St Cuthbert’s Way

For the cycling route click here – St Cuthbert’s Way Coast-to-Coast.

St Cuthbert’s Way is a 62-mile long-distance walking route. It is one of the most beautiful, varied and enjoyable routes in Britain, and one of Scotland’s Great Trails.

This cross-border route spans the national border between Scotland and England, linking Melrose in the Scottish Borders, where St. Cuthbert started his religious life in 650AD, with Holy Island off the Northumberland Coast, his eventual resting place and his original pilgrimage shrine.

It is, however, far more than just a pilgrimage route, though, of course, it is a compelling walk if you are interested in religious history. There are the abbeys at Melrose, Jedburgh, and Dryburgh. While, for the more general historian there is a Roman signalling station and a Roman road, not to mention the border itself, a violent battleground in the Middle Ages.

Finally, for everyone, there is the excitement of the causeway, only passable at low tide, to Holy Island itself.

This tour was organised as a challenge to celebrate Nicholl turning 50. There will actually be two tours taking place at the same time! There will be a walking tour and a cycling tour, with the two groups meeting up for the evening at the end of each of the final three days. Sarah, Neil and Nicholl will be walking the official St Cuthbert’s Way route, while at the same time Andy P and Andy S will be cycling coast-to-coast following a route along the Borders much of which was inspired by St Cuthbert’s Way.