History and Heritage

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.

1.5mi

2km

262ft

80m

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 .

3.5mi

6km

426ft

130m

426ft

130m

Towns along route: Chirnside

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.

3.5mi

5.5km

164ft

50m

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.

2.5mi

4.5km

426ft

130m

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.

3mi

4.5km

459ft

140m

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.

11.5mi

18.5km

820ft

250m

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.

6mi

10km

426ft

130m

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 .

4mi

6.5km

131ft

40m

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.

2.5mi

4km

131ft

40m

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.

4.5mi

7km

262ft

80m

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.

11.5mi

18.5km

1,246ft

380m

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.

8mi

13km

754ft

230m

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”.

5mi

8.5km

328ft

100m

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.

2.5mi

4.5km

394ft

120m

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.

4mi

6.5km

262ft

80m

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.

6.5mi

10.5km

525ft

160m

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.

12.5mi

20.5km

1,378ft

420m

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.

6.5mi

10.5km

1,607ft

490m

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.

7.5mi

12km

1,410ft

430m

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).

11.5mi

18.5km

2,165ft

660m

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.

9.5mi

15.5km

1,574ft

480m

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.

3.5mi

6km

984ft

300m

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.

3.5mi

5.5km

230ft

70m

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.

7mi

11.5km

1,378ft

420m

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.

8mi

12.5km

1,214ft

370m

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.

7mi

11.5km

1,312ft

400m

1,312ft

400m

Towns along route: Traquair

Tibbie Tamson’s Grave

Walking Route -

Moderate

A most attractive and emotive circular up to Tibbie’s grave (buried by the people of Selkirk in 1790, possibly a suicide) through woodland and farmland.

4mi

6.5km

853ft

260m

853ft

260m

Towns along route: Galashiels

Duns Law

Walking Route -

Easy

A short circular hill walk with beautiful views from the top of Duns Law for little effort. The route also passes the site of an old Iron Age hill fort that has a 17th century fort built within it.

2mi

3km

262ft

80m

262ft

80m

Towns along route: Duns

Edin’s Hall Broch

Walking Route -

Moderate

An interesting circular that you can extend by following the Southern Upland Way up to Edgar’s Cleuch.

5.5mi

8.5km

918ft

280m

918ft

280m

Towns along route: Abbey St Bathans

Abbotsford and River Tweed

Walking Route -

Moderate

An easy circular following old railway lines paths, tracks and the banks of the River Tweed. Abbotsford was the home of Sir Walter Scott.

6.5mi

10.5km

623ft

190m

623ft

190m

Towns along route: Melrose

History and Heritage

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Walking Route - Easy

Walking Route - Easy

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Walking Route - Easy

Walking Route - Easy

Walking Route - Easy

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Walking Route - Hard

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Walking Route - Easy

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Walking Route - Moderate

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