This is the longest stage of the Borders Abbeys Way, much of it in close promixity to the River Tweed. It passes through St Boswells and close by Dryburgh Abbey before the riverbank and country lanes lead on to the lovely town of Kelso.
Bog Factor
Good paths, quiet roads, riverside sections.
Melrose Abbey (car parking opposite).
Bus to Melrose and Kelso.
NT547341
The walk begins from the magnificent ruins of the Abbey at Melrose. Begin by heading along the Priors Walk; as you face the Abbey from the car park, it is the walkway to the right of the Abbey fence. It soon leads through a playground and then emerges on a road in a housing estate. Turn left here and then - as the road bends to the right - turn left to head through a gate and onto a footpath. The path takes an elevated route above the fields to reach the village of Newstead, and was formerly used by the stonemasons to work on the Abbey. The path emerges near the foot of Dean Road; turn left onto it and then immediately right up a path beside a noticeboard by the junction with Annat Road / Main Street. The path leads through the trees and then curves left. Take a right turn to pass under the old railway and keep ahead under the new bypass road.
Beyond this the path leads up a ramp to the right. At the top, turn left onto a track, bearing left at the immediate fork. The track bends to the right and climbs and falls gently before emerging on what was once the main road to Melrose. Turn left soon reaching the Rhymer's Stone and viewpoint. The Stone 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. From here continue up the road past the barrier.
After the next barrier the road leads through Eildon, keep straight ahead at the junctions and the road eventually reaches Newtown St Boswells. At the T junction cross and turn right to follow the pavement and keeping straight on at a junction to pass the headquarters of Scottish Border's Council with its distinctive tower. Turn left at the Bank of Scotland to follow Tweedside Road. Turn left to join the St Cuthbert's Way for a short distance, first following the track between houses and then heading under the A68 on a path through Newtown Glen, over a bridge and straight ahead and up wooden steps to a viewpoint over the Tweed. At Dryburgh Bridge cross the Tweed, leaving the St Cuthbert's Way.
The Temple of the Muses is worth the short detour through the gate on the left once over the bridge. Otherwise continue along the road, passing the impressive gateway erected by the Earl of Buchan in memorial to his parents. At the road junction turn right to follow the road to Dryburgh Abbey. This beautiful site can be visited (admission charge - there is also a single ticket for all the Abbey's on the route) as a short detour. Otherwise the Way continues past the toilets, later turning left over a stile onto a path alongside the walled garden of The Dryburgh Hotel. This soon reaches the riverbank and follows the Tweed downstream until the route climbs up a track, turning off this to the right at a bend to go through a gate and above a very eroded section of high river bank with a good view of Mertoun Bridge below.
After a gateway the track bends left to pass Mertoun Cemetery and reaches a road. Turn right to the hamlet of Clintmains. Turn right in the hamlet to continue to the busy B6404, where there is a bus stop with shelter. Turn left here; the Borders Abbeys Way first runs along on the near side grass verge before crossing (carefully) to the far side. When a track goes off to the right, the route bears right to pick up a path through the woods which remains parallel to the B6404. It then reaches a minor road; turn right down this, passing the farmhouse at Magdalene Hall. After a final house the road becomes a track, crosses a ford (footbridge on the right) and slopes down to reach the mighty River Tweed, famed for its salmon fishing (more Atlantic salmon are caught in the Tweed than any other European river). The way now runs downstream along the banks of the Tweed.
The route passes a fishing hut before curving left away from the river. Turn right through a gate to follow a muddy track which passes below the house at Old Dalcove. Another gate leads onto an improved track, which in turn continues to reach a minor road at a corner. Turn right along the tarmac, following the road downhill at first with open views - the Waterloo Monument on Peniel Heugh is prominent in the distance. Pass the houses at Dalcove Mains (the sign reads 'Windmill') until the end of the road is reached by another pair of houses. Here turn right to continue on a track, which soon bends left. When another track joins from the right continue ahead. Eventually the barns and attractive estate cottages at Manorhill are reached. Turn left onto the minor road here, and then right at the next junction with the war memorial. After around 850m another junction is reached; turn left here and then take the next right.
The road leads past the fine farmhouse at Haymount and several cottages before emerging at the B6397. Go straight across this on a tarred road which soon becomes a track; when the main track curves right to some barns keep straight ahead on a rougher track. This section can be muddy; the track dog legs to the right and left and then continues through woodland. Keep ahead at a cross-tracks, pass round another dog leg and finally emerge on the A6089 by a house. Cross carefully and continue on the minor road opposite, leading past a row of cottages and the entrance to Harrietsfield. A little further on turn right onto a grassy track which skirts the edge of fields with distant views to the Cheviots. Cross a minor road and go through the kissing gate, turning left to follow the edge of the field round to a signed gate into the next field on the left. This leads down to a grassy lane, follow this to the left until it reaches a minor road. Turn right here to pass Berryhill and descend to emerge opposite Kelso Racecourse which has been hosting races since 1822.
Turn right and follow the road around the boundaries of the course, turning left at the next T junction; the road gives a good view of the racecourse as it then bends to the right. When the Kelso bypass is reached, turn left along the pavement. Continue past the golf club and then cross the road to pick up a tarred path opposite the ice rink. The path leads through a housing estate; keep straight ahead until it zigzags left and right to descend a hill. Turn right near the bottom at the railings to continue on a tarred footpath. Keep ahead until it meets a residential street; turn right here alongside the park and then left at the main road beyond. Take the next road which forks off on the right - Roxburgh Street. Note the gatehouses and fine wrought iron gates on the right - they mark the entrance to Floors Castle - the largest inhabited castle in Scotland. Ignore this but instead take a lane on the right before the first terraced houses. This leads down to the banks of the river Tweed. Turn left and continue downriver along a pleasant green until the way is blocked by warehouses and the walk heads up a ramp on the left. Keep ahead to emerge on Roxburgh Street opposite Superdrug. Turn right here to reach the magnificent Georgian square at the centre of Kelso.
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