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The River Tweed & the Scottish Borders

Tradition and beauty in the Lowlands
Rich birdlife | Glimpse hunting ospreys, or the striking flash of a kingfisher.
Historic homes | Abbotsford with its splendid gardens, and ancient Traquair House.
Riverside routes | Stroll past fly fishermen seeking the Tweed’s famous salmon.
Scenic highs | Options to get up high for fabulous, far-reaching views.
Melrose | A pretty town known for its fine array of independent shops.
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 2 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes
  • GPS navigation
  • taxi to collect car (if driving)
  • transfer on day 3
  • The River Tweed & the Scottish Borders
    Tradition and beauty in the Lowlands
  • Visit Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott
  • A grey heron on the banks of the river
  • Melrose town centre ©Visit Scotland/Kenny Lam
  • Walking around Melrose
  • Monument to the Roman fort of Trimontium
  • Neidpath Castle ©Visit Scotland/Kenny Lam
  • Paths of Peebles
  • Riverside walk around Peebles
  • Innerleithen, home to Scotland's oldest organised games
  • Beside the Tweed
  • Gentle riverside paths
  • River Tweed toward Peebles ©Visit Scotland/Kenny Lam
  • Flower-strewn riverbanks
  • Traquair House
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 2 dinners
    6 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes
  • GPS navigation
  • taxi to collect car (if driving)
  • transfer on day 3

Holiday information

A walking holiday in the Scottish Borders

The hills and valleys of the Scottish Borders have always fired the passions – inspiring both bitter battles and great literary works. Explore the heart of this now tranquil region on our relaxed walking holiday from Peebles to Melrose, discovering romantic ruins, timeless towns, and famous Abbotsford – former home of Sir Walter Scott.
With its splendid formal gardens, Abbotsford is just one of the must-see sights on this holiday. Another is Traquair House, Scotland’s oldest inhabited home and one-time refuge of Mary Queen of Scots, while the site of the Roman fort complex of Trimontium is remarkable as much for its scope as its spectacular setting amid the Eildon Hills.

As you follow the dark, salmon-rich River Tweed through the Borders’ valleys, pastures, and low, heather-clad hills, you will be treated to sightings of the rich, local birdlife – from dippers and goosanders on the riverbank to ospreys hunting nearby. We also give you the chance to get up high, ascending through forest and across open moorland for outstanding views in all directions.

Although distinct in character, your two bases – bustling Peebles and picturesque Melrose – are both steeped in tradition and history, and pride themselves on extending a warm welcome to visitors, which you will experience first-hand at our friendly, comfortable hotels.


Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    You should always be prepared for wet weather, whichever month you are travelling.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 3 4 6 9 12 15 17 16 13 10 6 4
    mm 149 101 116 74 89 82 89 116 132 141 134 140
  • Arrival in Peebles
    Night 1: at The Tontine Hotel (the first of 3 nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Choice of routes from Peebles: 12.5 to 17km (7.5 to 10.5 miles)
    As well exploring on foot, we recommend taking time to enjoy Peebles itself, to discover nearby Innerleithen, and to visit the very impressive Traquair House.

    Circular route from Peebles: 12.5km (7.5 miles), 4.5hrs; ascent/descent 195m
    Infused with water and characterised by soft, rolling hills, the landscapes surrounding Peebles make for perfect walking country. Our route leads first through open parkland before following a rocky, riverside path upstream to Neidpath Castle. Framed by lush vegetation and offering splendid views, well-preserved Neidpath is a 14th-century fortified tower house which has hosted many a Scottish monarch. The second half of the route offers an interesting cross-section of Borders scenery: wooded paths and ancient, stone-built bridges; fishermen thigh-deep in the Tweed; a reiver’s fortified tower house; and riverside meadows that merge gradually into parkland.

    Explore Peebles
    Peebles itself has much to offer: this ancient royal burgh hosts a yearly arts festival and is home to the Tweeddale Museum and Gallery with its varied exhibitions on Borders life. There are many independent craft shops and cafés in the town, as well as the house where John Buchan – author of the celebrated adventure novel The Thirty-Nine Steps – often stayed as a boy.

    Peebles to Innerleithen – riverside route (return by bus): 12.5km (7.5 miles), 4hrs; ascent/descent 75m
    Peebles and Innerleithen were once connected by train, but after the closure of the line in 1962, the tracks lay abandoned for over 50 years. Today, the former track beds carry a traffic-free tarmac path, which affords many opportunities to enjoy the beauty, tranquillity and plentiful wildlife of the Tweed Valley as it traces the course of the river between the two towns. Return to Peebles by bus (pay locally).

