A group made up of church members and members from Mersey Synod set off from the church
on Monday morning, 16th May to walk St. Cuthbert's way. The walk was from Melrose to
Lindisfarne walking around 16 miles per day and finishing on Holy Island, Lindisfarne.

Here are the photos from the walk and the information given on the walk.

Day 1. Melrose – Ancrum - Lunch Time – St. Boswells

Melrose Abbey
This is where the walk begins! There is your first challenge – The Eildon Hills.
The Romans called them Trimontorium – Three Mountains. Large Roman camp near here up the road.
That was significant in the story of Cuthbert. St. Aidan on Lindisfarne brought Christianity to this area
by establishing Christian Communities near centres of population, and because there was a Roman
Camp at Trimontorium, he established a community here.

Looked nothing like this when St. Cuthbert arrived here in 651 at the age of 16.The Monastery on a site known as old Melrose 2 miles to the East in a bend in the river Tweed. One night when he was looking after he sheep he saw a bright light leaving the earth and rising to heaven. Recognised a great soul leaving the earth. Next day learnt St. Aidan had died. In this recognised a call. As he arrived at Melrose St. Boisil saw him coming “Behold the servant of the Lord.”

Founded 1136 by David I for the Cistercian monks. C14 destroyed by English raids. Most of the existing buildings C16 or 16. Beneath the chancel is buried the heart of Robert the Bruce By C19 fallen into decay. 1882 Duke of Buccleuch began programme of restoration. Gifted it to the nation. Today looked after by Historic Scotland.

In 665 when Cuthbert was 30, he was asked to become the abbot on Lindisfarne, and so our walk retreads his walk from Melrose to Lindisfarne. Much of it must be the same path. Following River Tweed. Using the Old Roman Road Deer Street.

Bowden
Dated back to C12th. 30 – 80 men from the village obliged to help Kelso Abbey at ploughing, sheep shearing and harvest. Each had to provide the monks with a quantity of ale and a large chicken at Christmas
Maxton – birthplace of John Duns Scotus.1625. Went to teach in Oxford and Paris. Died 1308. Disciples known as dunces. Deer Street – Roman Road (Originally went from York – Edinburgh. Symbol of Deer Street the Roman helmet.

Dere Street. Originally ran all the way from York to the Forth near Edinburgh. (Sometimes known as Agricola’s Road. Roman Governor in Britain 79 – 83, period road built.)
St. Cuthbert would certainly have walked this way on his way from Melrose to Lindisfarne