St Cuthbert (635 - 87) is thought to have been brought up in Lauderdale, and he became a shepherd near to the small community of Oxton. At the age of seventeen Cuthbert saw one night in a vision a great light in the sky, with a Christian soul being escorted to heaven by angels. He discovered the next day that St Aidan, the founder of the Old Melrose and Lindisfarne communities had died. He resolved at this stage to join the monastery at Old Melrose and then shortly became its third Prior.

St Cuthbert was the third Prior of Melrose following St Aidan and St Boisel or Bossil. In reality the first community was in Old Melrose some two miles downstream from the present Abbey. It was not until 1136 that the Abbey and monastery of Melrose were built by Cistercian Monks from Rievaulx.

Old Melrose is east of Melrose and not directly on the Way. It is however close and is on a land peninsula surrounded by the Tweed. This was a relatively isolated area and was seen by the Monks as a place of peace and closeness to God. This site is recognised as one of the original and most important Holy Sites in Scotland and Northern England.

This loop in the Tweed is not open to the public accept on special occasions. These photos were taken in June 2003 at an Eccumenical Service around the site of the original Christian Community.
Photo 1 - The current 18th Century buildings on the site of the Monks community
Photo 2 - The community extended as far as the woods to the west.
Photo 3 - Looking towards the eastern end of the community and the river bend at Scott's View

Photo 4 - The most likely site of the St Cuthbert's Chapel
Photo 5 - Present day buildings of Old Melrose
Photo 6 - Low land below Old Melrose on the River Tweed