    Peebles to Innerleithen – hill route (return by bus): 17km (10.5 miles), 6.5hrs; ascent/descent 580m
    For a more strenuous walk – and to enjoy far-reaching views over the surrounding heather-clad hills – this second option takes you up through forest, onto open moorland, and along a line of panoramic, undulating hills. Return to Peebles by bus (pay locally).

    Explore Innerleithen
    Although firmly off the tourist trail, unassuming Innerleithen repays those who do take a closer look. The town’s history walk (allow 1.5hrs) pinpoints the key sights, including the gem of printing history that is Robert Smail’s Printing Works; St. Ronan’s Wells – a 19th-century pavilion where Victorian tourists came to bathe; and the Iron-Age hillfort of Pirn Hill with its contemporary carved cairns and outstanding vistas over the patchwork countryside. Nearby Traquair House is also well worth a visit; this large stately home claims to be Scotland’s oldest continuously inhabited house and is noted both for its history and award-winning brewery.
    Explore the countryside around Peebles
    Walk beside the Tweed to Innerleithen
    Pretty woodland between Peebles and Innerleithen
    Circular route from Peebles: 12.5km
    Peebles to Innerleithen – riverside route: 12.5km
    Peebles to Innerleithen – hill route: 17km
  • Peebles to Melrose: 12km (7.5 miles), 4hrs; ascent 80m/descent 100m
    Today’s walk begins with a taxi transfer to the historic, three-arch Yair Bridge, from where you follow the Tweed east, progressing past fly fishermen seeking that elusive salmon and through landscapes which are increasingly arable. At the main road bridge, opt to detour to Abbotsford (add 1.2km/30 mins), home of Sir Walter Scott and one of the most famous houses in the world, or save your visit for one of the following days and continue along the flower-strewn riverbank to Melrose, at one point crossing over the Chain Bridge, an impressive suspension footbridge built in 1826.

    Before checking into your hotel – the centrally located Burt’s or The Townhouse, where you stay two nights – we highly recommend visiting Melrose Abbey. This magnificent monastic ruin dates from the 12th century, though most of the superb carvings you see today, from angels and demons to a pig playing the bagpipes, were installed after 1385, the year the abbey suffered a devastating attack from England’s Richard II. As well as its carvings, the abbey is famed as the burial place of the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce, and for its two adjacent gardens – Priorwood, where 70 varieties of heritage apples are grown, and Harmony, a pristine walled garden with colourful flowerbeds, wide lawns and a lovely setting beneath the Eildon Hills.
    Abbotsford
    Peebles to Melrose: 12km
  • Choice of routes from Melrose: 11km to 14km (7 to 9 miles)

    Circular route via Trimontium and the Eildon Hills: 11km (7 miles), 4hrs; ascent/descent 185m
    Framed by the Eildon Hills and their distinctive peaks, the town of Melrose is set amid some of the most glorious scenery of the Scottish Borders. Our first route offers the option to climb two of these heather-clad hills (add 3km/1.5hrs), after first following the valley to Newstead, believed to be Scotland’s oldest inhabited village. Other highlights include a visit to the site of the remarkable Roman fort complex of Trimontium; to Leaderfoot Viaduct, which majestically spans the Tweed; and to the Old Melrose Tea Room, where you can browse antiques and enjoy a tasty homemade lunch. The final section of the route merges with St. Cuthbert’s Way, the 62-mile-long trail which begins in Melrose and culminates on the Northumberland Coast at Lindisfarne.

    Circular route via Abbotsford: 11.5km (7 miles), 4hrs; ascent/descent 100m
    Alternatively, if you didn’t visit Abbotsford en route from Peebles, it’s well worth stopping by. Our route will take you alongside the river and through the village of Tweedbank, southern terminus of the recently reinstated and very scenic Borders railway line, which connects the region with Edinburgh Waverley. Abbotsford is famous the world over as the home of prolific Scots author Sir Walter Scott, who, through his works, almost single-handedly shaped the image of modern Scotland. The house is the manifestation of his literary success, as well as the prototype of Scottish Baronial architecture, with its striking clusters of turrets and gables. Inside, you will find a wealth of Scott memorabilia, and can visit the study where he penned some of his greatest works. The gardens are superb, too, and include a beautiful walled section, extensive woodland and a very good café.

