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Think of hillwalking in Scotland and you may instantly think of
the Highlands but there is far more to Scotland's hills than just
the highest tops and the delights of other areas can be just as
rewarding.
The Scottish Borders Festival of Walking aims to highlight the
attractions of walking in the Scottish Borders and having drawn
hundreds of walkers to the region over the past eight years it is
proving to be a great success.
This year's festival is based in and around the town of Melrose
from 7 - 14 September 2002 and with a programme of over 40 free
walks graded from easy to very strenuous there will be something
for everyone from the beginnner to the committed walker.
The Borders was one of the areas affected by last year's foot and
mouth crisis meaning the 2001 festival centred on West Linton was
postponed until April 2002 and despite the delay many people still
visited and it was deemed a huge success.
Even though this means the Melrose based festival is the second
one this year it has not dampened enthusiasm for the event with
many hundreds of enquiries about attending and another big turnout
expected throughout the week.
"We have about 600 people on our database who have requested more
information and of those 30 - 40 of them are from overseas," explained
Philippa Parish, assistant access officer with Scottish Borders
Paths.
"All the walks are graded from easy to moderate to strenuous and
there really is something for everybody.
"There are also different lengths of walks with the longest being
18 miles and the shortest a couple of miles around the town. So
it really covers everyone from more advanced walkers to somebody
who is just wanting a bit of a social event.
"There is a very friendly atmosphere at the festival and a lot
of the same faces come back again and meet up.
"Wherever the festival is based there is a great atmosphere and
the fact it moves from town to town means everybody gets a share
of filling their accommodation and the extra money that's brought
into the town.
"It also means there is a different range of walks every year for
the people visiting.
"All the walks are free but you quite often need a bus to get to
the start which costs a small fee. That means it is just visitors
accommodation and food they need to pay for and how much that costs
is up to the individual.
"A lot of those coming are staying in the youth hostel but there
are also more upmarket places and it is entirely up to the individual
how much they want to spend."
As well as the daily walking programme there is a very strong social
element to the festival with entertainment or activities every night
and despite the busy days most participants find the time and energy
to take part in the evening programme too.
The foot and mouth crisis had a big impact on the Borders tourism
industry last year and the walking festival is an important part
of the fightback from that according to Phillipa and all the organisers
are hoping for another big and successful event.
"It will be quite interesting to see if the people who came to
the festival in April come again in September," she said.
"We are getting a double bite of the cherry this year and that
will all help after foot and mouth," she added.
The historic town of Melrose sits at the foot of the triple peaked
Eildon Hills and is surrounded by good walking country, is the western
terminus of the St Cuthbert's Way path and is also situated on the
Southern Upland Way.
At the centre of the town lies the ruins Melrose Abbey, founded
by King David I in 1136 and where the heart of King Robert the Bruce
is buried. The River Tweed, noted for its salmon fishing, runs alongside
the town and nearby is the site of a major Roman fort Trimontium,
Priorwood Garden and Abbotsford House the former home of Sir Walter
Scott.
During the festival there will be a wide programme of walks with
some taking in the historic parts of the town, the Roman fort and
other areas of interest and others taking participants well out
into the surrounding countryside and hills.
The Melrose Millennium Walk takes a nine mile route starting and
finishing in the historic heart of the town and touching upon the
surrounding countryside and the villages of Newstead, Darnick and
Gattonside with specific sites of particular historic or environmental
interest passed along the way.
Melrose Skyline is an 18 miles circular walk graded very strenuous
that will follow the skyline to the north and south of the town
and traversing many of the local hills like the Eildon Hills, Gattonside
Heights and Black Hill but efforts are rewarded with fine views.
At the other end of the spectrum there is the easy graded Town
Trail to visit the Market Place, Gallows Brae, Masonic Lodge, The
Wynd, the Abbey and the Merose Rugby Club ground at Greenyards where
rugby sevens was born.
Of course this is just a very small sample of the kinds of walks
during the festival and to find out more get your boots on a beat
a path to the Borders!
More information can be found on the website www.melrose.bordernet.co.uk/walking
29/8/2002
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