The Eildon Hills from Melrose

From the car park by St Dunstan's Park in Melrose the walk leaves the town by Dingleton Road and climbs the wooden steps and gravel paths of St Cuthbert's Way to the saddle between the hills. It goes on to Eildon Mid Hill (422 m), the highest of the three, then to Eildon Wester Hill (371 m), back through the saddle to Eildon Hill North (404 m), where the ramparts of a prehistoric hillfort cover the flat top. The way down leads east off the top to the Rhymer's Stone beside the A6091, where tradition puts Thomas the Rhymer's meeting with the Queen of the Fairies, then follows tracks and footpaths, the Middle Walk and the Priorswalk, back towards Melrose Abbey and the car park.

It is 9.3 km round with 494 m of ascent; allow about 3¾ hours. The grade is Moderate: a long day on clear hill paths, with a steady climb on each of the three tops.

The tops are open and exposed to the wind, and the steep paths can be slippery after rain. Keep dogs under control on the hill and in the fields on the way down.

St Dunstan's Park car park is free, according to Scottish Borders Council. Tweedbank station, on the Borders Railway, is about 2.4 km from the start.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.