Borders Abbeys Way
Established2006
Length109 km (68 mi)[1]
LocationBorders, Scotland
DesignationScotland's Great Trails
TrailheadsCircular
UseHiking
Elev gain and loss1,300 metres (4,300 ft) gain[1]
Highest339 m (1,113 feet)
SeasonAll year
SightsHistoric ruined abbeys, rivers, wildlife, countryside
Websitehttp://www.bordersabbeysway.com/

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]

StartFinishDistanceStart elevationFinish elevationHighest point
kmmimftmftmft
Kelso (55.597°N 2.4327°W)Jedburgh19 kilometres12 mi134 feet41 m280 feet85 m390 feet120 m
Jedburgh (55.4766°N 2.5541°W)Hawick20 kilometres12 mi280 feet85 m344 feet105 m985 feet300 m
Hawick (55.4285°N 2.7833°W)Selkirk20 kilometres12 mi334 feet102 m564 feet172 m1,113 feet339 m
Selkirk(55.5471°N 2.8415°W)Melrose16 kilometres9.9 mi564 feet172 m320 feet98 m880 feet270 m
Melrose(55.599°N 2.7191°W)Kelso28 kilometres17 mi320 feet98 m134 feet41 m485 feet148 m
Complete walk103 kilometres64 mi1,113 feet339 m

See also

References

  1. ^ "Trails Archive". NatureScot & Rucksack Readers. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Borders Abbeys Way". Scottish Borders Council. 2018. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  3. ^ "Borders Abbeys Way". NatureScot & Rucksack Readers. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  4. ^ "Scotland's networks of paths and trails: key research findings". Scottish Natural Heritage. August 2018. p. 6. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  5. ^ "Abbeys Walk". The Borders Abbeys Way. Scotland's Great Trails.