Kirkpatrick C2C – Explorer Stage 6

The sixth stage of the Kirkpatrick C2C takes you from the largest town in the Scottish Borders, Hawick, to the market town of Melrose.

This stretch of the route offers a few climbs between Hawick and Selkirk before joining mostly flat roads towards Melrose. Those keen to extend the route can check out the Galashiels spur for a stop at the Great Tapestry of Scotland.

Locals say ‘A day out of Hawick is a day wasted’ so take some extra time in the morning for exploration before saying goodbye to the town and heading towards Selkirk. Take a walk around Wilton Lodge Park or pick up a souvenir at the Borders Distillery to enjoy at the end of your ride. Make sure to stop in the Royal and Ancient Burgh of Selkirk as you pass through. It was here that William Wallace was declared Guardian of Scotland, and novelist Sir Walter Scott served as sheriff at the local courthouse. Pick up some Selkirk Bannock, the local fruitbread, before continuing on, following along the River Tweed. The river will take you to Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott and one of the most famous houses in the world. Described as ‘a novel set in stone’, the extensive gardens, estate and interiors reflect Scott’s interests, tastes and achievements. From here, it’s a short ride to the picturesque town of Melrose, the birthplace of Rugby Sevens. The famous Melrose Sevens are held every year in the summer and draw thousands of spectators. The town is dominated by the imposing ruins of Melrose Abbey, one of the four ruined Border Abbeys, and it is said that the heart of Robert the Bruce is buried within the abbey grounds. Visitors can also enjoy Priorwood and Harmony Gardens before settling in for the night.