Discover St Cuthbert’s Way, an inspiring long-distance trail that leads from the historic abbeys of Melrose in the Scottish Borders to the tidal shores of Holy Island (Lindisfarne), finishing along the Northumberland Coast Path at Berwick-upon-Tweed. 

This richly varied 100km (62 miles) route crosses the Eildon and Leaderfoot National Scenic Area, the wild Cheviot Hills, Northumberland National Park, and the unspoilt Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offering a memorable journey through landscapes steeped in history and natural beauty.

Idea for walkers of all abilities, the St Cuthbert’s Way is an easy long-distance walk with no technical difficulties or exposed sections. The comprehensive Cicerone guidebook divides the trail into 6 manageable daily stages, with advice on tackling the route in 4 to 9 days. Discover remarkable historical sites along St Cuthbert’s Way, including the magnificent ruined abbeys at Melrose and Jedburgh, the traditional village of Kirk Yetholm, the atmospheric St Cuthbert’s Cave, the iconic priory on Holy Island (Lindisfarne), and the historic border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

• Route highlights include Melrose Abbey, Jedburgh Abbey, Kirk Yetholm, Wooler, the Cheviot Hills, and the iconic tidal crossing to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) – finishing along the dramatic Northumberland Coast Path to Berwick-upon-Tweed.
• The trail can be walked year-round, but the best weather for enjoying the Cheviot Hills, Northumberland National Park, and the tidal crossing to Holy Island is typically from May to August, when the route is at its most beautiful and accessible.
• St Cuthbert’s Way can be completed in about a week, following six daily stages from Melrose to Berwick-upon-Tweed, but the guidebook includes flexible itinerary options allowing you to complete the route in as few as 4 days or as many as 9, depending on your pace and interests
• Each stage includes a detailed route summary with distance, estimated walking time, elevation, and practical information about accommodation, transport, and facilities in key towns and villages such as Melrose, Jedburgh, Kirk Yetholm, Wooler, Holy Island, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, ensuring you’re well-prepared at every step.
• Use the OS Landranger (1:50,000) mapping and downloadable GPX files to follow in the footsteps of St Cuthbert, navigating the landscapes and locations associated with his life, from Melrose Abbey, where he began his religious journey, to the priory he led at Holy Island, supported by expert advice for planning each stage of your pilgrimage.
• Discover the region’s extraordinary wildlife along St Cuthbert’s Way, from red squirrels and roe deer in the Borders woodlands and Cheviot Hills, to otters in clear streams, and abundant birdlife including curlews and ospreys in Northumberland National Park. On the Northumberland coast and around Holy Island, look out for grey seals, puffins, terns, and vast flocks of wintering wildfowl and waders in Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve.

Plan your St Cuthbert’s Way adventure with confidence and experience the enduring heritage and natural beauty of one of Britain’s most evocative pilgrimage routes with the definitive Cicerone guidebook.

St Cuthbert’s Way – Quick Facts

Trail name: Walking St Cuthbert’s Way  
Location: Scottish Borders & Northumberland, UK  
Total distance: ~100 km / ~62 miles (to Holy Island; extended ~125 km / ~78 miles to Berwick‑upon‑Tweed)  
Typical duration: ~6–9 days  
Start: Melrose (Scottish Borders)  
Finish: Holy Island (Lindisfarne) (optionally extended to Berwick‑upon‑Tweed)  
Route type: Long‑distance waymarked walking route in stages  
Difficulty: Easy to moderate; reasonable fitness advised (no technical difficulties)  
Terrain: Borders hills, valleys, upland moorland and coastal sections  
Navigation: Step‑by‑step descriptions, full mapping and GPX files available

Author Highlight

“St Cuthbert’s Way stretches 62 miles (100km), from Melrose in the Borders to Holy Island, and is described in this guide as continuing up the coast to Berwick-uponTweed, following a stage of the Northumberland Coast Path, making a total distance of 77½ miles (125km). This allows for better transport links from Berwick, and takes in some of the most beautiful coastal scenery anywhere in Britain. Despite its many charms, however, St Cuthbert’s Way sees remarkably few walkers in comparison to most other long-distance trails in the UK. Northumberland National Park not only has the lowest population density of any national park in Britain, but also some of the lowest visitor numbers – a distinction that is both a great pity (because it is an absolutely beautiful area) and at the same time one of its great charms – it is a world away from the crowds of some of Britain’s more frequented wild places."

- Rudolf Abraham, author of Walking St Cuthbert's Way

CONTENTS

Map key

Overview map

Introduction

Geology

Weather

Wildlife and plants

Eildon and Leaderfoot NSA

Northumberland National Park

Northumberland Coast AONB

History and heritage

Transport

Accommodation

About the routes

When to go

What to take

Waymarking and access

Maps

Hill and coastal safety

Emergencies

Using this guide

St Cuthbert’s Way

Stage 1 Melrose to Jedburgh

Stage 2 Jedburgh to Kirk Yetholm

Stage 3 Kirk Yetholm to Wooler

Stage 4 Wooler to West Mains

Stage 5 West Mains to Holy Island

Stage 6 Holy Island to Berwick-upon-Tweed

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Glossary and pronunciation

Appendix C Accommodation

Appendix D Useful contacts

Appendix E Further reading

Seasons

Spring, summer, autumn, with temperatures at their highest in July; late autumn for birdlife; expect snow on higher ground in winter

Centres

Melrose, Jedburgh, Kirk Yetholm, Wooler, Holy Island (Lindisfarne), Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Difficulty

There are no special difficulties to encounter when walking St Cuthbert’s Way, though a reasonable level of fitness is assumed. Keep an eye on weather forecasts when crossing the Cheviots. Crossing to Holy Island must be timed to coincide with low tide.

Must See

Holy Island (Lindisfarne), Lindisfarne Castle and Priory, Northumberland Coast AONB, Melrose Abbey, Jedburgh Abbey, the Cheviots, Northumberland National Park, Eildon Hills, River Tweed, Kirk Yetholm, Wideopen Hill, College Valley, Yeavering Bell, St Cuthbert’s Cave, Scottish Borders

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