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 . Take time to visit the medieval abbeys at Melrose and its neighbour , onto Kelso and finally , 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 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 —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 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 . 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 , 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.  Door to door baggage transfer. attractions available in the Borders. Baggage Transfer  A detailed info pack, route notes and map You may wish to request an extra night at Your bags will be transferred from your Emergency telephone support from our office Melrose and cycle the 2 miles to Abbotsford  accommodation as per your itinerary and moved in the event of a problem. House, the former home of Sir Walter Scott— onto your next overnight accommodation. We Excluded preserved as he left it in the early 1800’s. You ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to could easily spend a day here and in the 15kg per person.  Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks. gardens. Jedburgh, with its Museum, Castle Jail, the house where Mary Queen of Scots stayed, Equipment—Bikes  Entrance fees (where applicable) and the Abbeys visitor centre is another town  Travel Insurance. A bike in good condition is essential. We would where you can extend your visit. recommend a hybrid or a mountain bike with  Transport should you need to skip a stage. At the end of your holiday you may consider a semi slick tyres. Your information pack has a Optional night or two in the nearby Royal Burgh of detailed equipment suggestion list. Peebles. This beautiful town by the banks of  Bike Hire the Tweed, with its independent shops, cafes Bike Hire and restaurants is somewhere to explore or We can arrange bicycles for your cycling holiday. TRAVEL INFORMATION simply relax and recharge your batteries. Hire includes helmets, locks and repair kits Fewer Nights Getting to Melrose PRICE AND AVAILABILITY If you wish to reduce the number of nights we Melrose is easily reached from either Edinburgh, can tailor your trip to suit your requirements. or Berwick upon Tweed, both with mainline Price railway stations. There are frequent buses from Accommodation Edinburgh (approx 1hrs 45 mins) and Berwick Please refer to our website for up to date prices (approx 1hr 20 mins). A good source of One of the highlights of this tour is the high www.macsadventure.com reference for travel details is the travel line standard of the accommodation. We specifically website: www.traveline.org.uk choose 3-5 star, en suite Guesthouses and Availability B&B’s to ensure that you enjoy every minute of If you are travelling by air the closest airports are This cycling holiday is best enjoyed between your stay. All offer a warm welcome to cyclists, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Newcastle also offers March and mid October. have secure bike storage, offer traditional a number of good ferry links with Holland, hospitality and delicious local food. Springtime weather can be changeable but fills Norway and Sweden. valleys and woods with fresh growth, July and Trains from Newcastle to Berwick are frequent Single Rooms August bring long, lazy days and in September/ and the journey takes around 45 minutes. This independent cycling holiday is also available October, although occasional wetter, you get to FOUR ABBEYS CYCLEWAY

SELF GUIDED CYCLING HOLIDAY

ABTA Member Statement M.A.C.S RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL HOW TO BOOK Macs Adventure Holidays is a Member of ABTA. We operate holidays in some of the most Once you have read all the information in this ABTA and ABTA. Members help holidaymakers beautiful areas in Scotland and try to operate in factsheet or on our website and decided on your to get the most from their travel and assist when an environmentally aware and sustainable preferred itinerary, visit our website or give us a things don’t go according to plan. We are obliged manner. We do this by following our M.A.C.S. call to confirm availability. You can then book by to maintain a high standard of service to you by Responsible travel policy. any of the following methods: ABTA’s Code of Conduct. Minimise Impact & Maximise Benefit Book Securely Online: www.macsadventure.com For more information on Our operating policies, office policies, holidays Telephone: +44 (0) 141 530 8886 ABTA, the Code of and tours are all designed to minimise impact Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to Fax/Post: Download or request a booking form and maximise benefit to the environment and you if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 30 and post it to Macs Adventure, 44 Speirs Wharf, local communities. Park Street, London SE1 9EQ, tel 020 3117 Glasgow, G4 9TH, UK or fax it to +44 (0) 845 0581 www.abta.com Action & Advocacy 527 5688

We believe that by engaging our team and Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone on clients in environmental and community projects +44 (0) 0141 530 8886 or email: we can make a real difference. [email protected] if you have any queries and one of our expert customer service Carbon & Communities team will be happy to help. Travel and our business activity does of course contribute to carbon output and climate change. BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE We have put several policies in place to minimise Financial Security our carbon footprint. In accordance with "The Package Travel, Sensitive & Sustainable Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations1992" all passengers booking with Macs Adventure has worked hard to ensure that Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the our holidays are sensitive to the community you initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all are visiting and sustainable over the long term. monies paid to us, including repatriation if This tour is operated responsibly because: required (this insurance will not cover repatriation  Cycling is a low impact method of travel. to the country of origin for the passengers outside of the EU), arising from cancellation or  Tourism is a vital industry in the Borders Region and we use locally owned and curtailment of your travel arrangements due to operated accommodation and suppliers to the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd ensure maximum benefit accrues to the local economy. There is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips, and none is provided. This  We build long term partnerships with our local suppliers, encouraging green business insurance is only valid for packages booked that practices and pay a fair price for all locally DO NOT include flights. sourced elements of your holiday. Book with Confidence. We are a member of  We supply detailed pre-departure information to all clients suggesting ways to minimise any ABTA which means you have the benefit of negative social or environmental impact. ABTA’s assistance and Code of Conduct. We provide full financial protection for your money