Walker's Details

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Accommodation

Overnight accommodation is available as per the table below at the following locations.

Location	Camping	Hostel	B&B; / GH	Hotel
Kelso	x	-	x	x
Jedburgh	x	-	x	x
Denholm	-	-	x	-
Hawick	x	-	x	x
Selkirk	x	-	x	x
Melrose	x	x	x	x
Dryburgh	-	-	-	x

As this is a circular route it is perceived that many walkers may choose to stay in one location and use transport to radiate out to the start and finish points along the route. This is a feasible solution thereby limiting the amount of luggage that needs to be carried and opening up opportunities for special rates on accommodation.

At present the website does not have a full "Service suppliers" section but through "Walking Support" you will be able to receive local knowledge and a quality service in planning and booking of accommodation to meet your specific requirements.

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Communications

In general the reception on mobile phones is good, but you are advised that reliance on them for emergency use is not guaranteed. You should always leave a message with someone that knows your plans and can raise the alarm if you do not arrive as scheduled.

Section	Mobile Signal	Public/Emergency Telephone
Kelso / Jedburgh	Generally good with only a few short sections not covered	Facilities in Kelso, Roxburgh and Jedburgh
Jedburgh / Hawick	Generally good with only limited dead spots	Facilities in Jedburgh, Denholm and Hawick
Hawick / Selkirk	Least dependable section of the Way but never too far before regaining a signal	Facilities in Hawick and Selkirk, and slightly off the route in Ashkirk
Selkirk / Melrose	Generally good	Available in Selkirk, Abbotsford and Melrose
Melrose / Dryburgh	Generally good	Available in Melrose Newtown St Boswells and Dryburgh
Dryburgh / Kelso	Generally good signal	Facilities at Clintmains, Makerstoun, and Kelso

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Emergency Precautions

The walk in some parts takes you over moorland and forests where you are possibly going to see few other individuals. In this type of terrain it is important to recognise that assistance in an emergency will not necesarily be at hand. We also know that mobile telephone reception can sometimes be patchy in some of the remoter areas. It is therefore recommended that walker leave word with someone on the route being taken and the expected time of arrival at the days destination. We also recommend that each group has one person carrying some basic first aid kit, and that the group has water and some high energy food in case of having to stop for assistance. This is particulary the case on the sections from Jedburgh to Denholm, Hawick to Selkirk and Selkirk to Abbotsford. Proper outdoor clothing is required as on inclement days a walker could become very wet and cold without the right protection.

Finally, we recommend that although the Way is well waymarked that you travel with the appropriate maps, a compass and a whistle.

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Maps and Guides

The walk is well waymarked in all sections. We do however advocate that up to date maps to a scale of atleast 1:50000 are used and the walker comes prepared with compass or GPS. The OS Landranger maps relevant to the walk are Nos. 73, 74,80 & 79.

There are also useful leaflets detailing all of the sections these contain a small scale route map and general direction descriptions. This is published by Scottish Border Paths and can be obtained frrom local Visitor Information Centres.

Additionally, Walking Support is able to supply a grid reference table for a nominal sum of £3.99. Simply click on the Buy Now button and once on line payment has been confirmed Walking Support will send you within 3 working days an e-mail with the Grid Reference Table attached.

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Refreshments

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Transport Options

The provision of public transport to and from points such as Hawick and Selkirk is straightforward using the First Bus No 95 service between Edinburgh and Carlisle.
Melrose is accessible by First Bus service No 62 from Edinburgh or via Galashiels using No 95 service.
Kelso and Jedburgh are serviced by Munro Buses running from Edinburgh numbers 51 & 52 respectively. For Jedburgh there are additional connections from Newcastle upon Tyne by Munro No. 131 or National Express No. 383.

There is now direct train provision to Tweedbanks (adjacent to the Way) from Edinburgh Waverley Station, as well as the nearest mainline stations being in Carlisle, Edinburgh, and Berwick upon Tweed. There are connecting buses from all these points to the central Borders area as well as the Edinburgh Tweedbank rail service.
For more information on the Tweedbank rail option click on this link.

Local Bus Services link walking locations are as follows:

Useful Contact Numbers

• Travel Line for all public transport information and timetables - Tel 08706082608
• Traveline website connection.
• Munro Buses of Jedburgh: Tel 01835 862253 for timetable datails.

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Walker's Kit

What the walker carries is to some extent a personal choice and a compromise between essential - desirable and space - weight.
For many walkers the ideal is to have the overnight luggage forwarded from place to place leaving you only with the need to carry the kit for the days walk. We list below what we feel you need in such circumstances.

Some of the kit relates to what you will be wearing, the balance what you will take in the rucksack.

