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Scotland

Borders Abbeys Way – 6 Nights

April, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct£849 pp

Beat the Price Rise – Book by Fri 29th November!£799 pp

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Dates may vary in price due to demand throughout the season and are subject to changes from time to time. We recommend booking your trip well in advance to secure the best pricing available for your preferred dates.

If you don't see a date suitable, please call on +44 (0)17683 71289 to organise a custom date.

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SUMMARY

Borders Abbeys Way – 6 Nights

No. of People: 1

PAYMENT

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TOTAL £999

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The area’s gentle, wooded landscape rising to rounded hills, shows nothing of the setting of its violent past. As you walk for the next 6 days, you will enjoy the peaceful countryside interspersed with historic towns bringing you the stories of conflict from the mid-12th to early 17th centuries. Sir Walter Scott made the area famous by being inspired by the countryside and people.

Quick Facts

  • 6 nights’ accommodation
  • 6 days’ walking
  • guidebook and map provided
  • daily door to door luggage transfers
  • 24hr on call assistance during your walk if necessary
  • 68 miles (109km) and 2734m (8970ft) of ascent
  • A circular walk, through unspoilt scenery steeped in history
  • Gentle gradients with often impressive views.

About & Details

The Borders Abbeys Way follows paths occasionally with the Tweed and Teviot rivers for company and the wildlife they provide a home for. Through the woodlands, there are opportunities to spot many birds and wildlife including buzzards, blackbirds, wrens, crows, tortoiseshell butterflies and brown hares.

As you arrive in each town and village, you have the opportunity to learn about the conflicts between the Kingdoms of Scotland and England, as well as the history of the four impressive, ruined abbeys of Melrose, Dryburgh, Kelso and Jedburgh. The story of the Border Reivers, dramatised in the film Braveheart, gives the backdrop to the walk and helps to understand the history and culture of this area.

Although this trip is based on 2 people sharing, if you are a solo traveller, please contact us for further details and we will be happy to help. You will need full walking kit including waterproof jacket and trousers, a comfortable day sack and comfortable walking boots. You will receive a more detailed kit list upon booking. We take the stress out of your trip with expert local knowledge, hand-picked accommodation, luggage transfers and detailed support to help you find your way.

Inclusions

  • 6 nights’ accommodation in good quality B&Bs or hotels with ensuite or private bathroom and breakfast
  • Luggage transfers each walking day (1 x bag per person, max. weight limit 20kg)
  • Map and guide book plus detailed directions to your accommodation from the trail
  • Expert local knowledge and 24 hour emergency assistance during your trip
  • Professional event organisation
Exclusions
  • Travel to the start and finish points of the trip
  • Lunches and evening meals
  • Personal insurance (for cancellation, accident, health, emergency evacuation and loss, theft of or damage to baggage and personal effects)
  • Guiding (please contact us if you would like this trip to be guided)

Optional extras

  • Single room supplement £90 per person per night (subject to availability)
  • Solo traveller supplement £90 per person per night
  • Odd number group supplement £90 per group per night may apply if a single room is required
  • Extra night prior to the start (single room) £180 per person
  • Extra night prior to the start (twin room, needs 2 people) £95 per person
  • Extra night at the end of the event (single room) £180 per person
  • Extra night at the end of the event (twin room, needs 2 people) £95 per person

Please select from Optional Extras at checkout.

Getting there and back

Getting There

By road: Tweedbank can be accessed by car via A68 from Edinburgh or Newcastle, the A72 from Glasgow or the A7 from Edinburgh or Carlisle.

By public transport:
Train and Bus services are available from Carlisle, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Check traveline.info for the latest public transport information.

By air:
The nearest airports are Newcastle or Edinburgh.

Getting Away

By road: Tweedbank can be accessed by car via A68 from Edinburgh or Newcastle, the A72 from Glasgow or the A7 from Edinburgh or Carlisle.

