Overview
A nine day, self-guided walking holiday along St Cuthbert’s Way, a 100km journey from inland Scotland to the Northumberland coast in England. It’s named after St Cuthbert, a 7th-century saint who was one of the monks at both Melrose Abbey and the monastery on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where this tour begins and ends. He was known as the healing saint, and this walking way is certainly a restorative one. Natural highlights along the way include the Eildon Hills and the Cheviot Hills, the landscapes around the River Tweed and the famous tidal crossing to Lindisfarne. Accessible by rail, and staying in small, locally-owned guesthouses and inns, this tour is also suitable for solo travellers.
- Melrose Abbey
- The Holy Island of Lindisfarne
- River Tweed
- Eildon Hills
- Cheviot Hills
- Jedburgh
- Kirk Yetholm
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Melrose
Arrive in Melrose, a market town in the shadow of the triple peaks of the Eildon Hills, in the Scottish Border region. It’s steeped in history, not least because it was the birthplace of St Cuthbert. If time allows, explore some of Melrose’s notable landmarks, such as St. Mary’s Abbey, a partly ruined monastery belonging to the Cistercian order in the heart of the town. Priorwood Walled Garden and the Trimontium Exhibition are also not to be missed.
- Accommodation: Station Hotel or similar in Melrose
Day 2: Melrose – St Boswells | 7.9km or 10.4km
There are two options for today’s route: the first is to ascend the Eildon Hills, taking in captivating vistas along the way. Traverse the hills and descend through the village of Bowden before reaching Newton St Boswells. Alternatively, follow the route through Newstead, crossing the flatter farmlands around Eildon before re-joining the route in Newton St Boswells to continue on to the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey. Located in the banks of the River Tweed, this historic site also houses the final resting place of Sir Walter Scott. Continue on, tracing the course of the River Tweed to arrive in St Boswells for the evening.
- Walking for the day: 7.9km, ↑129m, ↓124m
- Accommodation: Buccleuch Arms or similar in St Boswells
Day 3: St Boswells – Jedburgh | 22.1km
Re-join the meandering path of the River Tweed to navigate through the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders. Leave the riverbank and continue along the ancient Roman Road known as Dere Street, leading to the village of Harestanes, on the River Teviot. End the day in the historic market town of Jedburgh, which was once a royal burgh and, due to its position on the border, was once a very important town. It has one of the finest Augustine abbeys in Scotland is also home to the Mary Queen of Scots’ Visitors Centre, which is in a 16th-century towerhouse, where she once spent some time.
- Walking for the day: 22.1km, ↑269m, ↓269m
- Accommodation: Royal Hotel or similar in Jedburgh
Day 4: Jedburgh – Morebattle | 17.5km
Departing from Jedburgh, reconnect with the St Cuthbert’s Way tracing Dere Street once again. Take in vistas of the Cheviot Hills as you walk through the borderlands towards Cessford Castle. This dates back to the 15th century and, constructed by the Ker Clan, its robust defences reflect the historical significance of its location near the English border. Continue on to Morebattle, where you spend the night.
- Walking for the day: 17.5km, ↑326m, ↓315m
- Accommodation: Templehall Hotel or similar in Morebattle
Day 5: Morebattle – Kirk Yetholm | 10.6km
Begin the day with a descent into the valley, crossing over the River Kale before climbing once again to take in vistas overlooking Morebattle and the Eildon Hills. The path leads onward towards Yetholm, with a challenging yet gratifying ascent to the top of Wideopen Hill. Finally, descend towards Kirk Yetholm along the banks of Bowmont Water, where you spend the night.
- Walking for the day: 10.6km, ↑268m, ↓256m
- Accommodation: Mill House B&B or similar in Kirk Yetholm
Day 6: Kirk Yetholm – Wooler | 21.3km
Today presents the most demanding trek of the tour, venturing across the rugged slopes of the Cheviot Hills. After a brief stretch along the Pennine Way, the trail takes you from Scotland into England. Head to Hethpool Linn waterfall and Yeavering Bell, an ancient stronghold of the Votadini, who inhabited this region during the Iron Age. the day comes to a close in Wooler, a traditional Northumberland market town, where you spend the night.
