Opening times
Monday Closed
Tuesday to Saturday
10am – 4pm
Sunday
11am – 4pm

We kindly ask that dog owners keep their pets under control at all times.

The Scottish Outdoor Access Code

Download Map of Estate Walks and Activities

The Monks Trail
This circular woodland and riverside walk starts at the Tearooms and enables visitors to the Tearooms to wander in the footsteps of the Monks who lived here 1,400 years ago.

The main route follows the path that would have been taken by Monks walking from the Old Melrose Monastery to Dryburgh Abbey in the distant past. The path no longer crosses the river at the aptly named “Monks Ford” as the Monks would have done but instead weaves its way back to the Tearooms through the woods.

Short Route: 20 minutes
Long Route: 60 minutes

Sensory Trail
Our sensory trail has been designed to enable both adults and children to explore the woodlands and immerse themselves in its nature using all their senses. The trail consists of 29 challenges which have been set to help open visitors’ eyes to the shapes, textures and colours of nature whilst exploring the sounds and smells that surround them. Challenges include “Try and mimic the birdsong you hear”, “Go Barefoot and find something wet or soft to stand on” and “Hug the bark of three different trees and describe how they feel”.

Interpretation panels
Our six interpretation panels which have been placed along the Monks’ Trail have been designed to provide visitors with information on different aspects of the nature at Old Melrose and include details of the roles played by Pollinators, Minibeasts and Trees and the challenges facing them. The panels also look at the importance of conservation within the countryside and how the different habitats found at Old Melrose work together to provide the biodiversity needed for a balanced ecosystem.

Map of Estate Walks and Activities
Our Estate Walks Map which is available at the Tearooms contains details of the Old Melrose Estate walks as well as a list of twenty fun activities that you can try on your walk. These activities are designed to help visitors connect with the nature and countryside around them and include ideas such as “Try skimming a stone”, “How many different birds can you spot” and “Build a den for a minibeast”.

Further afield
The Tearooms and Estate also act as a good start or finish point for longer walks.  A network of paths from the Estate connect with pathways such as St Cuthberts Way, Five Abbeys Way and the Southern Upland Way.  Melrose is a short walk along the river or over the Eildon Hills and Dryburgh Abbey and St Boswells a short walk downstream.  Another enjoyable walk is to Leaderfoot and then via the  Diamond Jubilee Path to Earlston and the Black Hill.  See www.walkmelrose.org.uk and www.earlstonpathsgroup.co.uk for more information.