Scottish Borders Walking Festival

03/06/2026

🌟 FILM NIGHT: EMPTY QUARTER 🌟

We are delighted that award-winning writer, broadcaster, and hiking trail designer, Leon McCarron, is going to join us for some of our walking festival. Leon is a Yale World Fellow and the winner of the 2024 Cherry Kearton Medal from the Royal Geographical Society. In the past decade, he has travelled over 30,000 miles by human power and has some wonderful stories of his adventures to share.

🎥 The Feature Film & Talk

One of Leon's earliest adventures was in 2013 when he and a friend set out to walk across the Arabian Peninsula’s Empty Quarter — 1,000 miles through the largest sand desert on earth.

The film they self-shot received massive critical acclaim, reaching almost a million viewers on a global tour with the Banff Mountain Film Festival.

Leon is going to share this film with us and will talk about his reflections on on this particularly long walk! Leon is always an engaging and entertaining speaker and will leave us all smiling and relieved that our walks for the rest of the week are so relatively straightforward.

📊 Event Specifications

📍 VENUE: The award-winning Jedburgh Grammar Campus building
🕒 TIME: 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM (Introduction & Start)
💰 COST: £5
🚌 TRANSPORT: A minibus option is available departing from the Town Square at 6:30PM

🏅 PROUDLY SPONSORED BY: Jedburgh Community Council

🎟️ TICKETS ARE LIMITED – BOOK NOW!

Don't miss out on an unforgettable evening of exploration and storytelling. Secure your seats via the QR code.

02/06/2026

📢 FESTIVAL SPOTLIGHT: Jedburgh Abbey Ceremony 🏰✨

Start your walking week on a historic and memorable note! Before our boots hit the trails, we invite you to join us and residents in Jedburgh, for a very special morning in one of the Borders' most magnificent settings.

📖 Step Back in Time

Historic Environment Scotland have kindly agreed to open early just for us! Walkers are invited to explore the grounds of Jedburgh Abbey, a stunning ruined Augustinian Abbey established in the 1100s.

To kick off the festival week, there will be a short, meaningful blessing ceremony led by the leaders of three churches in Jedburgh. It’s a wonderful, reflective way to gather as a community before we set out to explore our beautiful historic town and the surrounding countryside.

📊 Event Specifications

📍 VENUE: Jedburgh Abbey
🕒 TIME: 9:00am - 9:30am
💰 COST: Free
🚌 TRANSPORT: N/A (Perfect for walkers registered for the early morning routes, like the Carter Bar walk!)

🎟️ HOW TO JOIN US

While this event is free, please register your attendance so we can manage numbers within the Abbey grounds.

🔗 Book Your Free Spot below.

Note: Please arrive a few minutes early to ensure a prompt 9:00am start.

31/05/2026

🎥 **WALK SPOTLIGHT: Kalemouth to Jedburgh** 🥾💧

Looking for a pleasant, scenic stroll steeped in local history? This beautiful linear route passes through gorgeous Borders countryside with very little ascent—making it the perfect excuse for coffee and cake at the end! ☕🍰

# # # **📖 The Journey & Heritage**

We begin this walk at **Kalemouth**, crossing the River Teviot over a historic suspension bridge (now closed to vehicles) before following a quiet minor road past Ormiston House. From there, we step back in time along the old **Roxburgh-Jedburgh railway line**, which closed to passenger traffic after the devastating winter floods of 1948 swept away the Teviot bridge.

* **River Walks:** We trace the old track to Nisbet, cross the modern road bridge, and head down a lovely riverside pathway where you can still spot the remaining stumps of the destroyed 1948 bridge.
* **Wildlife & Cliffs:** After picking up the old railway line once more, we emerge at Mounthooly and cross over to meet the **Jed Water**. The trail carries us past Riverside Park (home of Jedforest RFC) and joins the **Borders Abbeys Way**.
* **The Home Stretch:** This final riverside stretch treats us to stunning views of the ancient cliffs carved out by the water over millennia. Keep your eyes peeled for herons by the cauld—and if you're incredibly lucky, you might just spot a kingfisher as we approach the town centre! 🐦✨

---

# # # **📊 Walk Specifications**

* **📏 LENGTH:** 7.2 miles
* **📈 ELEVATION GAIN:** 348 ft
* **⏱️ DURATION:** Approx. 4 hours
* **💪 DIFFICULTY:** Moderate
* **🚌 TRANSPORT:** Minibus
* **📝 REGISTRATION:** 9:30am at the Hub

# # # **🏅 PROUDLY SPONSORED BY: Carrylite**

---

# # # **🎟️ SECURE YOUR SPOT!**

Spaces are limited, so don't lace up your boots too late! Book your tickets directly via Eventbrite here:

