Kelso Abbey
Kelso to Jedburgh
Jedburgh Abbey

This section is 12 miles / 18 Km of generally level walking on river bank, old railway track and country track with only a little pavement walking at either end.

Junction Pool with Floors Castle in background

Starting from the Abbey Memorial Gardens head across the bridge to the west. This is an attractive stone bridge over the Tweed just downstream from the convergence of the Rivers Tweed and Teviot. Turning right along the pavement on the road to Selkirk (A699), passing the grounds of the Border Union on the left and the Junction Pool on the right. Stay on the footpath as the road now crosses the next bridge over the Teviot River at the gates to Springwood.

River Teviot and Roxburgh Castle Ruin

Just to the NW of the Teviot Bridge and on the left side of the road cross over the wall and descend onto the riverbank. This pathway is now followed for several kilometres before reaching Roxburgh Mill close by Roxburgh village. First the path skirts to the side of the ancient Roxburgh Castle the scene of Royal activities in the 12th to 15th centuries, but now no more that a ruin on top of a grass mound.

River Teviot near to Roxburgh

The Way then heads south along the banks of the Teviot River with farmland to the west and the Springwood Caravan Park and estate on the east. This is a grand stretch of fishing river and the way temporarily leaves the bank as it rises at a bend in the river close by Heiton Mill. Above this bend in the river there are great views downstream toward Kelso and upstream towards the Roxburgh Viaduct.

Railway Viaduct at Roxburgh

Roxburgh village is worthy of a few hundred metres diversion from the waymarked route. The centre of the village is located by the church that sits above the river. Returning to the river and the waymarked walk the path passes by the ruined Wallace's Tower, a 16th century peel tower of the Ker family. Immediately after the Way rejoins the river it passes under the old railway viaduct, a notable Victorian engineering structure.

Path near to Ormiston House

The Way remains on the west bank of the Teviot with the Roxburgh Championship Golf Course on the opposite bank. Also on this opposite bank is the Horse Cave, believed to have been a hiding place for Bonnie Prince Charlie's horse during the 1745 uprising as the Jacobites marched from Kelso to Jedburgh.
Soon the path leaves the River and heads onto the old railway embankment, with farmland to both west and east. This is an easy and pleasant walk before rejoining the River Teviot at a large bend close to Crailing.

Teviot Flood Plain at Nisbet

The views are now changing with higher hills on either side of the valley. Ahead is the Waterloo Monument on Peniel Heugh and to the southeast the foothills leading towards the Cheviots. The path stays on the old rail track to the road at Nisbet. At this point the route passes from the north to the south bank of the river and continues on the flood plain before reaching the A698 at Mounthooly.

Crossing this road the Way is now common with a section of the St Cuthbert's Way and the Roman Heritage Way as it climbs up along Dere Street. Just before the wooded area this route turns to the right while St Cuthbert's Way heads left along the forest boundary and the Roman Heritage Way continues on the line of Dere Street.

Follow the pathway in a southwesterly direction till it joins a minor road at Mount Ulston, and then walk the road as it starts to descend toward Jedburgh. On the opposite side of the Jed Water and below is the Jedburgh Rugby Club pitch, then shortly the route will arrive at the main A68 trunk road. Cross the road and take to the riverside path as it works it way to the centre of the Town. In the centre at the south end of the High Street is the Cross and close by is the ruined Abbey of Jedburgh, much more complete and commanding to that seen when leaving Kelso.

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