On Saturday 5 th August a group of 9 Biggar Ramblers enjoyed a day in the Borders visiting lovely Melrose and climbing the spectacular Eildon Hills. We parked opposite the 12 th Century Abbey and quickly picked up the St Cuthbert’s Way footpath up a steep path towards the Eildons. At a col between the hills we branched onto a steep path up Mid Hill the highest of the three peaks, and struggled to the summit in a heavy rain shower. We then descended back to the col and took a much gentler path up North Hill where we could enjoy fantastic panoramic views over Melrose and the Tweed Valley, before descending down a good path.
The latter part of the walk was easier, but very interesting, visiting the “Rhymer’s Stone”, the Victorian Leaderfoot Viaduct, and the site of the Roman fort at Trimontium, which housed a Roman garrison of 1000 in the first century AD. We walked back into Melrose on the ancient Prior’s Walk path, and finished our day with well-earned tea and
scones in an outdoor café in Melrose High Street.
