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History and Heritage

Eskdale Prehistoric Trail

Driving Route

The timescale of these nine sites goes as far back as the Neolithic period (4,500 years ago) when our hunter-gatherer ancestors began to settle down in the Esk valley, and forward from there to the first century AD when the Romans invaded the area.

Towns along route: Langholm

Roman Iron Age Ruins in the Rhins

Driving Route

The Rhins of Galloway is rich in Iron Age archaeology and with a few hikes to some of the sites there is easily enough for a day or two of exploration here.

Time Travel to Ancient Days on the Machars

Driving Route

Jutting out into the Solway Firth, the Machars peninsula is an area steeped in ancient history and adorned with remnants of its Iron Age past. Discover our collection of mesmerizing sites that offer a glimpse into the lives of those who once inhabited these lands.

Abbotsford Grounds

Walking Route  -
Easy

A pleasant circular route around Abbotsford’s grounds, home of Sir Walter Scott. His estate is one of the most significant designed landscapes in Scotland, laid out between 1811 and 1825.

height
1.5mi
2km
trending_flat
262ft
80m
trending_flat
262ft
80m

Ninewells and the Whiteadder Water

Walking Route  -
Easy

A pleasant route from Chirnside passing along the Whiteadder Water and by Chirnsidebridge. You will pass Ninewells Dovecot dating back to the 16th century .

height
3.5mi
6km
trending_flat
426ft
130m
trending_flat
426ft
130m
Towns along route: Chirnside

Union Chain Bridge Circular

Walking Route  -
Easy

Crossing the historic Union Chain Bridge takes you onto a circular route in the English borders. The Union Chain Bridge was built in 1820 by Royal Naval Captain Sir Samuel Brown under the guidance of Scottish civil engineers, Robert Stevenson and John Rennie.

height
3.5mi
5.5km
trending_flat
164ft
50m
trending_flat
164ft
50m
Towns along route: Paxton

Innerleithen History Trail

Walking Route  -
Easy

An easy explore of the built heritage of Innerleithen with an option to visit the Iron Age Fort on Pirn Hill.

height
2.5mi
4.5km
trending_flat
426ft
130m
trending_flat
426ft
130m
Towns along route: Innerleithen

Gunsgreen House and Sea Braes

Walking Route  -
Easy

This short circular from Gunsgreen House, the smuggler’s house, takes you out around the high and dramatic coast line east of the town following the Berwickshire Coastal Path.

height
3mi
4.5km
trending_flat
459ft
140m
trending_flat
459ft
140m
Towns along route: Eyemouth

Paxton House to Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Walking Route  -
Hard

A riverside route following the River Tweed that you may choose to do as a long circular or use the local bus service to do a linear walk.

height
11.5mi
18.5km
trending_flat
820ft
250m
trending_flat
820ft
250m
Towns along route: Berwick Upon Tweed

Paxton House to Whiteadder Water

Walking Route  -
Moderate

A circular route from the elegant Paxton House crossing the Anglo-Scots border on the banks of the River Tweed.

height
6mi
10km
trending_flat
426ft
130m
trending_flat
426ft
130m
Towns along route: Paxton

Old Railway Duns

Walking Route  -
Easy

This figure of eight route follows the old railway line in part that was a branch line of the East Coast Main line .

height
4mi
6.5km
trending_flat
131ft
40m
trending_flat
131ft
40m
Towns along route: Duns

Clockmill Circular

Walking Route  -
Easy

A short circular that explores part of the town and its historic buildings before taking a short circular behind the new school.

height
2.5mi
4km
trending_flat
131ft
40m
trending_flat
131ft
40m
Towns along route: Duns

Mangerton Tower

Walking Route  -
Easy

A mainly circular route crossing the Liddel Water over Holm Bridge, passing Mangerton Tower (ruins of former Armstrong tower house) and returning on a country road.

height
4.5mi
7km
trending_flat
262ft
80m
trending_flat
262ft
80m

Across the Border

Walking Route  -
Hard

This long circular explores the area south-east of Newcastleton passing Mangerton Tower (former tower house of the Armstrongs), following the Anglo-Scots Border and along the banks of Kershope Burn and then Muckle Thwarter Gill.

height
11.5mi
18.5km
trending_flat
1,246ft
380m
trending_flat
1,246ft
380m
Towns along route: Newcastleton

Smailholm and Mellerstain

Walking Route  -
Hard

This circular route from Smailholm follows paths and tracks passing through farmland, woodland and underneath the dramatic Smailholm Tower.

height
8mi
13km
trending_flat
754ft
230m
trending_flat
754ft
230m
Towns along route: Smailholm, Kelso

