Discover the best places to hike in the Scottish Borders — from quiet hills and historic trails to rolling ridgelines and riverside walks.
The Scottish Borders rarely top the list when people think of hiking in Scotland and that’s part of the appeal. This is a region where empty trails outnumber walkers, hills roll for miles, and history quietly seeps out of the landscape. With rounded ridgelines, deep glens, and an undercurrent of Borders folklore, it’s a place that rewards those willing to explore beyond the big-name parks.
From long-distance national trails to short local loops, the Scottish Borders offer a mix of scenery, solitude, and subtle drama ideal for hikers looking for something a little quieter but no less memorable.
There’s a calmness to the Borders that’s hard to find elsewhere. The landscapes are more pastoral than alpine, but they still rise to impressive heights, especially around the Ettrick and Moorfoot Hills. You’ll find historic abbeys, drovers’ roads, Iron Age hillforts and wide views over farmed valleys. It’s also a region where you can walk all day and not see another person, perfect for those who like their miles peaceful.
Add in good transport links, welcoming towns like Peebles, Melrose, and Selkirk, and a growing network of well-maintained paths, and you’ve got a seriously underrated hiking destination.
Rising above Melrose, the three distinct Eildon summits are instantly recognisable. A short but rewarding hike links all three via a well-maintained trail, offering views over the Tweed Valley and the ruins of Melrose Abbey. It’s a great half-day route with plenty of historical weight, Roman forts, Bronze Age activity, and literary connections.
Scotland’s coast-to-coast long-distance trail crosses the Borders in a series of wild, open stretches. You don’t need to walk the whole thing, sections between Traquair and Melrose or over the Ettrick Hills make for excellent day walks. Expect wide moorland, remote passes, and big skies.
This historical route climbs out of Traquair Forest up to Minch Moor, part of the ancient drove road known as the “Thief’s Road.” The path is now part of the Southern Upland Way and leads past the Cheese Well, a spring where travellers once left offerings. Great views over the Tweed Valley and a solid mix of woodland and upland walking.
If you want a proper hill day without a long drive into the Highlands, this is a solid choice. Starting from Peebles, this out-and-back or circular route takes in the open flanks of the Moorfoot Hills, with the 744m Dun Rig as the high point. Rolling, grassy hills and long views to the Pentlands and beyond.
This is one of the region’s best ridgeline walks. A well-maintained forest track from Yair climbs to the Three Brethren, three stone cairns marking a historic boundary point. From there, the ridge offers far-reaching views in every direction and a brilliant sense of openness. It’s high without being harsh.
Linking Melrose to Lindisfarne, this pilgrim path runs through some of the Borders’ finest scenery. Walk it in parts, the section from Melrose to Harestanes via the Eildons and the River Tweed is a standout, mixing riverside paths, hill views, and historical sites.
The Scottish Borders don’t shout for attention, but they offer some of the most rewarding walking in southern Scotland. If you like your hills quiet, your trails steeped in history, and your walks to end with a good slice of cake in a quiet town, this is the place.
Whether you’re in it for the solitude, the heritage, or the rolling miles, the Borders are well worth adding to your hiking calendar, especially when the crowds are headed elsewhere.
Photo by Stephen Talas on Unsplash
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