Melrose

Nestled at the foot of the mystical Eildon Hills, by the banks of the Tweed, is little Melrose, the loveliest of all the Border towns. It's an engaging mix of cute little shops and cottages and dignified Georgian and Victorian houses, and boasts one of the most famous ruins in Scotland. The normally soporific atmosphere is shattered every April during the week-long Melrose Sevens, when the town is taken over by rugby fans from all over the world for the acclaimed seven-a-side rugby tournament which has been going since 1883. Melrose makes a great base for exploring the beautiful landscapes of the middle stretch of the Tweed which so inspired Sir Walter Scott, the famous son of the Borders. Two of the area's main sights, Dryburgh Abbey and Abbotsford House, are inextricably linked with the writer's life and work. They can be reached by public transport, but you'll need your own transport if you want to get off the beaten track.

Walks around Melrose

The three peaks of the Eildon Hills can be seen from all parts of the Central Borders region and can be climbed quite easily from Melrose. Starting from Market Square, head along the B6359 to Lilliesleaf, and after 100-yd the path is signed to the left and leads to the saddle between the North and Mid hills (Mid Hill is the highest, at 1,385 ft). The path leads to the summit of North Hill, then Mid Hill, and finally West Hill, to the south. There are several routes back to town, but heading via the golf course makes a nice circular walk of two miles. Allow about 1€ hours. The route is detailed in the Eildon Hills Walk leaflet available from the tourist office. Melrose is the starting point for the St Cuthbert's Way, a 60-mile walk which finishes at Lindisfarne (the Holy Isle). The much longer Southern Upland Way also passes through the town.

The Legends of the Eildons

The three-peaked Eildon Hills were considered a sacred place by the ancient Celts and have long been shrouded in mystery and associated with a number of legends. For a start they are believed to have been created by the wizard/alchemist Michael Scott and it was here that the mystic Thomas the Rhymer was given the gift of prophecy by the Faerie Queen. Most startling of all though is the claim that King Arthur and his knights lie asleep beneath the hills, victims of a terrible spell.