Your walking holiday on St Cuthbert’s Way runs through the beautiful Scottish borders from Melrose to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne lying off the Northumbrian coast.
This pilgrim traill traces the pastoral route taken by St Cuthbert who spread the Gospel through Scotland and northern England in the seventh century. Cuthbert started his ministry in Melrose in about 650AD. He later became Prior and eventually Bishop of Lindisfarne ( Holy Island ) where he died in 696AD. His remains were taken from the island in 875AD after Viking raids. After much travelling, they were eventually laid to rest within a loop of the River Wear and this became the site for the magnificent Durham Cathedral.
Beginning in the quaint Borders town of Melrose with it’s magnificent 12th century Cistercian abbey, the trail leads over the Eildon Hills, blanketed in heather and offering spectacular panoramic views to the border country, to the delightful village of Bowden.
Following the path of the River Tweed, St Cuthbert’s Way then takes in the splendid ruin of Dryburgh Abbey before soon leaving the Tweed to follow the Roman road of Dere Street and cross the RiverTeviot near Jedburgh, a borders market town boasting yet another historic abbey. You continue to the towering Cessford Castle one of several spectacular sites en route to the village of Kirk Yetholm, nestling beneath the Cheviot Hills.
You now cross the Scottish border, over the magnificent Cheviot Hills to the market town of Wooler, and your route leads to St Cuthbert’s Cave in the Kyloe Hills, which sits on a dramatic sandstone overhang and is reputedly the place where monks hid St Cuthbert’s body when they fled Lindisfarne to escape the Vikings
The final leg of St Cuthbert’s Way moves down to cross the tidal Causeway ( at an appropriate low tide) and leads on to your journey’s end at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where the ruined abbey and spectacular castle complete a magnificent journey through centuries of ancient Scots-English heritage
For detailed itineraries or further assistance on walking St Cuthbert’s Way, please call or e-mail our walk team, on our contact details below.
Celtic Trails is one of Britain’s most experienced walking holiday companies, providing tailored walking itineraries for clients who appreciate high standards of service, comfort and organisation.
We will plan your ideal walking holiday along St Cuthbert’s Way, you simply choose when to go!
