"A pleasant walk through farmland and by the riverside"
Walk directions
From the car park, walk back to the A68. Cross the road into Duck Row. Take the path on the left to walk beside the river, under an old bridge, then come onto the road. Turn right across the bridge.
Turn left, following the sign for Borders Abbeys Way. Where the road divides, turn left and follow the lane beside an agricultural machine showroom and yard to join Waterside Walk. When you reach the main road, cross and follow the tarmac lane uphill. Keep straight on, passing a turning on the right, until you reach a fork, just before a farmyard development on the left.
Turn right here to walk in front of a small farmhouse called Woodend. Turn left onto a footpath and continue past the front of Mount Ulston House. Your route now runs uphill, taking you past a radio mast. Maintain direction to join the narrow grassy track – this can get very muddy, even in the summer.
Continue along this track until you reach the fingerpost at the end, where you turn left to join St Cuthbert's Way. The going becomes much easier now as you are walking along a wide, firm track. When you reach the tarmac road, turn right and join the main road. Turn left, go over the bridge, then cross the road. After a short distance, turn sharp right on a lane that gives access to two cottages. Walk past these to rejoin St Cuthbert's Way and follow it to the confluence of Jed Water and the River Teviot. Turn left along the riverbank.
You're now on a narrow, grassy track, which runs beside the river. You then have to nip over a couple of stiles before walking across a meadow frequently grazed by sheep. Walk past the weir, then go through the gate to cross the suspension bridge – take care, as it can get extremely slippery here.
Pass a sign for Monteviot House and walk through the woods to a fingerpost, where you can turn right to enjoy views over the river. If you wish to extend your walk, you can continue along St Cuthbert's Way until it joins the road, then retrace your steps. Whatever you choose, you then retrace your steps back over the suspension bridge, along the riverside and back to the main road. Turn left across a bridge, then immediately right down a tarmac lane.
Ignoring the track off to the left, follow the road all the way back to Jedburgh. Cross the A68 and return along Waterside Walk to the car park.
Although it was built back in the 12th century, the beauty and grandeur of Jedburgh Abbey is still clearly evident. It certainly dominates this bustling border town, and sits serene and seemingly untroubled by the hustle and hassle of modern life. It must have seemed still more impressive in... medieval times, when the power of the Church was at its height and the population was generally uneducated and superstitious. The abbey is one of four in the Borders – the others being at Dryburgh, Kelso and Melrose – and all were built after the Norman Conquest. They are stretched across the Borders like a string of ecclesiastical jewels. Jedburgh Abbey is one of the most impressive medieval buildings in Scotland. It was built for French Augustinian canons in 1138 by David I, on the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon monastery, and was specifically designed to make a visual impact. This was not because the King was exceedingly devout, but was owing to the fact that Jedburgh is very close to the border with England. David needed to make an obvious statement of authority to his powerful Norman neighbours. Monastic life Each of the Border abbeys belonged to a different religious order. The Augustinian canons at Jedburgh were also known as 'Black Canons' owing to the colour of their robes. Unlike monks, canons were all ordained clergymen who were allowed to administer Holy Communion. Dryburgh Abbey was founded by Premonstratensian canons, who wore white robes and lived a more secluded life than the Augustinians. Kelso Abbey, which became one of the largest monasteries in Scotland, belonged to the Benedictine order, while Melrose was founded by Cistercian monks. The Cistercians took their name from the forest of Cîteaux in France, where their first community was established. Often known as 'White Benedictines', Cistercian monks adhered strictly to the Rule of St Benedict. Manual labour in the abbey was carried out by poor, and generally illiterate, lay brothers. These people lived and worshipped separately to the 'choir' monks who devoted their time to reading, writing and private prayer. The Cistercians adhered to a strict regime, designed to purify their lives. They banned the use of practical goods such as bedspreads, combs and even underwear. Abbeys under fire These medieval abbeys all suffered in the battles that ravaged the Borders for centuries. Jedburgh, for example, was stripped of its roofing lead by Edward I's troops who stayed here during the Wars of Independence. It came under attack many times and was burned by the Earl of Surrey in 1530. After the Reformation, all the abbeys fell into decline and began to decay. Today they remain picturesque reminders of a previous age.
Southern Scotland is often referred to as the Lowlands, to distinguish it from the mountainous grandeur of the North-West Highlands. But don’t be fooled by the description.
