📌 Eildon Hills, Scottish Borders
★★★★
The three pointed summits which form the Eildon Hills contrast sharply with the gentle, rolling nature of most of the Scottish Borders. The trio of peaks are the remains of an ancient volcano, with hard rock at its core resisting erosion while softer parts have worn away. Each peak is worth the effort: Wester Hill has the best outlook south over verdant farmland, Mid Hill is the highest with the most distinctive profile, and Eildon Hill North was once the site of both a large Bronze Age fort and Roman Signal Station. Views throughout are superb, though not really seen to best effect on the overcast day the photos here were taken. At the start, the historic town of Melrose has its own extensive list of sights to see.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Stairs out of Melrose 
Ascent on the St Cuthbert’s Way 
Aiming for the col between the mid and north hills 
View back to Melrose 
Eildon Mid Hill 
Melrose from the ascent 
Eildon Mid Hill summit 
Looking northwest over Galashiels (left) & Melrose (right) 
Looking northeast to Eildon Hill North 
Looking east towards Newton St Boswells 
Looking south to Eildon Wester Hill 
Mid (left) & North hills from the ascent of Eildon Wester Hill 
Eildon Wester Hill, looking south 
Eildon Hills walk 
Eildon Hill North 
Eildon Hill North summit 
Newtown St Boswells 
View northeast towards Black Hill 
Rhymer’s Stone 
Return to Melrose 
Melrose Abbey 
Melrose
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on Dingleton Road (B6359) at junction with Newlyn Road, immediately south of Melrose town centre. Alternative start points at Newstead, Rhymer’s Stone or elsewhere in Melrose
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 547339
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.596033,-2.719848
🚌 Bus to Melrose
🚗 Street parking
📝 Key info
▶ 9 km / 6 mi | ▲ 480 m | ⌛ 3-3.5 hr
Features: △ Eildon Mid Hill (422 m, sub-2000′ Marilyn); △ Eildon Wester Hill (371 m); △ Eildon Hill North (404 m); ✞ Rhymer’s Stone ★; 🏠 Melrose ★★★ & town sights
⬤ Moderate | Paths are clear throughout though sometimes steep – muddy on descent to Rhymer’s Stone. Very steep & loose descent south from Mid Hill (avoidable by returning to the col between Mid & North hills first).
Download file for GPS➡️ Irregular walk shape: start – col between Mid & North hills via St Cuthbert’s Way – Eildon Mid Hill – Eildon Wester Hill – Eildon Hill North – Rhymer’s Stone – B6361 at 🧭 NT 560342 – Melrose & town sights – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Fox and rabbits in the fields above Melrose.
Weather: Mostly overcast with just a few glimpses of sunshine. Windy on the summits.
August 2016
