Innerleithen: Printmaking, Riverside Paths and History

Innerleithen brings together a thriving printing craft, architectural history, local festival traditions and waterside paths. The still-operating Robert Smail’s Printing Works and the stone Cuddy Brig tell different stories about the town. There is also a Gothic Revival church, riverside walks and woodland on Caerlee Hill. When planning a holiday apartment stay, it helps to first consider whether you would like to focus mainly on culture, gentle walks or bus connections during your trip.

Printmaking and architectural history

Robert Smail’s Printing Works is a still-operating letterpress printer and an important part of Scotland’s industrial heritage. Cuddy Brig offers a different perspective: the stone-arched bridge crosses the Leithen Water and was built in 1701. Innerleithen is therefore home to both a working printing works and a historic structure, representing different facets of the town’s heritage.

Innerleithen Parish Church is Gothic Revival in style. Thomas Pilkington originally designed it in 1865; in 1887, James Macintyre Henry carried out a major remodelling. Its distinctive features include high-quality stonework, an unusual layout and a striking interior with galleries. The broader conservation framework can also be quantified: Innerleithen Conservation Area currently includes 19 listed buildings and two protected Scheduled Monuments.

Waterside paths and woodland

The Mill Lade is an artificial watercourse, also locally known as the Dam, which you can follow through the town centre. Routes from Innerleithen and Walkerburn include gentle walks along the banks of the River Tweed and the Leithen Water. This brings together two different connections with water: a watercourse that runs through the town centre and paths along the riverbanks.

Another landscape feature is the woodland at the foot of Caerlee Hill. It contains deciduous and coniferous trees and is managed by the Woodland Trust. The riverside walks and woodland offer different ways to shape your trip, without suggesting that they provide the same kind of landscape experience.

The spring and local traditions

St. Ronan’s Wells was established at the site of a natural spring in the 1820s and flourished in the 19th century. St. Ronan’s Games and Cleikum Ceremonies is a border festival unique to Innerleithen. The St. Ronan’s Border Games were founded in 1827 and are considered Scotland’s oldest organised sporting event. Together, these stories show that the town’s history encompasses not only buildings and crafts, but also a long festival tradition.

Getting there and holiday apartments

Innerleithen is accessible by bus. The nearest railway station is in Galashiels; the X62 runs directly from there to Innerleithen and continues on its return journey to Peebles and Edinburgh. The Innerleithen Forest is about half a mile’s walk from the nearest bus stop. When available, the Adrenalin Uplift shuttle bus runs every 15 minutes and carries up to 64 passengers and their bikes. For your plans, check the latest X62 timetable details and, if you intend to use the shuttle, its availability.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Innerleithen, you can use these different interests as a starting point: printmaking and architectural history, waterside paths or bus connections. This makes it easier to shape your itinerary around the experiences that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Kelso, Morebattle, Buccleuch, Earlston, Carlops, West Linton, Galashiels, Melrose.

For the broader travel overview: The Scottish Borders.