ST CUTHBERTS WAY
Scotland to England Through Border Country
  The
St .Cuthbert’s way is a 62 mile/100 km trail which links places
associated with the life of St.Cuthbert as well as a host of Roman
and medieval features which reflect the long period of strife
this border region has experienced.
This
beautiful and varied walk culminates in the crossing to
Lindisfarne Island along a causeway which is only exposed at low
tide.
Cuthbert,
who became a saint in the 7th century, was a native of the
borders. He began his work at Melrose Abbey, where he eventually
became Bishop. When he died he was buried on Holy Island. He was
canonised as a saint eleven years after his death, when his coffin
was opened and his remains were found to be perfectly preserved.
In his ‘after life’ he enjoyed some excitement when monks
moved the coffin to St. Cuthbert’s Cave (featured on the walk)
to escape Viking raiders.
From the
pleasant border town of Melrose, with the remains of its famous
Cistercian abbey said to be
the burial place of Robert The Bruce’s heart, the trail winds
over the conical covered Eildon Hills, with spectacular all round views of the Tweed Valley. You continue onto the small ‘Green’
village of Ancrum and then across country well known to the
thieving border Reivers to Morebattle and over moorlands to the
village of Kirk Yetholm, at the northern end of the Pennine Way.
From here you skirt the northern slopes of the wild Cheviot Hills,
crossing the beautiful College Valley, on the way to the little
market town of Wooler, finally crossing the border into England.
The trail crosses moors and pastures to Fenwick, from where there
is a short transfer to the accommodation at Lowick. The final day’s
walk crosses the famous sandy tidal causeway to Lindisfarne with
its castle and Abbey ruins.
There is
an optional two night extension to Banburgh and then on to Craster,
past two tremendous castles and (weather permitting) you may like
to take a boat trip to the Farne Islands, Britain’s very own
Galapagos! This is a National Trust reserve that protects the
largest breeding population of Atlantic Grey Seals and a whole
host of bird species.
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Accommodation
7 nights/8 days
- We use a number of guesthouses in the busy village of Melrose. At Ancrum our B&B
was built by the owners and is adjacent to the walk. In
Morebattle we stay in a recently refurbished establishment which is directly on the St Cuthberts Way. The hotel is the hub of the village in
Kirk Yetholm and offers good food and ale. In Wooler our guesthouse is a charming 17th century stone-built house with all the usual modern comforts. At
Lowick, (near Fenwick) our friendly B&B (4*) offers a
warm welcome and was recently recommended in the guardian
travel/food section. Our final night is spent on the island of
Lindisfarne where we stay in a hotel in the heart of the
village.
9 nights/10 days - On the 10 day tour the first night you spend at a well equipped hotel in
Bamburgh beneath the towering castle walls. The final night is spent in a small hotel at
Craster, a place famed for its local Kippers!
Sherpa Notes
Waymarks
The route is marked with the distinctive St Cuthbert’s Cross
waymark.
Accommodation and Meals
Bed and breakfast throughout, in comfortable Inn’s, B&B’s and guesthouse’s. Ensuite facilities most nights.
Start and End of Tour
The starting point is Melrose, reached by bus (not Sundays) from Berwick-upon-Tweed (the nearest train station) or from Edinburgh. Both stations are on the East Coast main line route from London. The nearest airports are Edinburgh and Newcastle.
The tour ends after breakfast on Day 8 at Lindisfarne. Taxi to Berwick Upon Tweed train station (approx
£25). It is possible to do this journey by bus, but the schedule is rather unpredictable because of the tide. Edinburgh is only 50 minutes and London is reached in a little over 4 hours by train.
On the 10 day tour there are local buses to the mainline rail stations at Alnmouth and Newcastle Upon Tyne.
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