Borders Abbeys Way

Borders Abbeys Way
Jedburgh Abbey
Length109 km (68 mi)[1]
LocationBorders, Scotland
Established2006
DesignationScotland's Great Trails
TrailheadsCircular
UseHiking
Elevation gain/loss1,300 metres (4,300 ft) gain[1]
Highest point339 metres (1,113 ft)
SeasonAll year
SightsHistoric ruined abbeys, rivers, wildlife, countryside
Websitehttp://www.bordersabbeysway.com/
Dryburgh Abbey

The Borders Abbeys Way is a long-distance footpath in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It is a circular walkway and is 109 kilometres (68 mi) in length.[1] The theme of the footpath is the ruined Borders abbeys (established by David I of Scotland) along its way: Kelso Abbey, Jedburgh Abbey, Melrose Abbey and Dryburgh Abbey. These abbeys were homes to monks, who lived there between the 12th and 16th centuries. The route also passes through the towns of Hawick and Selkirk, and close to Abbotsford House, the home of Sir Walter Scott.[2][3] Along the Borders Abbeys Way there are several rivers: Jed Water, River Teviot, River Tweed, Ale Water, and Rule Water.

The route was opened in 2006, and is managed and maintained by Scottish Borders Council.[2] It is now designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails by NatureScot.[1] The route links with four of the other Great Trails: the Cross Borders Drove Road, the Romans and Reivers Route, St Cuthbert's Way and the·Southern Upland Way.[3] About 15,000 people use the path every year, of whom over 2,000 complete the entire route.[4]

Sections of the Walk

Most people choose to do the walk in one day for each segment.[5]

Start Finish Distance Start elevation Finish elevation Highest point
km mi m ft m ft m ft
Kelso (55°35′49″N 2°25′58″W / 55.5970°N 2.4327°W / 55.5970; -2.4327 (Borders Abbeys Way: Kelso Abbey)) Jedburgh 19 12 41 134 85 280 120 390
Jedburgh (55°28′36″N 2°33′15″W / 55.4766°N 2.5541°W / 55.4766; -2.5541 (Borders Abbeys Way: Jedburgh Abbey)) Hawick 20 12 85 280 105 344 300 985
Hawick (55°25′43″N 2°47′00″W / 55.4285°N 2.7833°W / 55.4285; -2.7833 (Borders Abbeys Way: Teviotdale Leisure Centre, Hawick)) Selkirk 20 12 102 334 172 564 339 1,113
Selkirk(55°32′50″N 2°50′29″W / 55.5471°N 2.8415°W / 55.5471; -2.8415 (Borders Abbeys Way: Market Square, Selkirk)) Melrose 16 9.9 172 564 98 320 270 880
Melrose(55°35′56″N 2°43′09″W / 55.5990°N 2.7191°W / 55.5990; -2.7191 (Borders Abbeys Way: Melrose Abbey)) Kelso 28 17 98 320 41 134 148 485
Complete walk 103 64 339 1,113

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Trails Archive". NatureScot & Rucksack Readers. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Borders Abbeys Way" (PDF). Scottish Borders Council. 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Borders Abbeys Way". NatureScot & Rucksack Readers. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Scotland's networks of paths and trails: key research findings" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. August 2018. p. 6. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  5. ^ "Abbeys Walk". The Borders Abbeys Way. Scotland's Great Trails.
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55°34′41″N 2°34′11″W / 55.5781°N 2.5697°W / 55.5781; -2.5697 (Borders Abbeys Way)