- Walking for the day: 21.3km, ↑566m, ↓601m
- Accommodation: The Old Mill or similar in Wooler
Day 7: Wooler – Fenwick/Lowick | 19.3km
Today’s hike offers striking scenery, starting off with a stretch along the historic Roman road known as the Devil’s Causeway. Departing from the road, enter St Cuthbert’s Cave Wood, named after a prominent sandstone outcrop where, according to legend, the ancient monks of Lindisfarne laid St Cuthbert’s body to rest. Walk up between Greenshaw Hill and Cockenheugh, and cross Middleton Burn before ascending Fawcet Hill. From this vantage point, you have some superb panoramic views of Bamburgh, Lindisfarne Castle and the Farne Islands. Due to limited accommodation options in Fenwick, your overnight stay will be in Fenwick or nearby.
- Walking for the day: 19.3km, ↑330m, ↓366m
- Accommodation: Fenwick Bed & Breakfast or similar in Lowick
Day 8: Fenwick – Holy Island of Lindisfarne | 9.3km
Begin the day with a hearty breakfast in preparation for the final leg of your journey on St Cuthbert’s Way. The final destination, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, is accessible either via the Pilgrim’s Way, a causeway across the sands, or a road causeway. It’s crucial to check tide times as the island can become inaccessible at high tide, rendering both the sands and causeway impassable. Crossing without wading is the safest option and coincides with the middle of the safe tide times. You can check crossing times here. The route ends at Lindisfarne Priory and you spend the night on the island where St Cuthbert was buried.
- Walking for the day: 9.3km, ↑27m, ↓58m
- Accommodation: The Crown and Anchor Inn or similar on Holy Island
Day 9: Departure
Departure after breakfast
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their proximity to St Cuthbert’s Way, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Station Hotel (Melrose)
- Buccleuch Arms (St Boswells)
- Royal Hotel (Jedburgh)
- Templehall Hotel (Morebattle)
- Mill House B&B (Kirk Yetholm)
- The Old Mill (Wooler)
- Fenwick Bed & Breakfast (Fenwick)
- The Crown and Anchor Inn (Holy Island)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. You can have dinner at the guesthouse you are staying at or at the village pubs and restaurants.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate, with most days offer 3-5h of walking and distances ranging from 9-26km. The terrain is varied, but these are gentle wolds and not mountainous areas (read more about difficulty grades).
The trail follows well-maintained footpaths, bridleways, open fields and some minor roads. St Cuthbert’s Way is a nationally recognised trail and signposted well. Generally, the route is easy to navigate, and we will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack..
When to go
This trip is available from March until September.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Note that in mid-June each year the Borders Book Festival takes place; the area is bustling, and hotel availability is limited, so please avoid booking over these dates if possible. For more information, see our blog, Best time to visit England.
Getting there
Up-to-date travel advice on the United Kingdom is available here (for Canadian citizens) and here (for US citizens).
Click to view travel options and route planner
By plane
Recommended airports: The nearest airports are Edinburgh Airport (EDI) and Newcastle International (NCL).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Scotland and England without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with train stations in Tweedbank (8mins bus) and Berwick-upon-Tweed (short taxi from Holy Island). For more details, see the Traveline website or the Omio planner above for more information.
- There is a bus from Holy Island to Berwick-upon-Tweed, however due to the changing tide times we recommend taking a taxi. The staff at your final night’s accommodation can assist you with this.
UK Visa and entry requirements:
IMPORTANT: From 2025, the UK is implementing a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for many countries around the world. Up until 08 January, the ETA requirement only applied to nationals from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
On 08 January 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to visitors from eligible non-European countries, including Australian, Canadian and US nationals. Then, on 02 April 2025, the ETA requirement was extended to eligible European countries, referring to most of Europe.
You can view the full list of countries that this applies to here and apply for your ETA here, or on the UK ETA app. The ETA costs £16 and usually takes up to three working days to be processed, although we advise applying as early as possible, in advance of your travel dates. People travelling with an Irish passport don’t need an ETA.
You can read more about the UK entry requirements on our blog.
Inclusions
Included
- 8 nights accommodation
- 8 breakfasts
- Door-to-door luggage transfers on all walking days (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Access to your digital pre-departure information (accommodation list, GPS map of the route, baggage transfer information, itineraries, route information of cafes, restaurants, local bus timetables, etc.)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers
- Extra nights are available upon request
