Melrose and the Eildon Hills

The walk starts opposite the entrance of Melrose Abbey, the greatest of the border abbeys, the ruins of which are still impressive. As well as lying at the heart of romantic Scott country, the abbey church is the last resting place of the heart of Robert the Bruce. The walk continues through the market place of Melrose with its 16th century mercat cross. Halfway up the climb to the saddle between Eildon Mid Hill and Eildon Hill North you can see the remains of an old quarry with the quaint name of Bourjo. Stone from the quarry can be found in some 15th century abbey reconstruction and in some of the older and grander buildings in Melrose.

As you make the final climb to the summit of Eildon Hill North you pass the ramparts of an iron age hillfort. The fort was a major tribal capital belonging to people known as the Selgovae. Later there was a roman signal station on the hill. From the hilltops the walk returns to Melrose, first by a circumnavigation of the upper slopes along a good woodland path around the south side and east side, finally back to north-side and another grandstand view of the Tweed and Melrose before descending back the way you came.