Scottish Borders TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1 Day 4 St Mary’s Loch, Yarrowford and Bowhill Abbey, Trimontium and Melrose 4 to 5 miles, easy, little ascent 6 miles, easy, little ascent

Following our welcome for guests in we depart for After breakfast we take a tour of Dryburgh Abbey, a fabulous the Borders and head off to St Mary’s Loch in the heart of the Premonstratensian Abbey on the banks of the , Ettrick Forest. We get dropped off at the north eastern end of before heading north along the river to Scott’s View ( after Sir the Loch and walk around the shores to our lunch point at the ), where we pause to admire the panoramic views Tibbie Shiels Inn. across the Eildon Hills.

After lunch we take a leisurely walk from Yarrowford to After our lunch stop in Newstead we continue along farmland Bowhill before the short hop in our transport to our superb tracks and riverside paths to the remains of Trimontium lodgings at the Philipburn House Hotel, where we can relax Roman Fort, which we take some time out to explore before in comfort and enjoy our first sumptuous evening meal in our continuing on to Melrose via Battery Wall, before a short Borders retreat. transfer back to the Dryburgh Abbey Hotel.

Day 2 Day 5 and Cademuir Hill Roxburgh , Kelso and Floors Castle 7 miles, easy, little ascent 3 miles, easy, no ascent, optional 9 miles easy to moderate A fantastic days walking south of Peebles in the Upper Tweedale with glorious walking over Cademuir Hill to Kirkton We begin the day with a short ride to Roxburgh, where we Manor and then down into the Tweed Valley, one of the most begin our walk along the River Teviot, another one of Scotland’s picturesque in Scotland, before following the River Tweed finest salmon rivers. Our easy walk takes us on to the borders back towards Peebles. town of Kelso where we will have time to visit the Abbey, take lunch and then have some time to visit the magnificent Floors A full days walking today, but still with enough time for Castle. afternoon tea and some whisky tasting before meandering back tour lodgings for a well earned evening dinner. For those who wish to have a little more walking than culture today there is an alternative 9 mile walk, which will give your legs the extra stretch they may be looking for ! Day 3 Three Bretheren, Minch Moor and Traquair House Day 6 7 miles, easy to moderate, 300m ascent , Abbotsford 7 miles, easy to moderate, 280m ascent We leave behind our home for the last couple of days and strike off from Fairnlee , through the Philiphaugh Estate, up This morning we visit the historic ruins of Melrose Abbey, into the hills to Three Brethren and on across the old drove the resting place of the heart of Scotland’s most famous king, road above the Yarrow Valley on to Minch Moor. The scenery Robert the Bruce. We then take a superb walk over the Eildon from our vantage point is stunning in all directions before we Hills to Bowdenmoor, before returning to Melrose for lunch. descend towards Traquair House, a stronghold of the Jacobite Cause. A lovely, picturesque circular walk takes us from here to Abbotsford, Sir Walter Scott’s baronial mansion, situated We spend some of our time this afternoon with a visit to amongst acres of his private estate and home to amongst other Traquair House before transferring to our wonderful new things Rob Roy’s gun, an amazing personal library and a whole lodgings at the Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, where we can relax by host of Jacobean antiquities collected throughout his colourful log fires and enjoy the fantastic leisure facilities. lifetime. The visit here is something to be remembered. Following Abbotsford we take the short transfer back to our lodgings and to relax before gearing up for our special farewell dinner, to round off a magnificent week in the .

Day 7 Philiphaugh and Wild Salmon

To finish our week finally, we take a lovely four mile circular walk on the Philiphaugh Estate to a salmon jumping viewing station, to hopefully see wild salmon in their natural environment. The Borders are reknown the world over for their famous wild salmon and this is our chance to catch a glimpse of these magnificent creatures.

From here we have our final lunch locally and then it’s back aboard our transport for the hour and a half back to Edinburgh and an opportunity to say farewell to new friends made, as you leave with treasured memories of your week with us exploring the beautiful Scottish Borders.

Hike Scotland Telephone: +44 (0)1877 382108 Email: [email protected]