This route takes you from Traquair to Melrose, through forests, up hills, over moorland and along the banks of the River Tweed.

Start the walk at the war memorial and along a minor road, which turns into a track and eventually takes you through the forests of Elibank and Traquair. This is the Minchmuir Road track and it has been used since the 13th Century. The Minchmuir bothy is here.

At Pipers Knowe the forest ends and you pass the circles by Charles Poulsen and the Cheese Well and after this you begin to cross the slopes of Minch Moor which is 1860 feet high (567m) tall. Carry on the track and then you will get to open moorland and start to cross the Browne Knowe which is 1715 feet tall (523m).

The walk then descends a little to the slopes of Broomy Law and then towards Yair Hill Forest, after walking along the edge of the forest you then walk through it until you reach the A707 road and the Yair Bridge, which crosses the River Tweed. At Fairnilee Farm follow the sign to Galashiels and after walking through more woodland you will come to an open track where you will see the town in the distance.

At Galashiels the walk avoids the town and passes through the park, across a field over the A7 and down to the River Tweed. Follow the river track and you will see Abbottsford House, built for Walter Scott. Carry on past the Galafoot Bridge and then when the Gala and the Tweed meet, cross the next bridge and follow the old railway line. Cross the road and continue along the banks of the Tweed and into the town of Melrose.

Melrose is a pretty village at the foot of the Eildon Hills, you can visit the ruined Melrose Abbey where there is a commemorative stone tablet to Robert the Bruce, whose heart is said to be in a casket that was found here.