Easy hikes and walks around Bowden Village

Eildon Hill North is an historic, photogenic and widely visible landmark in the Scottish Borders. At 1325 feet (404 m) this peak is the second highest of the three Eildon (pronounced ‘Eeldon’) Hills located just south of Melrose. The significance of Eildon Hill North was recognised by Bronze Age and Iron Age peoples and by the Romans. This peak was the site of the largest Iron Age hill fort in Scotland. Up to 2000 people are thought to have lived here at the same time. Today the pockmarks from hundreds of roundhouse platforms and nearly 1-mile of defences are still visible. When the Romans came in about 80 AD they built their mighty garrison fort called ‘Trimontium’ (named after the three Eildon peaks) immediately below Eildon Hill North and also placed a signal station on this summit. Trimontium was the largest Roman settlement north of Hadrian’s Wall. The short but steep climb up Eildon Hill North is well worth the effort! On a clear day you will be rewarded with stunning views. The popular St Cuthbert’s Way that runs from Melrose Abbey to Holy Island in Northumberland climbs over the col in the Eildon Hills and provides a pleasant way up Eildon Hill North.

The central and highest of the Eildon Hills Eildon Mid Hill stands at 422m and offers the best views. Look northeast to the Iron Age hill fort ramparts on the north hill, south over the smaller Wester Hill and north over Melrose. The three hills are a great run from Melrose, steep and punchy but not actually that high or far so perfect for a half day or pre/post work run. Great views and some good vert for the distance.

The most western and the lowest of the three Eildon Hills this is also the furthest from Melrose which is the normal starting point for this run. The Wester Hill stands at 371m and like the other two summits you still get great views.

The north summit of the Eildon Hills stands at 404m. It was the largest Iron Age hill fort in Scotland with spaces flattened for at least 300 dwellings and a set of walls and ramparts around the whole summit. Later the Romans built a signalling station here. Today it's a great running loop from Melrose taking in the three summits in a nice loop.

Great views of the surrounding area and the other Eildon HIlls. A steep mid section adds an element of toughness but the majority of the climb is pretty easy going.

At 1,217 feet (371 m), Wester Hill is the smallest of the three peaks that make up the Eildon Hills. However, it's definitely worth the trek for the views back towards lofty Mid Hill and North Hill, which was once the site of one of the largest hillforts in Scotland. Late summer, when the heather is at its most vibrant, is a glorious time to explore these hills.

Legend has it that the triumvirate of peaks that form the Eildon Hills were split asunder by a wizard named Michael Scot with the assistance of an idle devilish spirit. The true origin of these charismatic mini-mountains has more to do with geological wizardry. The Eildon Hills' foundations are the eroded remnants of a suite of igneous trachytic and rhyolitic sills. In other words, places where magma worked its way between sedimentary layers and solidified some 350 million years ago. Eildon Mid Hill is the summit of the massif, standing proud at 1,385 feet (422 m) and rewarding your efforts with sumptuous views of the surrounding countryside.

Beautiful hillside walk particularly in August with the heather on bloom