By public transport:
Train and Bus services are available from Carlisle, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Check traveline.info for the latest public transport information.

By air:
The nearest airports are Newcastle or Edinburgh.

Evening meals and lunches

You can purchase evening meals either at the accommodation or nearby. When our event planners send you the schedule with your itinerary you could prearrange directly with the accommodation or during the walk.

For lunches we would suggest bringing some of your own favourite snack bars and then asking the accommodation for a packed lunch for the following day and also supplementing that at stops en-route.

Accommodation

Accommodation is generally at B&B, guest houses and small hotels. Once booked in, your event planner will send you a list of your booked accommodation. It is possible to adjust according to preference at this stage so please mention it if you wish to change.

Dog-friendly

If you would like to bring your four legged friend, then we will do our best to source dog friendly accommodation. It is usually possible but if it were not, then we would suggest a change of date to enable it or offer a refund. There may be a small surcharge for the overnight stays. Therefore, once booked in, please alert your event planner that you would like to bring your dog and we can proceed from there.

Need a guide?

If you would prefer to have a guide for your walk, even just for one day, then we are happy to help. We can provide a qualified leader (also first aid qualified) to lead your trek or on just one of the sections. Just ask us.
A guide can not only take the stress out of navigation, but you will also find them a great asset in terms of providing an insight into all things environment and nature.

Dates and prices

For available dates please see the ‘book now’ option on the left hand side on desktops or at the bottom on mobiles. You can reserve your space via this route.

After you book

After placing your booking with us, you will in the first instance receive an automated email from our system confirming receipt of your reservation. If you don’t receive it, it is worth checking your spam/clutter folder.

In the process of placing your booking, you will generally set up an access password to our online gateway where you can review the details of the booking.

Your personal event planner will then be in touch with you to start to confirm the details. This contact will usually be taken up in the working day after receipt of your booking, but may, in busy times, take a little longer. The event planner will then liaise with you regarding the details of the course. If you have any specific requirements, please do mention it at this stage.

At the end of your trip

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end at some point and when you arrive at Tweedbank, you have one of several options. If you have not booked an additional night’s stay in Tweedbank then we can transfer your luggage to a location of your choice. From there you may have onward travel arranged as per the ‘Getting There and Back’ tab above.

Some people like to treat themselves to a night’s stay in Tweedbank at the end. And why not? You’ve earned it.  You can arrange this as an optional add on with your event planner.

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Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Arrive in Tweedbank, Galashiels

    Arrive at your overnight accommodation in Tweedbank.

  • Day 2 – Tweedbank to Newtown, St Boswell

    The start of you walk is by Tweedbank railway station. It’s relatively easy walking along flat paths and roads towards the town of Melrose with its 12th Century Abbey now in ruins. Take time to explore Melrose and the Abbey, probably the most famous ruin in Scotland and reportedly much loved by Robert the Bruce, as he chose this as the final resting place for his heart. Leaving Melrose, continue past the village of Newstead. Soon you will come to the base of the Eildon Hills and an option to detour to climb to the top offering spectacular views. Back onto the Way, and shortly you will arrive at Newtown, St Boswell for your night’s stay.

    7.7km (4.8 miles), 160m (525ft) of ascent

  • Day 3 – Newtown, St Boswell to Kelso

    Be ready for the longest, but relatively flat, walking day of the Way. You will pass a Scottish Natural Heritage site – a magnificent, wooded glen recognised as an ancient semi-natural woodland. Follow the trail to the banks of the Tweed and cross the suspension foot bridge, which was built in 1817 to replace the ferry, to Dryburgh Abbey. This 12th century ruin includes a delicate rose window in the west wall. From here, you will re-join the banks of the Tweed before taking to the minor roads and tracks through hamlets and farmsteads eventually arriving in Kelso. Keep a lookout for the magnificent Floors Castle, a good indicator that you are nearly in Kelso for your overnight stay.

