Direction to visit Abbotsford House - Unique Route

The above map shows how the Sir Walter Scott Way deviates from the Southern Upland Way between the modern Tweed Bridge just to the SE of the Kingsknowe Hotel and Lowood Bridge to the west of Melrose.

The more detailed maps are given for the two junction points.

These maps are not to an exact scale but are given as a useful guide to the route.

* Shortly after passing Abbotsford House, on the right across the River Tweed, the way arrives at a carpark below a high modern bridge.
* At (1) the SUW keeps to the grass bank, the Sir Walter Scott Way takes to the road and turn left along the side of recreation fields at Netherdale.
* Shortly the route turn sharp left up a narrow road (2) at the old gatehouse for the Kingsknowe Hotel
* Within approx. 30 mtrs. take the steps to the right (3) onto the road connection Galashiels to Tweedbank and Melrose.

* Cross the bridge on the footpath on the north side and immediately on the other side turn left at (4)
* Instantly there is a small path to the left that turns under the bridge. To access Abbotsford House take this way to (4A).
* The route is down a wooded track (photo left) towards the river, meeting another track at which point turn left and walk to the top of the farmtrack.
* At the road turn right for 10 metres to access the grounds and house of Abbotsford.

Abbotsford is the eastern point where the alternative routes rejoin before heading NE towards the North Sea Coastline.

* Having arrived by either of the routes and seen the Ancestral Home(4A) of Sir Walter Scott return to the Way by either retracing the route to point (4) or walking this way for the first time.
You are now following for the the next few miles the more recently created Borders Abbeys Way which has been well marked with waymarking signs. These signs can be followed all the way to the Chain Bridge crossing of the Tweed at Melrose. We do however detail below all the key decision points.

* Continue NE on the footpath running between the River Tweed and the houses of Tweedbank.
* After a descent there is a Y junction on the path (5), take to the left.
* As the river comes back into view on the left (photo right) there is a second junction, this time take to the left and then immediately right.

*This riverside path is close to the Tweed and there are attractive views towards the bridge that was orignially a railway bridge carrying the Waverley line between Galashiels and Melrose.
*Close to the bridge the path rises towards an electrical pylon, keep to the path closest to the river and pass under an arch of the bridge.

* The way is along a grass bank on the south side of the Tweed for about one mile
* With Lowood Bridge clearly visible the path enters a wooded area, climbing for a very short distance till reaching the private drive to Lowood House
* At the drive (6) turn left and walk the 100 yards to the gatehouse and the public road.

* Cross the public road at the traffic lights and follow the pavement for a further 50 yards
* There is a stile on the left (7), this be opposite a small road junction
* Cross the stile, you are again on the line of the SUW with access to waymarking for all the remainder of the route.
* To return to the appropriate section of the website click here.

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