Museums
Galleries
Visitor Attractions
Visitor Information - Scottish Borders
History and Heritage
Castles
Activities
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Museums
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Visitor Attractions Visitor Information - Scottish BordersHistory and Heritage |
Castles
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Out and About: |
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The Scottish Borders is an area often overlooked by visitors to Scotland and yet there are treasures for all to find. The area has a rich - and at times, bloody and violent - history. The four Border abbeys, at Jedburgh, Melrose, Dryburgh and Kelso are each testament to that heritage, but there are also numerous castles, churches, towers and other ancient monuments to hold your interest. There is a dramatic coastline which includes craggy cliffs, such as those at St Abbs Head, but also quiet and secluded beaches and coves. Inland, the coastal plains give way to the Lammermuirs, the northern end of the Pennines and, further west, the Southern Uplands and some wild and more remote mountain terrain. The Tweed Valley has recently been given Forest Park status and there is a wide variety of outdoor activities on offer right around the region. The Southern Upland Way cuts through the region to finish on the coast at Cockburnspath. St Cuthbert's Way is a popular walking route and the northern end of the Pennine Way is at Kirk Yetholm. Cyclists have The Tweed Cycle Route and the Border Loop. National Cycle Route 1 passes through the region on its way from Berwick to Edinburgh.
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Historic Buildings and Castles: |
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Jedburgh Abbey
Magnificent building; the abbey was founded in 1138. Visitor centre. |
Neidpath Castle Peebles. In a setting high above the River Tweed, this imposing castle has been featured as a location in a number of films. |
Said to be the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland. Restored working brewery. |
Melrose Abbey The remains date back to the 14th-16th centuries. A casket, believed to contain the heart of Robert the Bruce is buried within the grounds. |
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Between Galashiels and Melrose. Built by the novelist Sir Walter Scott in a superb situation on the banks of the Tweed. Collections of rare historic artifacts and books. |
Kelso. Largest inhabited castle in Scotland. Home of the Duke and Duchess of Roxburgh. |
Lauder. Home to the Earls of Lauderdale. Exhibitions, woodland walks, picnic area, adventure playground, coffee, lunches and teas. |
Hermitage Castle
Near Newcastleton. Imposing castle in a wild, and sometimes bleak, setting. |
Museums and Galleries: |
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Halliwell's House Museum Selkirk. The town's oldest dwelling now houses the museum and the Robson Gallery. |
Eyemouth Museum Farming and fishing industry heritage and exhibitions. |
Coldstream Museum Local history, exhibitions, gallery, picnic area in courtyard. The story of the Coldstream Guards. |
Old Gala House Galashiels. The house dates from 1583 and is now an interpretive centre with displays and exhibitions. Tearoom. |
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Liddesdale Heritage Centre Museum Newcastleton. Tells the story of Liddesdale and also has a collection of memorabilia from the former Waverley railway line. |
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Parks and Gardens: |
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Bowhill House and Country Park Bowhill, near Selkirk. Home to the Dukes of Buccleuch. Woodland walks. |
Kailzie Gardens Near Peebles. Walled gardens, greenhouses, plants for sale, art gallery, tearoom and restaurant. |
Coldstream. Gemstone museum, craft workshops, children's play area, gallery and tearoom. |
Dawyck Botanic Garden Stobo, near Peebles. Woodland walks among magnificent trees. Conservatory, refreshments, plants for sale and gifts. |
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Between Gordon and Kelso. Formal gardens and grounds. The house contains period furniture and an art collection. Mellerstain is reputed to be the finest William and Robert Adam house in the Borders. |
Paxton, near Berwick on Tweed. Gardens, walks and adventure playground. The house was built in the 18th century and has a fine collection of paintings. |
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Visitor Attractions: |
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Tweed Valley Forest Park Includes a number of forestry areas in the valley which have waymarked walking and cycling trails, downhill cycling facilities and picnic areas. |
Ormiston Institute, Market Square, Melrose. Exhibition of what life was like in the nearby Roman outpost of Trimontium. Artefacts, replicas, guided site walks. |
Near Duns. Sumptuous staterooms and the only silver staircase in the world. Immaculate gardens and lake. |
Drumlanrig's Tower Hawick. Visitor centre interprets Hawick's turbulent history from Medieval times using the latest multi-media. |
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Lochcarron Cashmere & Wool Centre Galashiels. Tours of the cashmere woollen mill. Museum and mill shop. |
Near Jedburgh. Activities, exhibitions and countryside walks. Gift shop and tearooms. |
Selkirk. Glassblowing demonstrations, displays, shop and cafe. |
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Tours: |
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Walking Make Tracks Walking Holidays. Luggage transfers for Southern Upland Way and St Cuthbert's Way |
Mountain Biking Bikesport, in Innerleithen, organise guided mountain bike tours and bike hire. Uplift facilities and access to downhill tracks are available in nearby forest. |
Walking The Way Forward offers baggage transfers and backup services to walkers and other users along the entire length of the Southern Upland Way. |
Archaeology Archaeological Tours Alba organise archaeological and cultural tours led by professional archaeologist and tour guide. Tailor-made itineraries from 1 to 14 days. |
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Walking
Middlemarches Guided Walks. We provide guided walking holidays of 1 - 5 days in the beautiful Scottish Borders (southeastern Scotland, northern half of UK). Based in Hawick there is a choice of short, medium or long walks and the cost is 21 UK pounds per day. |
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Car Hire: |
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Hawick. |
Peebles. |
Galashiels |
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