The Chain Bridge – A Tweed Stroll and a Dram by the Fire
A few hours.
The route
Melrose's Chain Bridge has carried walkers over the Tweed since 1826, and a stroll down to it and back past the abbey ruins is a lovely short walk at the end of the day.
Afterwards, settle in at Burts on the Market Square, an 18th-century inn with cask ales, more than 50 malts and a fire in the bar. It's at its best on a crisp autumn evening, coming in from the river to the warmth.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Scullery in Yarrow, 13 miles away. Sleeps 2; next free Fri 13 Nov to Sun 15 Nov.
Then The House in the Hill, 15 miles away. Sleeps 4; next free Thu 29 Oct to Sat 31 Oct.
To eat in the Bistro Bar at Burts, book on 01896 822285: supper is served from 6pm to 8.30pm.
The day
Melrose
A short loop on foot from the Market Square: down to the Tweed and along the river to the old chain bridge, back by the lanes past the abbey, and in from the cold to a dram by the fire.
About two hours
The Chain Bridge
From the Market Square it's about 15 minutes' walk to the Chain Bridge, past Melrose Parish Church and the war memorial, down to the Tweed and along the river. Opened in 1826, it hangs on two pairs of iron chains from castellated stone towers, with a span of about 300 feet. The old notices at either end still say no more than eight people at a time, and no swinging it. The house at the Melrose end was its toll house. Walk out over the river, then come back past the toll house along Chain Bridge Road and Annay Road. The riverside path is unlit, so walk it in daylight: from November to January, when the sun sets between about 3.40pm and 4.35pm, that means an afternoon stroll before the fire.
About 16 min on foot
Burts Hotel
A drink
The loop ends 16 minutes from the bridge, down Abbey Street past the abbey ruins, at Burts on the Market Square. Its Bistro Bar keeps cask-conditioned ales, local beers among them, and over 50 malts, with a fire going when there's a chill in the air, and one of the Henderson family is often on hand to help you choose a dram. Supper is served from 6pm to 8.30pm; ring to book a table. Dogs are welcome in the beer garden. If Burts is busy, the King's Arms, just along the High Street, is open until 11pm, and later at weekends.
If it rains
On a wet evening, cut the loop short: walk down Abbey Street to the abbey ruins and back, and make the most of the fire at Burts.
The Hoebridge, a restaurant in Gattonside.
Photographs by Ian Dicken and Chris Blackwell via Google