    24.2km (15 miles), 302m (991ft) of ascent

  • Day 4 – Kelso to Jedburgh

    Your route out of Kelso takes you past Kelso Abbey and over Kelso Bridge which crosses the River Teviot. The banks of the River Teviot will be your guide for the next stretch as you pass the site of what would have been the medieval village of Roxburgh. The Roxburgh viaduct is your next landmark and look out for the Sunlaws Caves on the opposite bank. Shortly after the village of Nisbet, you will join the well-known old Roman Road of Dere Street for just less than 1km, which is also part of the St Cuthbert’s Way. From here you will have a good view of the Waterloo Monument, commemorating the Battle of Waterloo. Jedburgh soon comes into sight – your stopping point for the evening.

    21.7km (13.5 miles), 268m (879ft) of ascent

  • Day 5 – Jedburgh to Hawick

    Today’s walk involves a steep climb as you leave Jedburgh passing Jedburgh Abbey. The climb continues gently before getting steeper again as you climb to the lower levels of Black Law. On a clear day, it is worth a trip to the top (338m) for the most spectacular views. The Way descends into Denholm, a pretty village with a monument to Dr John Leyden on the village green. After the mornings climb, the route from Denholm to Hawick along the banks of the River Teviot is flat! You will spend the night in Hawick.

    21.1km (13.1 miles), 547m (1795ft) of ascent

  • Day 6 - Hawick to Selkirk

    Your walking today marks the highest point of the Way, starting with a steep climb out of Hawick before becoming an undulating walk across open moorland. From Drinkstone Hill, you will head into Ashkirk Forest, a big conifer plantation. You will exit the forest at a minor road and cross over the road to the golf course. Carrying on through the golf course, you will meet another minor road which is the Cross Borders Drove Road. Soon, you will take another track through Hartwoodmyres Forest. Follow the Way to Middlestead Farm, and then along the road to Brownmoor Farm before taking the path through the Haining Estate to Selkirk, where you will find your accommodation.

    20.3km (12.6 miles), 583m (1913ft) of ascent

  • Day 7 – Selkirk to Tweedbank

    This last day’s walking lends itself to good views as you gain height leaving Selkirk. You will have the opportunity to look out for a variety of birds as you cross farmland using an old drover’s road. You pass Cauldshiels Loch and Abbotsford House before coming back into Tweedbank where your adventure started. This is the end of your trip unless you have booked an extra night’s accommodation with us.

    Safe onward travel.

    14.4km (8.9 miles), 336m (1102ft) of ascent

     

Notes:

This itinerary is a guide only. Timings and mileages are approximate.

We will always endeavour to accommodate you in the locations detailed in the above itinerary. Due to very high demand, some accommodation providers may occasionally have limited availability and so we may need to accommodate you in an alternative location, nearby. In this case, we will arrange a taxi transfer for you to take you from the trail to your accommodation and back again the following morning. An additional charge may be payable. We will notify you of this when confirming your booking

The Route
Reviews

Find some of the reviews our wonderful customers have left for us below, or read them all here!

Heather Parr
3 months ago

Maximum Adventure exceeded expectations, planning a trip for me last minute and off season through the glorious Lake District. The hotels were top rate, as was the food and my daily gluten free sandwich. Nathalie got the route guide sent to me in a couple of days and the baggage service was impeccable. It was the only tour guide company that responded immediately to my last minute request. Looking forward to more adventures with your company!!!

Chris Evans
3 months ago

David and I walked the Speyside Way in September 2023 and very much enjoyed the adventure. Maximum Adventure Ltd organised our nightly accommodation and uplifting of our luggage in a seamless manner, which made the whole trip so easy with no stress. This is the second time that I have personally used Maximum Adventures Ltd and I would recommend them to others as they offer a friendly and efficient service.

