Walking in the Scottish Borders

The Wheatsheaf hotel located in the Tweed valley is at the heart of some of the finest walking in the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland. There is something for walkers of all ages and abilities including coastal walks, forest walks, town and village walks through to serious hillwalking. The River Tweed on our doorstep provides fine walking and its woodland banks are a sight to behold in the autumn. To the north lie the Lammermuirs including the Southern Upland Way, to the east the Berwickshire coastline, to the south the Cheviots and to the west the famous Eildon and Moorfoot Hills.

Coastal Walks

The Berwickshire coastline has some superb walks and extends 32 miles from Lamberton to Cockburnspath. There is a footpath extending from Berwick-upon-Tweed up to St Abbs. Sandstone cliffs reaching nearly 500 feet provide beautiful views up and down the coastline. Eyemouth is the main coastal town along with the villages of Burnmouth, Coldingham and St Abbs. St Abb's Head is a national nature reserve and has a wide range of birdlife including cormorants, kittiwakes, fulmars, guillemots and puffins.

Ranger Led Walks

Scottish Borders Council's countryside ranger service operate guided walks throughout the year. The programme includes farm walks, town trails, coastal walks, historical and archaeological walks. A free booklet giving details of the programme is available from local tourist information centres.

Scottish Borders Festival of Walking

Each year in early September the festival takes place in a different town or area. The festival has a wide selection of guided walks each day, suitable for all ages and abilities, and a full programme of evening entertainment.

Southern Upland Way

Crossing Southern Scotland from coast-to-coast (Portpatrick on the West Coast to Cockburnspath in Berwickshire) the Southern up way is 212 miles of which 82 to miles is in the Borders passing through or near St Mary's Loch, Traquair, Yair, Galashiels, Melrose, Lauder, Longformacus, Abbey St Bathans and onto its terminus at Cockburnspath.

St Cuthbert's Way

St Cuthberts Way and the Borders Abbeys Walk both offer intriguing routes through the Scottish Borders rich in culture and history.