Borders Abbeys Way – 65 miles – 6-7 days – Kelso to Kelso (circular). A pilgrimage beginning and ending at Kelso Abbey, linking the sites of five 12th century abbeys, with 4 only remaining as ruins, including Melrose Abbey.

A Borders Abbey Way Webpage

More info and Rucksack Readers’ Guidebook

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The Scottish Borders are famed for their magnificent ruined abbeys at Melrose, Dryburgh, Jedburgh, and the more ruinous Kelso.

The Borders Abbeys Way is a long distance pilgrimage that links all four Abbeys in a circular route. The pilgrimage can be walked in five stages, each ending at an attractive town as the route takes in Jedburgh near the English border, the old mill towns of Hawick and Selkirk, picturesque Melrose and Kelso with its impressive Georgian buildings arranged around a cobbled market square.

As a circuit, the route can be started at any point. The walk keeps mostly to lower levels, crossing pastoral countryside, with only a few sections that climb higher and are rewarded with extensive views. There are lengthy stretches along the River Tweed and the River Teviot, famed for their salmon fishing.