"A pleasant walk through farmland and by the riverside"
Walk details
3hrs 30min
Difficulty:
Easy
Gradient:
Moderate
Distance:
8.25 miles (13.3kms)
Ascent:
295ft (90m)
Walk directions
From the car park, walk back to the A68. Cross the road into Duck Row. Take the path on the left to walk beside the river, under an old bridge, then come onto the road. Turn right across the bridge.
1 of 7
Turn left, following the sign for Borders Abbeys Way. Where the road divides, turn left and follow the lane beside an agricultural machine showroom and yard to join Waterside Walk. When you reach the main road, cross and follow the tarmac lane uphill. Keep straight on, passing a turning on the right, until you reach a fork, just before a farmyard development on the left.
2 of 7
Turn right here to walk in front of a small farmhouse called Woodend. Turn left onto a footpath and continue past the front of Mount Ulston House. Your route now runs uphill, taking you past a radio mast. Maintain direction to join the narrow grassy track – this can get very muddy, even in the summer.
3 of 7
Continue along this track until you reach the fingerpost at the end, where you turn left to join St Cuthbert's Way. The going becomes much easier now as you are walking along a wide, firm track. When you reach the tarmac road, turn right and join the main road. Turn left, go over the bridge, then cross the road. After a short distance, turn sharp right on a lane that gives access to two cottages. Walk past these to rejoin St Cuthbert's Way and follow it to the confluence of Jed Water and the River Teviot. Turn left along the riverbank.
4 of 7
You're now on a narrow, grassy track, which runs beside the river. You then have to nip over a couple of stiles before walking across a meadow frequently grazed by sheep. Walk past the weir, then go through the gate to cross the suspension bridge – take care, as it can get extremely slippery here.
5 of 7
Pass a sign for Monteviot House and walk through the woods to a fingerpost, where you can turn right to enjoy views over the river. If you wish to extend your walk, you can continue along St Cuthbert's Way until it joins the road, then retrace your steps. Whatever you choose, you then retrace your steps back over the suspension bridge, along the riverside and back to the main road. Turn left across a bridge, then immediately right down a tarmac lane.
6 of 7
Ignoring the track off to the left, follow the road all the way back to Jedburgh. Cross the A68 and return along Waterside Walk to the car park.
Although it was built back in the 12th century, the beauty and grandeur of Jedburgh Abbey is still clearly evident. It certainly dominates this bustling border town, and sits serene and seemingly untroubled by the hustle and hassle of modern life. It must have seemed still more impressive in... medieval times, when the power of the Church was at its height and the population was generally uneducated and superstitious. The abbey is one of four in the Borders – the others being at Dryburgh, Kelso and Melrose – and all were built after the Norman Conquest. They are stretched across the Borders like a string of ecclesiastical jewels. Jedburgh Abbey is one of the most impressive medieval buildings in Scotland. It was built for French Augustinian canons in 1138 by David I, on the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon monastery, and was specifically designed to make a visual impact. This was not because the King was exceedingly devout, but was owing to the fact that Jedburgh is very close to the border with England. David needed to make an obvious statement of authority to his powerful Norman neighbours. Monastic life Each of the Border abbeys belonged to a different religious order. The Augustinian canons at Jedburgh were also known as 'Black Canons' owing to the colour of their robes. Unlike monks, canons were all ordained clergymen who were allowed to administer Holy Communion. Dryburgh Abbey was founded by Premonstratensian canons, who wore white robes and lived a more secluded life than the Augustinians. Kelso Abbey, which became one of the largest monasteries in Scotland, belonged to the Benedictine order, while Melrose was founded by Cistercian monks. The Cistercians took their name from the forest of Cîteaux in France, where their first community was established. Often known as 'White Benedictines', Cistercian monks adhered strictly to the Rule of St Benedict. Manual labour in the abbey was carried out by poor, and generally illiterate, lay brothers. These people lived and worshipped separately to the 'choir' monks who devoted their time to reading, writing and private prayer. The Cistercians adhered to a strict regime, designed to purify their lives. They banned the use of practical goods such as bedspreads, combs and even underwear. Abbeys under fire These medieval abbeys all suffered in the battles that ravaged the Borders for centuries. Jedburgh, for example, was stripped of its roofing lead by Edward I's troops who stayed here during the Wars of Independence. It came under attack many times and was burned by the Earl of Surrey in 1530. After the Reformation, all the abbeys fell into decline and began to decay. Today they remain picturesque reminders of a previous age.
Southern Scotland is often referred to as the Lowlands, to distinguish it from the mountainous grandeur of the North-West Highlands. But don’t be fooled by the description.
