St Cuthbert's Way runs from Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne off the coast of Northumberland in England. The route climbs over the fringes of the Eildon Hills before following stretches of the mighty River Tweed and the Roman Dere Street. It then passes Cessford Castle before a fine hill ridge is traversed en route to the attractive village of Kirk Yetholm. The route then skirts the northern edges of the Cheviot Hills to cross the border and descent to the fine old market town of Wooler. The final stretch crosses the Northumberland countryside for the dramatic finale across the causeway to Holy Island and its dramatic castle and ruined abbey.
The route links several sites associated with St Cuthbert. He began his monastic career at Melrose Abbey from 650AD, and eventually became the Abbot at Lindisfarne. Following his death and beatification, in 875AD Lindisfarne was abandoned due to Viking Raids and St Cuthbert's relics were rested at a cave whilst en-route to safety - the cave is also visited along the route.
The walk passes through attractive and varied countryside throughout its length; it can be done in four days or taken at a more leisurely pace by building in additional overnights.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival Melrose
Enjoy this lovely historic market town with St Mary's Abbey, the partly ruined monastery of the Cisterian order at the heart of the town. St Cuthbert was born here in Melrose.
Day 2 : Melrose - St Boswells 7 miles/11 km
Start the day with a climb up Eildon Hills and enjoy the beautiful views, followed by a gentle walk down to Bowden Burn and on to Newton St Boswells, which has refreshments available. Shortly after leaving the town, you re-join the River Tweed and follow it to St Boswells. While staying in St Boswells, Dryburgh Abbey makes for a very pleasant side trip.
Day 3: St Boswells to Jedburgh 9 miles/15 km
Today's walk starts out along the banks of the River Tweed and then follows the line of Dere Street, an ancient Roman Road, to Jedburgh; with the magnificent ruins of the medieval Augustinian Abbey, destroyed during the border wars with England in the 16th Century.
Day 4: Jedburgh to Morebattle 11 miles/18 km
The route continues to follow Dere Street. Enjoy good views of the Cheviot Hills as you walk though this border region to Cessford Castle, with its extensive defences owing to its proximity to the English border. Continue to Morebattle for overnight.
Day 5: Morebattle to Kirk Yetholm 7 miles/11 km
From the village of Morebattle walk up the the steep hill and down the other side of the Kale Valley. Walk past the ford over the Kale River, used by the locals to wash their cards in the flowing water. Cross the River Kale by the footbridge and walk up the hill, enjoy the fine views backwards towards Morebattle and the Eildon Hills on the horizons. Continue to Yetholm, linked to the Border gypsies and home to fine thatched cottages; reminders of its origins as a farm township.
Day 6: Kirk Yetholm to Wooler 13.5 miles/22 km
The start of the route today follows the Pennine Way as you walk from Scotland to England and into Northumberland. This area was famous in the middle ages for its sheep and fleeces, sold by Melrose Abbey to Flanders. The Hethpool Valley is the home to a large group of feral goats which roam the Cheviots. These magnificent animals, especially the males with their large curved horns are the descendants of goats who managed to escape to freedom during the middle ages. Walk past the lovely waterfall of Hethpool Linn before continuing past Yeavering Bell , thought to have been one of the major bases of the Votadini, the tribe which occupied most of the coastal land around here at the time of the Romans.
Day 7: Wooler to Fenwick 12.5 miles/20 km
A beautiful walk today - the route starts along a Roman road known as the 'Devil's Causeway'. Leaving the road, the track takes you onto St Cuthbert's Cave Wood (National Trust). Close to the wood is St Cuthbert's Cave, a large natural sandstone outcrop, where the saint's body is said to have rested after leaving Holy Island in 875AD when Vikings attacked Lindisfarne, forcing the monks to flee. From the cave, enjoy great views of the Cheviot Hills and the Northumberland coastline. As you work your walk uphill onto the skyline, at Fawcet Hill, on a good day you will have a panoramic view of Bamburgh, Lindisfarne Castle and the Farne Islands. Returning to the path, and working your way uphill over the saddle between Greenshaw Hill and Cockenheugh, down across the Middleton Burn, and back uphill onto the skyline, at Fawcet Hill, brings you on a fine day, a panoramic view of everything between Bamburgh and Lindisfarne Castle, including the Farne Islands. Continue to Fenwick for overnight.
