St Cuthbert Way Day 4, April 19, Wednesday
Start Jedburgh, Allerton House.
Stop Morebattle at Temple Hall Hotel
Miles walked: 12
After breakfast we go down to Jedburgh Abbey and take an audio tour. The Augustine order were canons instead of monks at Melrose, and typically came from wealthier familes.
The community only had around twenty monks at one time, along with many staff and servants. Imagine such a large structure for only twenty!
Note the change in architectural styles between stories. The lower arches are Norman, and higher are Gothic, with pointed arches. This medieval abbey is much better preserved than Melrose.
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As with Melrose we had the opportunity to climb a spiral staircase, though not all the way to the top, and even cross over and climb down a different stairs.
Here is the view after climbing up stairs.
The main entrance looks imposing.
After the abbey tour we took Border Abbeys Way out of town, until it joined up with Cuthbert. Farmland on rolling hills surrounded us the rest of the day.
Several waymarkers from overlapping trails stacked up on this one post.
KK demonstrates how to climb an unusual rock stile over rock wall.
Cessford Castle was stronghold of the Kerr family, Border Reivers with a violent history of feuds and raids.
Closed to entrance, we must peek through windows for clues to what is hidden inside.
Signs of wear on the thick outer wall show why the castle is closed to exploration.
I get tantalizing glimpses of secrets held inside.
Later on we continue on narrow country lanes. Along the way I see a wall nearly covered in moss. Perhaps in another few centuries the coverage will be complete.
Entering village of Morebattle, KK is weary from yesterday’s long hike, and ready to stop.
I might be used to longer hiking days than KK, but it is not every day you get to walk to a castle and a medieval abbey. What will be the next trail adventure?