St Cuthbert’s Way – 62 miles – 6-7 Days – Melrose to Lindisfarne. One of Scotland’s Great Trails, and a powerful avenue for pilgrimage. St Cuthbert began his religious life at Melrose; this picturesque town is therefore a fitting site for your beginning. You will visit three great Border abbeys – Melrose, Jedburgh and Dryburgh – and unspoilt villages; touch the Rhymer’s Stone; visit the home of a medieval dragon in Linton; a massive Iron Age hill fort at Yeavering Bell; travel through the sweeping Eildon and Cheviot Hills; stroll along the River Tweed; cross the border between England and Scotland; and find brief shelter in St Cuthbert’s Cave like the monks carrying his coffin did before you, before heading for Holy Island off the coast of Northumberland Coast, the eventual resting place of Saint Cuthbert and the site of his original shrine. By following Cuthbert from the hills to the sea, hopefully you too will find the serenity he discovered on the sands of Lindisfarne.
Highlights
– ever changing variety of scenery and spectacular views;
– a unique and truly memorable finish along a causeway exposed only at low tide;
– chance to connect with one of our greatest saints;
– a 6-day route that does not require a lot of training or high fitness.
Holy places listed in Britain’s Pilgrim Places book: Holburn; Holy Island / Lindisfarne
More Info on St Cuthbert’s Way
Buy Official Guidebook for St Cuthbert’s Way
Click to download route/s in GPX file format for your smartphone’s map app
Instructions for using a GPX file to show you the route offline on your smartphone
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- Melrose Abbey. Picture by Susan-D, iStockPhoto.
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- High Altar of Melrose Abbey
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- Melrose Abbey and Uplands behind
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- The noble heart of Robert the Bruce buried in casket in Melrose abbey
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- Melrose Abbey from outside
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- ‘Scott’s View’ of the Eildon Hills, near Dryburgh but not on the route. Picture by daverhead, iStockPhoto.
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- Earl Douglas Haig and wife Dorothy – Dryburgh Abbey
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- Dryburgh Abbey
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- Dryburgh Abbey and the monks’ Night Stairs
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- Dryburgh Abbey
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- Dryburgh Abbey
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- Chapter House, Dryburgh Abbey
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- High Altar and Sky of Dryburgh Abbey
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- West Front, Dryburgh Abbey
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- St Cuthbert’s Cave
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- Lindisfarne Pilgrims Crossing
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- VIew of Holy Island from Cuddy’s Isle
I walked the route from Jedburgh onwards over 4 days. It is a beautiful walk, helped by some September sunshine. I walked with a friend and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It is way marked really well, but we also bought the guide book. Walking across the pilgrim route of the causeway to Lindisfarne in our barefeet was a very spiritual experience. The buses that run from Lindisfarne seem to have a law unto themselves, making it difficult to plan getting off the island during the safe period! I would recommend an overnight stay if you want to explore it more fully.