Day 8 : Fenwick to Holy Island 6 miles/10 km
After a hearty breakfast, you will walk across either the sands on the Pilgrims Causeway or alternatively you can walk the causeway over to Holy Island, which can only be crossed when the tide allows. Check the tides as both the sands and the causeway are impassable during the high tide times. These times, which are different each day, are listed on a board at the roadside. The Pilgrim's Path is marked by the line of poles, and crossing, without wading, is safest in the middle of the safe tide times. As the sands are rarely ever dry, be sure to take suitable footwear. The end of the Cuthbert's Way is at Lindisfarne Priory.
Day 9: Departure after breakfast
Prices per person:
£725 per person 6 nights
£845 per person for 7 nights
£965 per person for 8 nights
Single room supplement: approx. £50 per night
The 6 night option has overnights in Melrose, Jedburgh, Morebattle, Kirk Yeltholm, Woller and Lindesfarne making 3 days walking over 15 miles per day.
The 7 night option omits the second night in St Boswells making that day's walk 15 miles. The rest of the itinerary remains the same as the 8 night option.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
Sample Accommodation:
https://melrosebedandbreakfast.co.uk/
https://www.buccleucharms.com/
https://templehallhotel.co.uk/
https://www.borderhotel.co.uk/
http://www.theoldmillwooler.co.uk/
https://www.inncollectiongroup.com/lindisfarne-inn/
https://www.theshipinn-holyisland.co.uk/
WHAT TO TAKE
Sturdy walking boots and walking socks (with a change of socks in rucksack), rucksack/day pack, 1 x water bottle with 1 litre capacity, insect repellent, sun glasses, sun hat, sun block/cream, compass, torch, first-aid kit.
WHEN TO GO
Mid-April to mid-September. Accommodation will be difficult to obtain on UK national holidays unless booked well in advance (and may require an alteration to the programme).
GETTING THERE:
By Air: Edinburgh and Newcastle airports are the closest aiports to Melrose. From Edinburgh airport you can take the tram (35 minutes)/airport shuttle bus (25 minutes)/taxi (20 minutes) into the city centre. From Newcastle airport into the city centre it's a 20 minute taxi or 35 minutes on the metro to reach the central train station.
By Train: From Edinburgh city centre take a train (1 hour) south to Tweedbank. Tweedbank station is just a 10 minute bus journey from Melrose, see the Borders Buses website for timetables. Alternatively, if arriving in Newcastle, from the city centre it's a 45 minute train journey to Berwick-Upn-Tweed followed by a 1 hr 25 minute bus journey to Melrose.
By Bus: Melrose and Jedburgh are both served by National Express buses. If arriving in Newcastle airport it's possible to travel by bus to Jedburgh (1hr 20 minutes) and from Jedburgh to Melrose (40 minutes). Please mote that the timetable from the airport to Jedburgh is very limited, make sure to plan your journey well in advance and pre-book tickets where possible.
By Car: We generally recommend using public transport as secure public long stay parking is very limited in Melrose. However, if arriving by car you can return to Melrose to collect your car from the Holy Island by bus (1hr 30 minutes), check the Borders Buses website for timetables.
Departure:
By Bus/Taxi: From Holy Island take the Borders Buses 477 bus service to Berwick Upon Tweed (30 minutes). Please note that buses are limited, not operating on Sundays, early in the morning or later in the evening from Monday-Saturday. A pre-booked local taxi (25 minutes) is the easiest alternative. UK-wide links for onward travel are possible from Berwick-Upon-Tweed.
By Train: Arrive in Berwick-Upon-Tweed by bus or taxi as above for rail connections to Edinburgh (45 minutes) or Newcastle (45 minutes). To book and for timetable details see the National Rail website.
By Air: Edinburgh and Newcastle airports are the closest airports to Berwick-Upon-Tweed. From Edinburgh Haymarket station to Edinburgh Airport a Citylink shuttle bus (25 minutes) or the tram (35 minutes) are the best public transport options, alternatively a taxi (20 minutes) is also possible. To reach Newcastle Airport from Newcastle city centre it's 35 minutes on the metro or a 20 minute taxi.
INCLUDED:
6, 7 or 8 nights accommodation in ensuite rooms in B&B and inns and hotels
Luggage transfers from accommodation to accommodation
Maps and route notes
Breakfast each morning
Telephone back up if required
NOT INCLUDED:
Lunches, dinners, drinks, insurance, anything not mentioned in programme.
INSURANCE
We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for whatever reason.