"Be halde to ye hende." (Keep in mind, the end, your salvation.) An inscription by John Morow, a master mason, Melrose Abbey.

It was exciting to wake today and know we were escaping the city and heading for the Scottish borders. The train system here is so incredibly efficient and we were soon rolling our way to Tweedbank via Edinburgh. We spent about an hour stretching our legs in Edinburgh and reminiscing about the time we had spent there 9 years ago. Then onto a connecting train to Tweedbank. The scenery quickly changed from cityscape and industrial yards to pastoral landscape with those sweet black faced sheep dotting the countryside alongside the horses and cows and dry stone partitions separating the fields. Arriving, we were undecided whether to wait for a bus, call a cab or walk the 3 km to Melrose. The bicycle route looked walker friendly, so away we went, the happy wanderers. We checked into the Dunfermline House and then made our way to Melrose Abbey, which was incredible and I'll let the pictures tell the story.

The best mode of transportation!

 Arriving in Edinburgh and you see multiple levels of grey stone buildings in the old part of the city. 

 Greeted by two young bagpipers busking.

 Sir Walter Scott monument, the second largest monument in the world in memory of a writer.

 Edinburgh Castle in a commanding positon.

 Melrose Link - let's hike those 3 km and prepare for tomorrow!

 And this is where we will walk tomorrow, between the two mountains through the saddle. 

Melrose Abbey. A partly ruined monastery of the Cistercian order, founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of King David I of Scotland. It was a place beloved by Robert the Bruce (see previous post) and it is said that his heart is buried on the grounds. It was used as an abbey until the Protestant Reformation in 1560.

 The open window was actually a door where the monks would come down the steps from their sleeping chambers. You can see the formation of the bricks on the wall where stairs were attached. They would wash in the basin at the bottom and go for prayers at 2:00, 4:00, then 6:00 AM!

 The bell at the top of some very well worn steps.

Melrose Abbey from the side. It was an incredible tour, walking through history.

 On top of the Abbey. Grandchildren, notice the gargoyles. Gargoyles were added for two main purposes - to scare off evil and to divert rainwater.

 A steep spiral staircase leading up to the top of the Abbey to view the grounds from above.

 Nothing to say on this! (You can click on the picture to get a larger version.)

Dunfermline House - our B&B for one night before we set out on our hike.

Cheers to St. Cuthbert's Way - may it be kind to us!

Thank you for travelling along with us!