Follow the footsteps of St Cuthbert in this easy-going walk of 63 miles (101 km) from Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in Northumberland. St Cuthbert’s Way is one of Scotland’s Great Trails, and it is also one of England’s great trails. Starting from the ruins of Melrose Abbey, it winds alongside the River Tweed, and after about 31 miles you walk across the border into England on high ground. The Way includes a section of Roman road and passes castles, hill forts and historic ruins along the way. Most people will complete it comfortably within 5 or 6 days.

Its summit is Wideopen Hill (369m/1210ft), and its barefoot finale is the Pilgrim Way to Lindisfarne with its priory and castle. The route is fully waymarked, the gradients are modest and it has welcoming B&Bs and pubs at strategic intervals.  This second edition was thoroughly revised in 2023 and it contains custom mapping at 1:40,000 and many post-Covid updates.  It is bound in our lighter, pocket-friendly format and printed on rainproof paper.

"For me, this guide ticks all the boxes: it is easy to use, following the usual Rucksack Readers spiral-bound format; the text is clear and well written, and … it contains much additional information regarding the area’s rich history, landscape and wildlife; and it is very well illustrated.

All the practical information you might need regarding accommodation, services, public transport etc is included and there is a useful altitude profile of the route."

Ronald Turnbull has been a professional writer and photographer since 1995. He has won several Awards for Excellence from the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild for his outdoor books, guidebooks and articles. He lives in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire.