Bowden Circular

A reasonable long circular that passes round the Eildons rather than including steep climbs; there are great views on much of this route.

You can also stop for a moment at the Rhymer’s Stone; Thomas Rhymer was spirited away by the fairies according to folklore. The Eildon Hills are an iconic part of the Scottish Borders landscape. The views from their tops are stunning allowing the observer on a clear day to look out to the Lammermuirs, Moorfoots and Upper Tweeddale Hills.

1. From the start point at the Abbey Car Park, go up Abbey Street and cross the Market Square. Take Dingleton Road (under the bypass) for about 200 metres until reaching a cut through between houses on your left. This path is signposted as the Eildon Walk and St Cuthbert’s Way (SCW). Climb the steps and follow the well-waymarked SCW towards the Eildons and the gap between the two hills in front of you, Eildon Hill North to the left and Eildon Mid Hill to the right. This area is ablaze with colour at times, with the gorse and hawthorn blossoming in spring, and heather in flower later in the year.

2. When you reach the point directly between the two hills, turn right onto a broad well used path (that climbs to the top of Mid Hill, the highest of the Eildons). However shortly go right again on a path through the heather that traverses round the west side of the hill with fine views opening up to Darnick, Tweedbank and Galashiels in the Tweed valley. Take care as the path becomes narrow in places on some steep slopes.

3. When you reach flat ground in front of Little Hill (the only former volcano in the Eildons) bear left uphill and then sharp right at the marker post going around the back of Little Hill. Follow this path down around the side of Eildon Wester Hill close to the field edge. At the woodland go through the hunt gate and follow the path as it curves down through the trees. Cross the track and continue on down the steps steeply through the woodland strip.

4. At the gate at the bottom, for a shorter walk, but missing out the village of Bowden, you can turn left and head up SCW over the saddle and back to Melrose. Otherwise, continue the walk by turning right along a wide stone track. At the path turn right to reach Bowden’s curling ponds. They have not been used for the sport of curling for many years and were adapted, as a millennium project, to a small wildlife reserve. Retrace your steps to the track and go straight ahead. After 250m turn right through a gate and head down a hedge line path to main road.

5. Turn left and head into Bowden village. At the pant well (see panel) turn left, back now on the SCW, through a gate, to come out onto Bowden Common. At the top of the rise go through a gate on the right (sign posted to Newtown St Boswells) and continue on an ancient grass track between the fields till eventually passing Whiterigg Farm to join a road. When the road turns left, continue straight on along the field edge with extensive views opening out of the Eildons to the north and open Borders countryside to the south.

6. At the far corner turn left at the signpost along the field edge heading back towards the Eildons. Go down through the wooded glen over a footbridge and follow the path round and up through woodland and across the road. Continue on the same line into Eildon Hall Woods, across a track, till you eventually reach another track with a gate in front of you leading out onto the open hills. Eildon Hall Woods which stretch along most of the southern lower slopes of the Eildons are owned and managed by Buccleuch Estates.

7. Pause at the gate here to admire the view looking eastwards towards Leaderfoot, Black Hill and beyond. Now continue on a path that skirts the edge of the hills close to some magnificent old beech trees. Eventually you will join up with the main path descending from Eildon Hill North (Eildon Hill Path Route 6). Follow this down to the gate and down the track to the road close to Rhymer’s Stone.

8. To return to Melrose follow the signed Eildon Hills Path/BAW down the track towards Newstead, then along the Middle Walk (Priors Walk) and past the Abbey to the start point. Alternatively turn left and walk down the Old Bogleburn road and cross the by-pass to enter the market square through the East Port.