Eildon Hills

About Mid Eildon Top

The Eildon Hills dominate the Borderland and can be seen for miles around. Equally, the views from the top are marvellous in all directions. The early peoples, called the Selgovae by the Romans, built their capital or oppidum in a hillfort at the top and had space for more than 300 huts within it. The Romans at a later stage built a signal station on the hill to pass messages along Dere Street. Legend has it that Thomas the Rhymer was taken by the Queen of Elfland into the Eildons and held for seven years. It is understandable that such a significant part of the landscape should form such a key part of borders History and mythology.
You cannot drive to the top of the Eildons. It is a 9km round trip from the centre of Melrose involving a climb of some 300 metres. The path is quite rough in places. However, the views from the top make it very worthwhile. Alternatively, enjoy the view of the hills from the Trimontium viewpoint.
Ogilvie, perhaps echoing Milton’s great poem, ‘On his Blindness’, and thinking of his own approaching old age, wrote these lovely lines about the views from the top of Eildon – If I Were Old