Göte Fredriksson
4 months ago

We realy appreciated the tour we did on Hadrians Wall path in May.Beautiful scenery, decent weather, god arrangements including lodging, transport, bagagehandling etc. We came well prepared . In this preparation Maximum adventures gave us great support, as we are coming from abroad with no knowledge of conditions on the path. We had great BnBs and could concentrate on de daily walks that gave us great pleasure.Thank you England and Hadrians Wall path for your friendly reception and well mantained walking path.Thank you Maximum Adventures for your good service.We would love to come back in the future.

Jerry Kashinski
4 months ago

Maximum Adventure did a great job for us. With less than a month's notice, it set up an itinerary, lodging and luggage porterage for a walk from Carlisle to Newcastle, England along Hadrian's Wall. The lodging was fantastic, as was the itinerary and support during the walk. We'd definitely use Maximum Adventure again and would recommend them without reservation!

Fiona Reilly
5 months ago

I was part of a climb on 23/09, didn't think I would make ut, but I did. The descent was a different story.. I got jelly legs and lost my confidence. If it wasn't for James, my Sherpa would never have made it. Can't thank him enough, Will, met you briefly.Both of them were very knowledgeable, we had the most amazing views at the summit...the pain is still worth it and

Tom Graham
5 months ago

I walked the West Highland Way with my dad and brother. The organisation was excellent by Samantha. Itinerary and instructions were clear and all the bookings and luggage transfers went smoothly. As a result we were able to ensure the fantastic walk and not worry about anything. I would happily recommend Maximum Adventure to others.

Sarah Bracken
5 months ago

Absolutely brilliant guide - knowledgeable, interesting and humorous in addition to looking after our safety so well - making sure we ate and suggesting when to layer up! Would highly recommend!

Diana Straub
6 months ago

We just got home from our 8-days Hadrian's Wall hike and we just loved it!Everything was perfectly organized!We had great B&Bs and hotels with very friendly, welcoming and helpful staff. Our favorite was the Dacre House with Clare. But then again, all were great!The luggage was always at the day's destination, no matter how early we got to the accommodation.The description of how to get to the accommodations were clear and precise.The road map and the guide book were waiting for us as we got to the first B&B and were very helpful and interestingThanks, Maximum Adventure!

Kristin Hentschel
6 months ago

Praise for the West Highland Hike and the Maximum Adventure planners, esp. our planner Samantha. Great experience in every regard.

Simon Bradish
6 months ago

Booked for the 3 UK Peaks adventure, it was organised perfectly and everything when to plan. Accommodation was good, transport excellent, our guide (Patrick) brilliant, so cannot fault the trip and adventure. I personally expected too much from myself and was unable to fully summit as this adventure is not for beginners, I climbed Kilimanjaro in 2003 when I was 42 and twenty years later, although relatively fit, my endurance didn't last. So I did a half summit for Ben Nevis & Scafell, thanks to Patrick for letting go back down on my own, it was brilliant. With Snowdon, a half summit is tricky as you can't descend the way you go up, so I decided to do some hiking in the area while the rest of the group did the climb. I took a chance and went to the ticket office and managed to get a single return ticket up to the summit of Snowdon at 9am which returned down by 11.30am. I was hoping to see my group on top and spring a surprise but the weather was terrible. I highly recommend the trip but make sure you are fit enough otherwise as there is an emphasis on time, so a slow walk up is going to slow everyone down and really delay the trip. Have Fun, Simon Bradish

Why book with us

We know you have a choice of companies providing trips for your next adventures. Here are some of the reasons you should choose to travel with Maximum Adventure:

  • We are an established adventure travel business
  • We have been trading since 2002
  • We are financially protected in accordance with the 1992 travel regulation
  • Knowledgeable and available office staff
  • Qualified leaders and guides with ascents ranging from Ben Nevis to Mount Everest
  • All activities are risk assessed
  • We will provide you with the best service available
  • We are aware this is your holiday/your challenge and will do our best to make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience
  • We have many repeat clients stretching back over a number of years
20+ years adventure organisation experience
Full liability & financial protection
Leading provider of high quality adventure challenges
Great team of staff to support you

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