the Firth of Forth. Cross a footbridge, head through a gate and continue along the belt of woodland - sometimes within the trees, sometimes on their left edge, sometimes along a fenced path between fields.

Stage 9

A gate on the right gives access to Lilliard's Cross - claimed to be the burial place of a maiden killed in the Battle of Ancrum Moor. Return to the trail along Dere Street, which winds through the trees for 2.5km, crosses a minor road and then a boardwalk. It bears left to cross a footbridge then curves right uphill, crossing a bridge and ignoring a path off right. Head straight across at the B6400. Beyond this a bridge is reached; you can bypass Harestanes by heading left over the bridge to shortcut onto the next stage. Harestanes has a car park and seasonal cafe but no accommodation; to reach it, keep right through the trees, then bear left on a path alongside a minor road to reach the steadings complex which includes the cafe.

Next stage: Harestanes to Kirk Yetholm

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