THE Eildon Hills are icons of the Borders, visible from miles around and steeped in legend and history. They say that fairies have lived here, as well as King Arthur and his army. Iron Age man and Romans have also called it home in the past.
The walk up is steep but you quickly get views down to Melrose and its picturesque abbey.
Mid Hill, at 1,385ft, is the highest of the Eildons and the first objective. It commands fantastic views across the rolling Borders countryside.
You then
walk to the top of North Hill, once the site of an Iron Age fort and a Roman Hill Station. From here a better view is gained of the Tweed Valley, with the old railway viaduct at Leaderfoot visible below.
A steep descent takes you close to where the Queen of the Fairies is once said to have got to work on a Borders man, Thomas the Rhymer. She entranced him away to fairyland and when he returned several years later – although he thought he had only been gone a few days – he had the ability to see into the future. You can take a detour to a memorial marking the actual spot it is said to have happened.
Lanes and paths from there lead back to the pretty town of Melrose.
Full hill-walking gear is needed as it can be muddy and is rough underfoot in places. You are also at the mercy of the elements on the tops.
DISTANCE: 5 miles
HEIGHT CLIMBED: 1,335ft
TIME: 3 to 4 hours
MAP: OS Landranger 73
PARK: In the centre of Melrose, opposite the abbey, there is a pay and display car park.
IN SUMMARY Head south from Melrose's Market Square, following Dingleton Road to the left of the library.
About 100 yards after passing under the town's bypass go left, down some steps by a house, following a sign for the "Eildon Walk".
Cross a small burn and go up a long flight of wooden steps to a stile. Cross it and follow a path with a field to your left and a hedge to the right.
Cross a track and go through a pedestrian gate on the other side to follow another field, on the right, with the hedge now to your left.
At the top of the field go through a gate then bear right to cross a hillside covered with gorse. At a col between Mid Hill and North Hill go right at a waymarker and follow a path up the right-hand side of Mid Hill. A few yards after the path has gone sharp left, look for a path going off to the right, which leads to the Trig Point and viewfinder at the summit.
Retrace your steps to the col, cross it and follow a path up North Hill on the other side. After about 100 yards go right at a fork and follow a wide path as it sweeps back to the left then bears right to reach the summit.
Walk east along the grassy top and take a path on the left at the end, through heather.
This then drops down to the right and reaches a waymarker where you go straight on, steeply downhill. At another waymarker keep straight on and pass another two before reaching a gate. On the other side of this a path leads to a road where you go right.
Just before metal gates block the road go left, down a track – a hundred yards beyond the gates you can visit the place Thomas the Rhymer is said to have been whisked away by the fairies.
At the bottom of the track go through a metal gate, turn right and through an underpass below the A6091.
Once under an old metal bridge go left and follow a path to Newstead. Go left at the end, down Dean Road and after about 30 yards follow a waymarker, right, past some stables.
A path leads to the edge of Melrose; go right at a road in a housing estate and after about 150 yards go right again to a path which leads to a park. The abbey, and centre of the town, is at the other side of the park.
REFRESH Melrose is blessed with a great range of places to eat and drink including Marmions Brasserie, Burt's Hotel and a range of cafes. For a really good, vibrant pub try the Ship Inn.
WHILE YOU ARE IN THE AREA Melrose Abbey in the centre of the town is the place where the heart of Robert the Bruce is thought to be buried (01896 822562, www.historic-scotland.gov.uk). The Three Hills Roman Heritage Centre, just next to the library passed at the start of the walk, is full of interesting history about the town and the surrounding countryside (01896 822651, www.trimontium.org.uk).
