The best walks and hikes in Scottish Borders

Exploring the hills of the Scottish Borders

This southerly region of Scotland is mostly rural, free of cities and largely hilly. You’ll find some of the most dramatic and best hiking trails in the Scottish Borders in the west and the south, where the hills are highest. 

Galashiels, Tweedbank and Melrose are neighbouring towns and make great bases if you’re looking for somewhere to stay. There are plenty of trails in the immediate area, both up hills for outstanding views and along the River Tweed. The river will guide you through wonderful woodlands and don’t be surprised if you see a lot of people fishing, this is one of the best salmon-fishing rivers in the world. 

When you’re exploring hikes in the Scottish Borders, you may well spot castles standing proud on hilltops and guarding the valleys. From the enigmatic, 13th century Hermitage Castle to the grand Thirlestane Castle at Lauder, Scotland’s history is all around you as you wander. 

Getting a dose of fresh sea air

Over in the very east of the region, walks along the Scottish Borders’ coastline are exhilarating, inspiring and frankly, pretty marvellous. The coastline here is rugged and windswept, with fantastic views north and south and wonderful cliff top plants. 

You can hike to Cove to discover it’s old fishing harbour and see the lighthouse at St Abbs Head. This headland is also a nature reserve and while seabirds are resident all year round, in summer, they fill the air and the cliffs with the sound of their calls. 

Choosing a time to hike in the Scottish Borders

Every time of year offers excellent hiking opportunities in the Scottish Borders and winter can sometimes be the most breathtaking season. During the coldest months, the sun tracks a low arc in the sky, which means you don’t have many hours to hike, but those hours will often have phenomenal light. With snowfall across the hills and in the valleys, winter treks in this region can be unforgettable. 

Spring and summer turn the entire area into a lush, green landscape filled with birdsong and flowers. Roaming the hills in these seasons and exploring the river valleys shows you just how wildlife rich the Southern Uplands are. 

Autumn brings the classic shades of golden, red and brown to the hills and glens. In the west, you might be lucky and catch sight of red squirrels hoarding food and it’s easier to see a full complement of stars without having to stay up too late. 

Whenever you choose to hike in the Scottish Borders, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to trails, landscapes and views.