Cauldshiels and the River Tweed

A lovely long circular that passes by Cauldshiels and Faldonside Lochs. The route also goes through Rhymer’s Glen once part of Sir Walter Scott’s designed landscape.

The River Tweed rises in the Lowther Hills and flows for 100 miles before emptying into the sea at Berwick-upon-Tweed. It is Scotland’s 4th largest river.

If starting from Tweedbank Station, take the tarmac path (Southern Upland Way) towards Melrose. Pass the modern office building to reach the road near Lowood Bridge. Cross over and take the riverside path to Melrose and follow directions from Point 1.

1. From Abbey Car Park, go right up Abbey Street and into the Market Square. Cross over and opposite the Station Hotel go right, up towards the former Melrose Station. Continue up past the building on the tarmac path and out on to the old station platform, then follow the path along the former railway line. There are views across the fields to Darnick and the Waverley Castle Hotel. After 1km, cross straight over the road and continue till the path ends.

Turn right at the pedestrian subway then left up a narrow lane, Lye Road. On your right, you pass the Darnick Community Woodland, planted with a variety of native trees and shrubs and a haven for wildlife. Short circular walks can be had in and around the woodland area and village. At the road, turn left over the bridge above the by-pass.

2. Turn left through the subway and walk up beside the road past the entrance to Borders General Hospital. When the road forks, bear right uphill before turning left (fingerpost) at a track heading down towards Rhymer’s Glen.

3. Go past the cottages, cross the burn and then bear right up a small track into the woodland above Rhymer’s Glen, once one of the most popular walks from Melrose and a favourite excursion of Sir Walter Scott from Abbotsford (see panel). Follow the woodland ride up the glen and out of the woodland, on to a path across an old earthwork until reaching a gate.

4. Go through the gate out onto Bowdenmoor turning right to walk with the wall on your right, through another gate to reach the edge of Cauldshiels Loch at a kissing gate. Go through the gate and follow the winding path through the woodland along the water’s edge. Near the end of the loch, bear right on a path away from the water to join the Borders Abbeys Way (BAW). Follow the BAW along a track to meet a road. Here go left (leaving the BAW) for 200 metres then bear right on a track, just before a cottage.

5. Follow the track through woodland with Faldonside Loch seen below through the trees on your left, then bear right up a track leading into a field. Faldonside Loch is categorised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest; it is of local importance as a winter wildfowl roost because of its sheltered location. Follow the left-hand edge of the field for 300 metres, then bear right down to the bottom of the field close to a gated entrance by the road. Walk right a short way up beside the wall till you reach a gate and follow the path through woodland to the road.

6. Cross the road carefully to a path through the woodland and join another path heading down towards the River Tweed. Here follow the estate track walking with the river on your left for 600 metres. At the second kissing gate, bear left into a field and follow the raised bank path across the haugh beside the river. The Abbotsford Haugh is home to over 200 species of flowering plants and grasses including Northern Marsh Orchid, Yellow Rattle as well as many mature parkland trees. After a while, across the field to the right, you can see Abbotsford House. Continue across the field to reach a gate near the far corner. The path emerges on to a track and rejoins the BAW.

7. From here, either turn right up the lane to Abbotsford Visitor Centre or continue on the BAW (Route 5) along the River Tweed to reach Lowood Bridge.

8. If returning to Tweedbank station, climb the steps on the right to the road and turn right to reach the station carpark. Otherwise cross the road and take the riverside path to Melrose.