    Whichever walk you choose, be sure to spend some time exploring Melrose itself – this pretty town is well known for its fine array of independent shops. Should you wish, there is a 3.5-kilometre town trail to follow, which takes in historic Melrose Abbey, the Trimontium Museum, chain suspension bridge and delightful Harmony Gardens.
    Heather-clad hills
    Melrose's bucolic surroundings
    Circular route via Trimontium and the Eildon Hills: 11km
    Circular route via Abbotsford: 11.5km

Accommodation

Your two excellent bases both have a long heritage, as well as a shared commitment to personal service and great cuisine.

In Melrose, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. Both are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation. Please note that stays at The Townhouse are on a bed-and-breakfast basis only.

Options to extend or shorten your stay

Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 01 March 2026 - 31 October 2026 & 01 March 2027 - 31 October 2027

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price *
    1 - 30 Sep 2026 From £1196
    1 - 25 Oct 2026 From £1136
    1 - 31 Mar 2027 From £1016
    1 - 30 Apr 2027 From £1101
    1 - 31 May 2027 From £1231
    1 - 30 Jun 2027 From £1271
    1 - 31 Jul 2027 From £1211
    1 - 31 Aug 2027 From £1211
    1 - 30 Sep 2027 From £1251
    1 - 27 Oct 2027 From £1251

    * Final price is subject to change due to the customisable nature of our holidays and is dependent on accommodation availability for the dates selected. We will contact you to confirm the final price. Single supplements are applicable on many of our holidays. Please contact us for full details.

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes, and any connecting travel detailed below.

    Included travel: transfer Melrose-Peebles to collect car (if you are not driving, we can arrange transfers from the local station or from Edinburgh; see 'Connecting Travel' below)

    Please note: dogs are not permitted on Inntravel holidays

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - via Edinburgh

    Outward route Price per person Latest
    arrival time
    taxi Edinburgh airport to hotel (1h15) £43 flexible
    taxi Edinburgh Waverley station to hotel (1h15) £43 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Edinburgh airport (1h45) £83 flexible
    taxi hotel to Edinburgh Waverley station (1h45) £83 flexible

    Connecting travel options - via Tweedbank

    Outward route Price per person Latest
    arrival time
    taxi Tweedbank station to hotel (0h40) £38 flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Tweedbank station (0h10) included flexible
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

Please note: any reference to maps in customer reviews is now out of date – we no longer provide these. For information on this, please see our FAQs page.


 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • Yes, absolutely. Over the years, we have arranged a great many holidays in the UK for customers living in the USA, Canada, Australia and beyond.

    If you've never travelled with us before, it's worth reading the web pages which explain how we can cater for customers who live outside the UK. The main thing to bear in mind is that our tour operator's licence doesn't allow us to book flights that originate outside the UK, and nor are we able to book rail travel in the UK, so we can't make travel arrangements for you, other than pre-arranging taxis between the local railway station and the accommodation – see the ‘prices & travel’ section for the options available.

    For practical information about travelling to the UK, see the 'what do I need to know about travelling to England, Scotland and Wales?' question.
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • You are the best judge of your child’s/children’s capabilities. We are happy to take bookings for families of older children/teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved. Please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.
  • Unfortunately not. The Inntravel team includes many dog owners, but the extra considerations – such as whether taxi firms accept dogs for transfers to the start of walks, whether routes cross private land on which dogs are not allowed, and proximity to a vet’s – would add another layer of complexity to what are already quite complex holidays.
  • As a minimum, you will need a passport to enter the UK; requirements vary according to your nationality. It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. You’ll need to check requirements on the website of your own country’s government or that of the British government. Our essential travel information page provides links to websites where you can find out about the applicable requirements, along with general official travel advice.
     
    English is the most widely spoken of several official languages; in Wales, for example, Welsh has equal status. The currency is the British pound (Scotland issues its own bank notes, but Bank of England notes can be used in Scotland and vice versa). The UK follows Greenwich Mean Time during autumn and winter, but switches to British Summer Time (GMT + 1) from late March until late October.
The River Tweed & the Scottish Borders
6 nights
The River Tweed & the Scottish Borders
6 nights
Single-centre walking, no car
Grade: Easy-to-moderate
Last fetch time is : 9/6/2026 8:43:02 AM

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