• The most important kit relates to walking boots and sock, without this being correct and having walked then in your chances of completion or of enjoying the Way are unlikely. This is a walk that needs waterproof good quality boots for many of the sections.
• Clothing that provides comfort, warmth and breaks the wind is vital, along with waterproof jacket and leggings for the poorer weather.
• Hat and gloves, there are thermal and waterproof varieties which we recommend in autumn, winter and spring time.
• A spare set of socks and boot laces are worth including in the rucksack.

The next consideration is what needs to be carried.

• Rucksack which is of sufficient size and comfortable to carry. A waterproof cover is worth including or at least a bin liner or poly bags to protect the contents from the rain.
• Sufficient water as well as other liquid refreshment.
• Adequate food to meet the time out walking as well as some high energy foods like chocolate to give you energy and to sustain you if delayed or forced to stop awaiting assistance.
• First aid kit including some blister pads
• Compass, maps and whistle

We believe the following are desirable items

• Walking poles
• Gaiters to protect your legs and trousers in muddy conditions.
• Insect repellent and sun block (dependent on time of year)
• Folding umbrella - to some this may seem unacceptable and we would have fallen into this camp until walking with two very experience international walkers. They used them to shed off the worst of the downpours keeping the clothing on the upper body dry.
• Camera and binocular.
• Spare battery for mobile phone if you carry one.

This should be taken as a guide only, you should plan for the unexpected weather, and the unexpected difficulty that might mean you having to be in the open for longer than you anticipated. For this reason also look at the Emergency Precautions section.

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Distances

This route splits easily into 5 days with communities where accommodation is readily available. If you are looking to do the walk in a shorter time this is also possible in four days, one option ending on two days in very small communities (*) where transport back to either Jedburgh or Selkirk will be required. The second option does not have such accommodation difficulties.

Do remember that you can start the walk at any point and walk in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.

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Railway -Walking option

Since September 2015 there has been a new railway that links Edinburgh Waverley Station with Galashiels and Tweedbank.
With Tweedbank railway station only a few hundred yards / metres from the Borders Abbeys Way at Lowood Bridge this opens up new options for travelling to the Way and new possibilities for breaking the daily sections into more equal distances. This provides a 6 walking sections opportunity but with only 5 nights accommodation in the Borders.
By leaving the train at Galashiels the walker is immediately adjacent to the Galashiels Interchange where there are direct bus connections to Melrose, Kelso, Selkirk and Hawick. This may offer the walker new public transport solutions while retaining the standard 5 walking sections.

For more information on the rail, luggage transfer and accommodation packages that are offered by Walking Support click on this link.

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Walking Terrain

Kelso to Mounthooly	Starts with a short section on pavement before moving onto riverside paths or the side of fields. The grass path then changes to farm tracks built along the line of an old railway before returning to riverside walking but this time on wide open grazing land.
Mounthooly to Jedburgh	This section has a limited incline and the pathways tend to be rougher then the previous section. This can also be slightly muddy in wetter weather. For the second half of the section the walking is either on a minor tarred road or on paths within the Jedburgh Town.
Jedburgh to Denholm	After a short section in the town the path is onto farm tracks, then onto higher moorland tracks. As it reaches the highest section there is some open hillside walking before returning to farm tracks, and a short section of road. Once again the Way starts to climb and is on a mixture of field and farm track followed by a descent down an ever widening and improving forest path.
Denholm to Hawick	After a short road section the way is along the bank of the river, then a minor tarred road section before returning to the river bank. This finally opens out onto a wider grassed area before the final pavement walk beside the Teviot to the centre of Hawick.
Hawick to Selkirk	Starting on pavement then minor roads the walk then reaches higher farmland and moors. This then enters forestry paths before a descent to field and grass paths beside a golf course. A further ascent on a tarred single track road bring the way to further forestry paths. From here the way is a mixture of field track and quiet country roads.
Selkirk to Abbotsford	After a short pavement walk the route is over grassland, farm tracks and a short section of minor road before reaching an old Drove Road. This section is over grazing moorland where the tracks can be wet and quite rough. After Cauldshiels Loch there is a country road descent to Abbotsford and the Tweed.
Abbotsford to Melrose	This is mainly on grass paths and wider grazing land beside the River.
Melrose to Dryburgh	This is a mixture of grass pathways, tracks and some road or pavement walking. Much of the harder surface is on now non vehicle carrying roads.
Dryburgh to Kelso	There are three sections of River bank walking, some farm track paths and fields, however in the central section there is some roadwork on minor single track roadways.

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Weather

Although this is generally a less exposed walking route to many, there are sections where the way is over exposed moorland or hills where shelter is not immediate. The weather can be changeable so do bring waterproof and wind breaking clothes.

For information on the weather forecast within the region you can call British Weather Service. (This is a premium rate telephone service operated 365 days a year between 08.00 and 18.00 hours)
The relevant dialing numbers is: 09061 992 060

Alternatively access the Met Office Website.