🔗 **[Book Kalemouth to Jedburgh Tickets](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sbwf-2026-kalemouthnisbetjedburgh-tickets-1986975643638?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1*fsbfbb*_up*MQ..*_ga*NTI3NzM0NjA2LjE3ODAyMjA1MjA.*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3ODAyMjA1MTkkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODAyMjA1MTkkajYwJGwwJGgw)**

*Note: All times and details are correct at the time of publication.*

29/05/2026

FEATURED ROUTE: CARTER BAR TO JEDBURGH
“JETHART’S HERE!”
📖 The Journey & Heritage
We begin this walk with a panoramic view of the southeastern Borders, taking us from the border at Carter Bar back to Jedburgh. Along our journey, we visit the Redeswire Stane, a monument erected to commemorate the last Scottish-English battle in 1575.
This historic site is the focal point of Redeswire—one of the most important rideouts of the annual Jethart Callant’s Festival (Jedburgh’s common riding). Here, the young man chosen to represent the town, the Callant, calls out "Jethart's Here!" to commemorate the cry of the Jedburgh men who turned the tide of that ancient battle.
Our route takes the same general direction that the riders take, but with a few shortcuts as we drop steadily down to the town:
The High Points: Cross the Knock Hills viewpoint, walking along farm tracks and fields.
The Estates & Hidden Valleys: Pass through the delightful Edgerston Estate around its 17th/18th-century mansion house, where parklands funnel us into a hidden valley known as The Narrows on the way to Camptown.
The River Paths: Discover hidden paths to Mossburnford and walkways high above the Jed Water, offering striking views of Ferniehirst Castle.
The Ancient Forest: Walk past Jedburgh's legendary “Heritage Trees”—remnants of the ancient Jedforest—notably the Capon Tree (which plays a significant role in the Common Riding) and the King of the Woods.
We finish by crossing to the other side of the Jed Water valley, joining a short section of the beautiful Borders Abbeys Way through peaceful woodland until suddenly, we emerge from the trees to find that... "Jethart's here."
📋 Key Walk Details
📅 Date: Saturday, 5th September 2026
💪 Difficulty Level: Arduous
📏 Distance/Ascent: 11 miles / 500 ft
⏱️ Registration Window: 8:30 AM – 9:25 AM�(This early window allows walkers to attend the short morning ceremony at the Abbey from 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM if they wish!)
🚌 Transport Note: As transport for this walk uses a service bus, walkers will be required to pay the standard bus fare or use their Scottish National Entitlement Card.

Sponsored by DM Hall

To book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sbwf-2026-carter-barjedburgh-tickets-1986975183261?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

19/05/2026

The "Hub Launch”

📍 INTRODUCING THE FESTIVAL HUB AT THE THISTLE PAVILION!

Every great adventure needs a starting point. We are excited to confirm that the Lothian Park Clubrooms—the home of the Jed Thistle RFC—will be our official Hub for the 2026 Scottish Borders Walking Festival!

A massive thank you to &Scott for sponsoring the rental of the Pavilion for the full week. 👏

What’s happening at the Hub?

✅ Walker Registration & Information
✅ Daily meet-ups for 600–1,000 walkers
✅ Tea, coffee, and home baking 🍰
✅ A front-row view of the beautiful Jedburgh Abbey.

We can’t wait to welcome you all to the &Scott Hub!

13/05/2026

03/05/2026

Where is the Hub? 📍

We will be located at the Thistle Pavilion, Lothian Park, Jedburgh (TD8 6JH).

To make it easy, you can find our exact location on Google Maps right here:
👉 https://www.google.com/maps/place/55%C2%B028'30.0%22N+2%C2%B033'16.3%22W/

See you there! 👋

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

02/05/2026

The Scottish Borders Walking Festival 2026 is set to be a fantastic event, showcasing the historic charm and natural beauty of Jedburgh.

Based on the information available, walkers can look forward to a diverse range of routes including:
* Different Routes: Ranging from short 1-mile strolls to challenging 25-mile treks.
* Diverse Terrain: Explore scenic riverside paths along the Jed Water, lush woodland trails, and historic town walks.
* Historical Highlights: Many paths include sections of the Dere Street Roman Road and trails through the Jedforest.
* Local Landmarks: Routes often pass through or near the Harestanes Visitor Centre and the nearby villages of Ancrum and St Boswells.

For those planning their visit, you can download the full brochure of paths through the Scottish Borders Council directory (https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/directory-record/7461/paths-around-jedburgh).

Booking Information:
If you are looking to secure your spot for specific guided walks or festival events, please visit the official Eventbrite page:
[Scottish Borders Walking Festival 2026 - Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/scottish-borders-walking-festival-2026-jedburgh-34220954511)

01/05/2026

Spot the difference! The first that spots it, wins a box of chocolate from our famous Jedburgh Chocolate House 😜

01/05/2026

The programme for events and walks is finally published!