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Four Abbeys Cycleway FOUR ABBEYS CYCLEWAY SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY FOUR ABBEYS CYCLEWAY - SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY SUMMARY Immerse yourself in the moment on this gentle, undemanding cycle tour through the rolling pastoral landscape of the Scottish Borders. Take time to visit the medieval abbeys at Melrose and its neighbour Dryburgh, onto Kelso and finally Jedburgh, learning about the tumultuous and sometimes bloody history of this often disputed territory. The Four Abbeys Cycleway itinerary is a circuit, starting at the charming Border town of Melrose. Each cycling day has been specially designed to ensure a relaxed pace, allowing you to experience all that this feature filled cycling holiday has to offer. Along the way you pass scenic viewpoints overlooking lush green valleys and visit historic landmarks. You will learn how the area grew during the medieval renaissance, prospering from monastic trade links and cultural exchanges with Europe and its scholars. The route offers castles, towers, country houses and gardens. Cycling at the foot of Eildon Hills, otherwise known as the ‘magic mountains’ and rich in folklore, the Teviot and Tweed rivers will never be far from your side. The Borders region offers an abundance of local produce and you’ll be tempted to try the local goodies as you pass the tea rooms, farmers markets, Tour: Four Abbeys Cycleway and historic towns. Code: CSSFA1 Type: Self-Guided Cycling Holiday HIGHLIGHTS Price: See Website Dates: March—October See the best of the Borders tranquil countryside Nights: 4 / Days: 5 Discover the turbulent history behind each of the four medieval Abbeys Cycling Days: 3 Spectacular views across the magical Eildon Hills Start/Finish: Melrose Distance: 100 Miles (160 kms) Enjoy wonderful and varied mouth-watering local fayre along the route Grade: Easy Visit Floors Castle with its collection of period furniture, tapestries and artworks IS IT FOR ME? WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY WITH US? This holiday will appeal to anyone who can Macs Adventure are specialists in self guided walking and cycling holidays. As passionate and regular ride a bicycle and prefers a gentle tour on cyclists we understand what makes for an unforgettable adventure and we deliver outstanding cycling quiet roads. You’ll see historic abbeys and holidays where every last detail is taken care of. Great routes, breathtaking scenery and warm, country houses and enjoy plenty of tearooms along the way. welcoming accommodation can be expected. Each holiday we offer can be tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs WHAT’S INCLUDED? Adventure you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately. They will help you to make Accommodation: Hand-picked 3, 4 & 5 the most of your time in the Borders region with their in-depth knowledge of the route, accommodation and star, ensuite B&B’s and Guest houses must-see attractions on the way. Meals: A hearty breakfast included. Lunch and dinner not included but always We will supply you with a clear directions and a pre-departure info pack to guide you every step of the available at accommodation or nearby. way. The route is extensively way marked as well, ensuring you don’t miss a turn. Your baggage will be Baggage Transfer: Door-to-door baggage collected and moved onto your next accommodation, leaving you free to enjoy each days cycling. In the transfer. unlikely event you should require emergency support our office is always more than happy to help with Bike Hire: If you’d prefer to hire bikes we your queries. can arrange hire of quality hybrid tourers with helmets locks and repair kits So, from the moment you decide to visit Scotland and the Four Abbeys Cycleway you can relax and look Information Pack: Comprehensive route forward to an unforgettable self-guided cycling holiday. directions, info pack and map FOUR ABBEYS CYCLEWAY SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY FOUR ABBEYS CYCLEWAY On leaving the abbey follow the Tweed Valley refreshment stop if you need it. Heading through Cycleway for 4 miles before turning off onto a Nisbet, past the Waterloo Monument and A cycling holiday along the Four Abbeys minor road, past Floors Castle, which demands a Monteviot house Gardens you’ll reach Ancrum — Cycleway is suitable for anyone who can ride a visit. Shortly after the castle you’ll enter the a good place to stock up on provisions should bicycle. The route is on quiet roads and National attractive market town of Kelso, your stop for the you wish to picnic later on. Cycle Network routes. Some short hill sections night. are encountered but the itinerary has been At Bewlie you have two choices—a direct route designed to ensure that no