Walking in the Cheviot Hills
Local walks
Our B&B accommodation in Town Yetholm is an ideal base for walking in the surrounding Cheviot Hills and beautiful Borders countryside. There’s a great range of local walks on our doorstep with fabulous views, old drover’s tracks, peaceful river valleys, ruined abbeys, castles and hill forts, and a wonderful feeling of freedom in wild and empty hills.
We have OS maps available for you to borrow, and can suggest walking routes for all tastes, from a gentle stroll by the river to a full day out in the hills. We love walking and exploring the local area ourselves when we’re not looking after guests in our bed and breakfast.
More details of local walking routes can be found on the Yetholm Online website.
Long-distance walks
We are about half-way along the St Cuthbert’s Way, a 100km (62 mile) walk which links Melrose in the Scottish Borders with Holy Island off the Northumberland Coast. With great scenery throughout, the walk follows in the steps of St Cuthbert from the abbey where he lived in 650AD to his resting place and original pilgrimage shrine. If you run out of steam on the final section from Morebattle to Yetholm, give us a call and we may be able to come and collect you.
Town Yetholm is 1km north of the end of the Pennine Way which stops just across the river at the Border Hotel in Kirk Yetholm. This iconic 431km (268 mile) walk was Britain’s first National Trail and follows ‘the backbone of England’ through its wild northern uplands.
If you’re walking the final – and rather long – stretch of the Pennine Way from Byreness, one option would be to split the walk and stay with us for two nights. Hownam Taxis (01573 440389 or 07768 070818) could be booked to collect you from Cocklawfoot on the first day, and we can usually drop you back there the following morning.
There are several other long distance paths close by, including the Borders Abbeys Way and the Southern Uplands Way. You can also keep heading northwards from the end of the Pennine Way by following the Scottish National Trail. This 864km walk runs the length of Scotland from Kirk Yetholm up to Cape Wrath on the north coast. To start, it follows part of the St Cuthbert’s Way to Melrose then goes onto the Southern Upland Way to Traquair. The walk becomes progressively more demanding as you head north into the Scottish Highlands, ending with the challenging Cape Wrath Trail.
Facilities and services for walkers
We have boot trays and plenty of space to dry wet clothes and footwear. If you need to borrow a mending kit, boot wax or to replace a broken boot lace, please ask us as we always have those things ready. Hopefully you won’t need them, but we also have first aid supplies available, including Compeed plasters for any blisters.
For lunches and snacks, Yetholm’s community-owned village shop is a one-minute walk from Rutherford House across the green. It sells a great selection of food including sandwiches, oatcakes, rolls, dips and pate, cheese, crisps, nuts, biscuits, cakes and chocolate. You’re welcome to store food in our fridge. Alternatively we can make up a packed lunch for you.
If you’re walking the St Cuthbert’s Way and would like to have your baggage transferred, we recommend Carrylite Baggage Transfer. They can collect your bags after you have left to enjoy your day and deliver them to your next chosen place of accommodation, ready for your arrival.