Borders Abbeys Way 2019 Prologue

Prologue Monday 9^th September 2019 Jedburgh

This might be a first, arriving to do an LDW by walking a section of, and kind of part way through, another LDW.  I had walked over from Kirk Yetholm via part of St. Cuthbert’s Way, veering toward Jedburgh when I came across the intersection with the Borders Abbeys Way.  The short section into Jedburgh ran along above farmland, giving glimpses of views between trees.  I arrived in Jedburgh (pronounced Jed-bur-rrrah!) and oriented myself.  The abbey was smack in the middle of the town.  It had an entry fee, but I was on a budget and could not see how entering would give me much of an advantage in what I could see, so I took photos from all angles from outside the grounds.

Jedburgh also has a Castle Jail at the top of the hill, which was free to explore, so I did.

My B&B was 2km out the other side of Jedburgh.  It was only a short distance off the trail, which I thought was ideal for today (it wasn’t, as you will see), but was less convenient for when I would return in 5 days time.  Late in the planning of this holiday I did see less expensive accommodation right in town but didn’t want to be “that guy” who cancelled close to the date.  Anyway, I found the accommodation, got no answer to my knock, and sat on a bench with the company of a peacock and read for a while until the husband saw me and said his wife was inside somewhere.

After getting shown to my room and asking a few questions, I found the closest place to eat was back in town, so it was a 4km+ round trip to head in and hit the co-op and get a burger and chips (which I ate sitting up near the castle jail).

Day 1