single day is too Overnight : Kelso along a track fording the Ale Water (a footbridge demanding with daily distances averaging 18 is open) or bypassing this, a slight diversion of Kelso Abbey—the largest abbey in the Borders: miles a day. This equates to around 3-4 hours of about 2.5 miles. established in the 12th century, completed in the cycling each day. 13th century, the venue for the crowning of two Crossing the main road you climb to Bowdenfoot This allows you time for frequent stops to take in Kings and suffering many attempts to destroy it Reservoir. Enjoy the views towards the Eildon all the sights that this short break has to offer. in the 16th century, the spectacular northern hills in the west before a twisting descent through facade still stands. woods brings you back to Melrose. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The attractive cobbled market square is Once your bike is collected you are free to reminiscent of European counterparts and the appreciate your efforts with a final night in Day 1: Arrive Melrose town boasts several good restaurants and pubs. Melrose, some fresh local food and perhaps a congratulatory drink. Melrose is easily reached from Edinburgh or Day 3: Kelso to Jedburgh Berwick upon Tweed— each with mainline Overnight: Melrose After breakfast you head south, following the railway stations. There are frequent buses from Teviot river past the remains of Roxbugh Castle Edinburgh (approx 1hrs 45mins) and Berwick Day 5: Onward travel crossing the Teviot at Kalemouth Bridge. Teviot (approx 1hr 20mins). For those arriving by car, When breakfast is over you can either head Water Gardens offer a great excuse to stop for there are numerous parking areas. home or explore more of the Borders. some refreshments. Overnight: Melrose A couple of gradual ascents reward you with ITINERARY: CSSFA1 Melrose sits at the foot of the Eildon Hills—a views of the Cheviot Hills to the south east. The sacred site for the early Celts and full of magic. days cycling ends with a descent through We have split this holiday into 3 easy cycling The impressive Melrose Abbey is the final resting woodland into Jedburgh. days to ensure comfortable days in the saddle. place of Sir Walter Scott and the burial site of the Overnight: Jedburgh heart of Robert the Bruce. Cycling Days: 3 Mary Queen of Scots stayed here, the town was Nights: 4 / Days: 5 Day 2: Melrose to Kelso a favourite of William Wordsworth and was Average Daily Distance: 18 Miles If you are hiring a bike, it will be delivered to your visited on more than one occasion by Queen Grade: Easy accommodation shortly after breakfast. Victoria - Jedburgh has a wealth of history to explore. Day Route Miles Your first day in the saddle is a gentle one and leaves enough time to visit Melrose Abbey if you Jedburgh Abbey deserves a visit, as one of most 1 Arrive Melrose and Over- didn’t manage to see it the day before. You have impressive Borders Abbeys it has hidden a night two options to get to the nearby Dryburgh Abbey. wealth of treasures until recent excavations 2 Cycle to Kelso 15.5 The easier route follows the Tweed Valley unearthed them. 3 Cycle to Jedburgh 20.5 Cycleway by the side of the river, going via 4 Cycle to Melrose and ‘Scott's View ‘ of the Eildon Hills. Alternatively Day 4: Jedburgh to Melrose overnight 19 Onward travel you can cycle the short hill to ‘The Rhymers Today you complete the circuit. The route from 5 Stone’, a site rich in folklore. Jedburgh takes you alongside Jed Water, up gentle gradients to Mounthooly, with a Total Distance 55 FOUR ABBEYS CYCLEWAY SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY HOLIDAY INFORMATION to solo cyclists. We can arrange for single enjoy the tints and hues of Autumn. occupancy and single baggage transfer for a You can start on any date that suits your travel Navigation supplement. plans and you will find up to date availability on The route is fully waymarked with signs for Meals our website. The Four Abbeys Cycleway is very ‘Route 4’ and ‘Four Abbeys Cycleway’. popular so it is best to book as far in advance as Navigation is easy but please look out for signs A hearty breakfast is included each morning. you are able to, especially if you wish to hire at junctions and be sure to follow the correct path Lunch and dinner are not included, leaving you bicycles as well. as there are other cycleways in the area. free to choose from the many award winning restaurants along your route. Most of your Included Additional Nights and Extensions accommodations are more than happy to provide a packed lunch on request. This should be Bed and breakfast accommodation in ensuite Many of our clients choose to add extra nights rooms. along the route to sample more of the area and booked on arrival.
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