Ednam Loops

Walking Route  -
Moderate

Two short loops that can be walked together exploring the area around Ednam; passes Thomson’s Monument, author of “Rule Britannia”.

height
5mi
8.5km
trending_flat
328ft
100m
trending_flat
328ft
100m
Towns along route: Ednam, Kelso

The Barony Loops

Walking Route  -
Easy

Two short loops exploring the countryside west of Eddleston along farmland and woodland tracks with a chance to visit the Polish Map of Scotland; a relief map in the grounds of Barony Castle created as a memorial to the Scottish people for their hospitality to Polish soldiers during WWII.

height
2.5mi
4.5km
trending_flat
394ft
120m
trending_flat
394ft
120m
Towns along route: Eddleston

Darnick and Gattonside

Walking Route  -
Easy

An interesting short circular passing thorugh Melrose and two of its neighbouring settlements, Darnick and Gattonside; includes two crossings over the River Tweed on Lowood and Chain Bridges.

height
4mi
6.5km
trending_flat
262ft
80m
trending_flat
262ft
80m
Towns along route: Melrose, Newstead

Melrose to Old Melrose

Walking Route  -
Easy

An interesting circular passing Trimontium (Roman Camp), Old Melrose (original site of Melrose Abbey) and The Rhymer’s Stone.

height
6.5mi
10.5km
trending_flat
525ft
160m
trending_flat
525ft
160m
Towns along route: Melrose, Newstead

Dere Street

Walking Route  -
Challenge

Dere Street is one of four major roads built by the Roman Army in Britain more than nineteen centuries ago.

height
12.5mi
20.5km
trending_flat
1,378ft
420m
trending_flat
1,804ft
550m

The Three Brethren

Walking Route  -
Moderate

One of Scottish Borders’ iconic hills (465m), topped with three impressive cairns demarking the meeting of three estates – Buccleuch Estate, Yair Estate and Selkirk Burgh.

height
6.5mi
10.5km
trending_flat
1,607ft
490m
trending_flat
1,607ft
490m
Towns along route: Galashiels

Minchmoor Road and Southern Upland Way

Walking Route  -
Moderate

This route follows the old Minchmoor Road up to join the Southern Upland Way going east past Broomy Law before returning to Yarrowford past the former youth hostel at Broadmeadows.

height
7.5mi
12km
trending_flat
1,410ft
430m
trending_flat
1,410ft
430m
Towns along route: Yarrowford

Calroust, the Castles and The Street

Walking Route  -
Challenge

This superb long circular passes over archaeology, picks up a short section of the Pennine Way and returns to the start along The Street (historic cross-border route).

height
11.5mi
18.5km
trending_flat
2,165ft
660m
trending_flat
2,165ft
660m
Towns along route: Hownam

Rhymer’s Route

Walking Route  -
Hard

Although quite a long route there is an interesting variety of terrain from town to hill to farmland and woodland.

height
9.5mi
15.5km
trending_flat
1,574ft
480m
trending_flat
1,574ft
480m
Towns along route: Melrose, Newstead

Eildon Hills Path

Walking Route  -
Hard

Although not a long circular this route has steep sections on the Eildons. The options to summit Eildon Mid Hill and Eildon Wester Hill naturally increase the length and height gained.

height
3.5mi
6km
trending_flat
984ft
300m
trending_flat
984ft
300m
Towns along route: Melrose

Tweedbank and Abbotsford

Walking Route  -
Easy

A short circular that you can start from the railway station passing by Gunknowe Loch, Abbotsford and returning on the Borders Abbeys Way (one of Scotland’s Great Trails) along the River Tweed.

height
3.5mi
5.5km
trending_flat
230ft
70m
trending_flat
230ft
70m
Towns along route: Tweedbank

Bowhill’s Duchess’ Drive

Walking Route  -
Hard

This circular through forest and hill within Bowhill’s lands is a most popular route due to its good terrain and great views; car parking charges apply.

height
7mi
11.5km
trending_flat
1,378ft
420m
trending_flat
1,378ft
420m
Towns along route: Galashiels, Yarrowford

Kirnie Law, Priesthope and the River Tweed

Walking Route  -
Hard

A most interesting route exploring pioneering engineering for powering the mills on the hills above Walkerburn.

height
8mi
12.5km
trending_flat
1,214ft
370m
trending_flat
1,214ft
370m
Towns along route: Walkerburn, Innerleithen

Traquair and Damhead

Walking Route  -
Hard

A great circular with two distinct landscapes – forestry and farmland. There is a reasonable amount of climb through the forest and take care through the farmland as the hills and fields are stocked.

height
7mi
11.5km
trending_flat
1,312ft
400m
trending_flat
1,312ft
400m
Towns along route: Traquair