NESTLING in a crook of the River Tweed, at the foot of the Eildon Hills, Melrose has always held a special place in the nation's heart. It is home to Melrose Abbey, a beautiful monastic ruin founded for the Cistercian monks by David I in the early 12th century. The Abbey is the final resting place of the heart of King Robert the Bruce and is one of Scotland's most popular tourist sites. It is also the starting point for this weekend's walk.
From Melrose Abbey, go up Abbey Street, then turn left on to the path at the end of the railings (Priorswalk). Follow this path, turning left after a bridge, to reach a housing estate. Go straight ahead for about 150 metres, and then turn left along
a narrow path in front of a small row of houses.
Follow this path for 800 metres until a road. Turn left, then right, up a track at the road junction. You are now at the edge of Newstead. The village was the home of the masons who built Melrose Abbey in the early 12th century and Priorswalk was their route between Newstead and the abbey.
Follow the track under the old railway bridge, through the subway, under the bypass and up the slope, with Eildon Hill North to your right. When meeting the road, turn left, passing the Eildon Tree and the Rhymer's Stone. Thomas the Rhymer, or Thomas of Ercildoune, lived sometime between 1220 and 1297. He was thought to have the gift of prophecy and many of his predictions came true over the years.
Follow the road for 2km to a junction at Newtown St Boswells. Despite its name, a community was recorded at Newtown as long ago as 1529. The village used to be a major centre for milling grain and the monks of Melrose Abbey used to bring their cereal to be ground here. When the railway came, the village became a centre for communication and livestock markets were started. 'The Mart' is still a major part of village life.
Turn right, and using the pavement, follow the road into the village, passing the Scottish Borders Council HQ, a 1960s building that dominates the village, on your right. When reaching the Bank of Scotland, turn left on to Tweedside Road to join St Cuthbert's Way.
In Newtown St Boswells at Tweedside Road, after 100m turn left between buildings to join St Cuthbert's Way, follow the track, then a path down into Newtown Glen. The deciduous woodland of Newtown Glen has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It supports a wide range of wildlife and has a marvellous array of flowers in the spring.
Climb the path to the right and follow it above the River Tweed, with excellent views over the valley. The path drops down to meet a road at Dryburgh Bridge. The bridge was built in the 20th century, replacing an earlier bridge by Captain Samuel Brown, to allow Dryburgh villagers to cross the river.
Leaving St Cuthbert's Way, cross the bridge and follow the path, passing the Temple of the Muses on your left. The Temple features a modern statue in a model of a Greek pavilion, erected by the Earl of Buchan.
Follow the road into Dryburgh, passing a large gateway on your left. This striking gateway was also built by Buchan, in memory of his parents and as the entry to his fourteen-acre orchard, the walls of which can still be seen across the fields. At the junction, turn right towards Dryburgh Abbey.
This abbey was founded by the Premonstratensian Order in about 1150. The best preserved buildings are the east cloister range and include a 16th century Commendator's House inserted into the canons' dormitory. Like all of the Border abbeys, Dryburgh was devastated on various occasions by English forces.
By the 17th century, the building had ceased to function as a working abbey. Much of the current village was developed by David Stuart Erskine, the 11th Earl of Buchan. The abbey grounds are the burial place of Sir Walter Scott and Field Marshal Earl Haig.
From Dryburgh Abbey, follow the track to the left of Dryburgh House Lodge and past the toilets. After 150m, turn left and follow a path that comes out alongside the Tweed. Walk along the riverside, with a field on your left.
At the end of the field, leave the riverside, walking uphill through a small woodland. Look out for a view of Mertoun Bridge. On reaching a field, go along the right-hand edge to a gateway. Follow the track up past Mertoun Cemetery to a road. Turn right and pass along the road, through the hamlet of Clintmains to meet a main road. Across the road is the driveway to Mertoun House and Gardens. The gardens are open at weekends during the summer.
Melrose to Clintmains
Distance: 6 miles
Route: This is a relatively easy part of the Borders Abbeys Way and takes in Dryburgh Abbey and part of St Cuthbert's Way
Transport: There is a bus service between Melrose and Kelso that also meets the Borders Abbeys Way at Newtown St Boswells and at the main road near Clintmains (Munro's service 67).
The full article contains 879 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
