MELROSE TO ST BOSWELLS (7.25 miles)

Starting from Melrose Abbey walk south through the market square and continue under the underpass. After about 100 yards turn left between some houses and follow the path through some trees to wooden steps which take you out of the built up area. The path climbs through some fields and onto the open moor and between two of the Eildon hills to a height of about 1400 feet (430 metres), giving good views of Melrose behind and the surrounding area.

Melrose Abbey

The Way then drops down through woodland and passes through the village of Bowden. There is a section just after Bowden, where the path follows the Bowden Burn, according to the official maps dogs are not permitted on this section, although we had our dog and met some local people with their dogs. After this section there is about a mile on the road before the Way passes through the edge of Newtown St Boswells. Leaving the village the Way follows the edge of a stream to meet, and follow the banks, of the river Tweed. You will pass the Drybrough footbridge over the Tweed, which if time allows, can be crossed to the village of Dryburgh. A visit to Dryburgh Abbey will cost £2.50 (in 2000) or you can climb the hill out of the village to visit the sandstone statue of William Wallace. Continuing to follow the Way along the river bank will bring you into the village of St Boswells.

The Way travels along part of the main street of St Boswells before climbing up behind the village, to the golf course. St Boswells has a hotel, The Buccleugh Arms, some shops and accommodation is available.

ST BOSWELL TO JEDBURGH (12.75 miles)

Maxton Kirk

On leaving the village of St Boswells you go past the club house and across the golf course, the path again joins and follows the banks of the Tweed, on a very interesting part of the walk. You will pass the Mertoun Mill and Mertoun Bridge. After some open pasture and woodland the Way eventually climbs up steps from the river to bring you out in front of the pretty Maxton Kirk and then takes you on into the village of Maxton.

After Maxton the Way follows country lanes for about 1 - 1.5 miles before joining Dere Street, a few yards before the A68 road. At this point Dere Street, which originally ran from York to the Forth and is marked with a Roman helmet rather than the usual St Cuthbert's cross, runs roughly parallel to the A68. The Way follows Dere Street for 5 - 6 miles.

As the St Cuthbert's Way takes you down Dere Street you will pass some interesting features that you may wish to digress to. First feature, very close to the Dere Street, over a style, is Lilliards stone. Lady Lilliard fought at the battle of Ancrum Moor in 1545.

Inscription on Lilliard's Stone Fair Maiden Lilliard lies under this stane Little was her stature, but muckle was her fame Upon the English loons she laid many thumps, And when her legs were cuttit off, she fought upon her stumps.

Further along the Dere Street, on the top of a hill to the left and some distance from Dere Street, is the Waterloo Monument. This has a viewing platform around the top.

You can also leave Dere Street and St Cuthbert's Way to visit Harestanes Visitors Centre, which is open between April and October and is about half a mile to the right of the Street. This gives access to toilets and refreshments and accommodation in the nearby village of Ancrum. There is also a bus service from Harestanes to Jedburgh.

After Harestanes, Dere Street passes through some woodland, part of the Monteviot estate, and across a long swaying suspension bridge over the Teviot. Continuing along Dere Street you will pass by Jedburgh. If you want to stop off in Jedburgh there are several roads that cut across Dere Street that can be followed into the town. The easiest route to follow is the first road, the A698, which you cross at Jedfoot bridge. This route into Jedburgh is flat and is about 2 - 2.5 miles long. Jedburgh has a wide range of facilities to offer.

JEDBURGH TO TOWN YETHOLM (14 miles)

After Jedburgh, the Way continues along Dere Street for a while before leaving it to follow the road to Crailinghall. The Way then follows some farm tracks, crosses Cessford Moor and then some country road to eventually bringing you to the farm of Cessford and the ruins of Cessford Castle. Continuing on more roads the Way takes you into the village of Morebattle. The pub was recently closed down and apart from a small shop it offered very little in the way of mid day refreshments.

After Morebattle the Way follows the road and climbs before dropping back into the Kale Water valley bottom. Eventually you will leave the road and cross the only bridge, over the Kale Water, specifically built to join up the route of St Cuthbert's Way, and climb up towards Grubbit Law, and on to the top of Wideopen Hill. On a clear day this will give some beautiful views back to the Eildon hills and also of Cheviot. You will pass the half way marker for St Cuthbert's Way before dropping down into the Bowmont Valley, onto the road, about 1 mile out of Town Yetholm.

Looking back on the Eildon Hills

Just before entering the village the Way diverts and follows a stream just south of the village. You will need to leave the path to enter the village, where there is a pub, local shops and accommodation.

TOWN YETHOLM TO WOOLER (12 miles)

The Way leaves Town Yetholmand follows the road to the smaller village of Kirk Yetholm. For a short while you will walk on the final section of the Pennine Way. Soon after climbing out of Kirk Yetholm you leave the road to climb over a series of hills and through some dense woodland, past the Border fence marking the passing into England, until you reach the farm of Elsdonburn. The Way continues down the farm road and along the valley bottom, passing the entrance to Hethpool House and past some pretty farm cottages.

You then cross the College Burn and climb through some woodland and into the hills between Yeavering Bell and Easter Tor, which on a clear day gives some excellent views to the north. The Way then crossed the open moor of Wooler Common and also some woodland, before dropping down into Wooler town, which has a wide range of facilities.

WOOLER TO HOLY ISLAND (17 miles)

From Wooler the Way climbs onto Weetwood Moor before dropping back down to the road again to cross the Weetwood bridge. After some roadwork passing through some large farms the Way follows a series of tracks into the St Cuthbert's Cave woods. A short detour takes the Way to St Cuthbert's cave. On leaving the wood you will cross some open moor, which on a clear day should give you your first glimpse of Holy Island. The Way then passes into Shiellow wood, followed by a short piece of roadway before arriving at the village of Fenwick. On leaving Fenwick you will soon cross the A1 road and then after following a track for a while the main east coast railway line.

Journeys end - St Cuthbert's Statue, Holy Island	Two more fields will bring you to the shore line and then turn left, for about a quarter of a mile, to reach the causeway. The causeway is closed by the incoming tide, for about 5 in every 12 hours. It is essential to time your walk to give you a reasonable window of opportunity to cross. There is an alternative to the causeway, called the Pilgrims Way, which cuts across the sand to the right of the causeway, and is about 1 mile shorter.	Lindesfarne Priory and Castle

It is marked by a line of poles across the sand, but the window of opportuity for crossing is even smaller than it is for the causeway. After crossing the causeway there is about 1.5 miles on the shore of Holy Island, before reaching the Lindesfarne Priory, where St Cuthbert's Way finishes.

Details of Holy Island crossing time can be found here.