St. Cuthbert's Way 2009
March 26, 2007
Accommodation
The Townhouse, Melrose:
Melrose is a lovely small border town
famous for the remains. There are lots
of hotels to choose from here, and
several B&B’s to suit all budgets. I had
a good week at Cheltenham races so
William Hill’s paid for my bed and
board. This hotel was recently
refurbished and has a decent bistro as
well. The room was huge and quiet and
really well furnished. We ate in the
bistro and the food was good, all in all
an enjoyable stay....until I breakfast
and had to pay the bill
http://www.thetownhousemelrose.co.uk/accommodation.html
Ancrum Craig B&B, Ancrum:
When I drove up here on day zero to check the location I nearly got stuck on the track that leads into the driveway. The lady of the house came around the corner enquiring if we’d changed our minds. It reminded me a bit of Little Britain – but although old fashioned, it was clean and very comfortable, and the owners have run it for 30years or so. We had tea made for us on arrival and a fire lit in the lounge, and it has a tremendous outlook over the surrounding landscape. It is some distance from Ancrum and you would need transport down to the local pub to eat – about 1 ½ miles away. The local pub for an evening meal was The Cross Keys and I think that applied to the owner. She was busy when we got there and insisted we sat down with a menu, saying to me in a lilting Scottish ‘do you understand’. I understood she didn’t like me standing at the bar as she couldn’t serve the locals in the snug without serving me as well. So that kind of p*%£& her off, but I stood my ground and got a drink. The food was just pub grub, and it filled a spot but no more.
There may be a better choice of places
to stay and eat at nearby Jedburgh, but
the B&B was good and the breakfast was
well done.
http://www.ancrumcraig.co.uk/ac.asp
The Border Hotel, Kirk Yetholm:
This hotel is the first watering hole
you see at the end of the Pennine Way,
and a very welcome sight it must be. The
rooms have been refurbished recently and
I stayed in the Teviot room – very nice
as well and well appointed. We ate in
the bar in the evening, and it had a
good atmosphere early on with good food
and service. Later on it went a little
quiet as the diners disappeared but it
was a very enjoyable stay. Service at
breakfast was great – we were the only
ones staying! There are several B&B’s
close by and more in Town Yetholm a
short distance away.
http://www.theborderhotel.com/
Rockcliffe House B&B, Wooler:
This B&B is one of many in Wooler. It is
just off the high street but in a quiet
location, and very handy for the local
Italian restaurant called Milan – part
of the adjacent hotel. The B&B was clean
and the service was lovely by the young
lady who runs it. The room was a decent
size and breakfast was good and set me
up for my long final day. A nice little
town is Wooler. The Milan was an ok
Italian restaurant and reasonably priced
– but I suppose that’s all in the eye of
the beholder.
http://www.rockliffehouse.co.uk/
Bamburgh View B&B, Holy Island:
Run by a couple from Yorkshire, and
newly refurbished rooms. A lovely
welcome and a good sized room, with
everything you will need. Close to the
abbey remains and the local pubs. Holy
Island has a few B&B’s dotted around and
they are not from anywhere – it’s a
small place and very quiet when the tide
is in and everybody has gone home. We
ate at the Crown and Anchor – one of the
two pubs. It was Ok but nothing special.
But it was a very relaxing place to wind
down the end of the walks as we couldn’t
leave until the tide went out at 10:30,
and better still no one could arrive
either!
http://www.lindisfarne.org.uk/bamburghview/index.htm
General Info
All of the places we stayed had a WiFi connection, which was handy as I had my notebook with me, and that allowed me to download my pictures every night and post a message to the walking forum I use.
The rooms also had a settee to sit down and have a well earned cup of tea at the end of the days walk.
All of the proprietors were very friendly with the exception of the landlady in the Cross Keys in Ancrum – but we all have our off nights don’t we?
If you are thinking of doing this route then some planning and thought has to go into your selection of accommodation – and campers I’m sorry, but I didn’t really look for any campsites.