Walker’s website Walkhighlands has added two more long distance routes in the Scottish Borders. Full descriptions, OS mapping, GPS downloads and photos are now available free of charge for the Borders Abbeys Way and the St Cuthbert’s Way.
The Scottish Borders are famed for their magnificent ruined abbeys at Melrose, Dryburgh, Jedburgh, and the more ruinous Kelso. The Borders Abbeys Way is a long distance walk that links all four Abbeys in a circular route of 107km. The walk has five stages, each ending at an attractive town as the route takes in Jedburgh near the English border, the old mill towns of Hawick and Selkirk, picturesque Melrose and Kelso with its impressive Georgian buildings arranged around a cobbled market square.
As a circuit, the route can be started at any point. The walk keeps mostly to lower levels, crossing a peaceful pastoral countryside, with only a few sections that climb higher into rougher ground, rewarded with extensive views. There are lengthy stretches along the River Tweed and the River Teviot, famed for their salmon fishing. All the towns on the route are well served by bus, with direct links between the start and end of every stage.
St Cuthbert’s Way runs from Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne off the coast of Northumberland in England. The route climbs over the fringes of the Eildon Hills before following stretches of the mighty River Tweed and the Roman Dere Street. It then passes Cessford Castle before a fine hill ridge is traversed en route to the attractive village of Kirk Yetholm. The route then skirts the northern edges of the Cheviot Hills to cross the border and descent to the fine old market town of Wooler. The final stretch crosses the Northumberland countryside for the dramatic finale across the causeway to Holy Island and its dramatic castle and ruined abbey.
Both these routes would make great summer holiday options and can each easily be undertaken within a week leaving plenty of time to enjoy the interesting towns and other activities in the area. Check out the Borders Abbeys Way or the St Cuthbert’s Way on Walkhighlands.