Area Attractions
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Explore the historic castles and stately homes of the Scottish Borders Activities include walking, cycling, horseriding, watersports and many children's activities Enjoy day trips to Edinburgh and to the Northumberland Coast |
This beautiful corner of Scotland is a delight to explore on quiet country roads. Abbeys, castles and stately homes and gardens abound and there is excellent walking, cycling, fishing and riding to be enjoyed locally as well as several championship golf courses nearby - and some less demanding ones. Water sports are available at Kielder and St Mary's Loch. Edinburgh's city attractions and the glorious Northumberland coast are all within easy reach, whilst shopping bargains can be found in the knitwear mills for which the area is famed. Jedburgh, with its shops, restaurants and pubs and magnificent abbey ruins, is just 4 miles, as is Denholm village.
Castles & Stately Homes:
It has been said that there are more castles and stately homes open to the public in our region than any other part of Britain.
- Floors Castle (home of Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe)
- Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Garden (home of Duke and Duchess of Northumberland and location for the Harry Potter movies)
- Mellerstain House (Adam Mansion, home to Earl and Countess of Haddington)
- Abbotsford (home of Sir Walter Scott)
- Manderston (home of Lord and Lady Palmer)
- Thirlestane Castle (home of the Maitland family)
- Traquair (oldest inhabited house in Scotland, home to the Laird of Traquair)
- Bowhill House (home to the Duke of Buccleuch)
Walking:
- Borders Abbeys Way
- John Buchan Way
- Southern Upland Way
- Forestry Walking
- St Cuthberts Way
- Maps available from the Scottish Borders Tourist Board
- Walking Northumberland
- Walking Festivals held each year in Melrose and Jedburgh
Cycling:
- Local marked cycling trails
- Forest off road trails
- Tweed Cycle Way
- Mountain Biking etc
- Cycling Scottish Borders
- Cycling Northumberland
Gardens:
Various private gardens open to the public including:
- Kailzie Garden, Peebles
- Dawyck Botanical Garden, Peebles
- Gardens in The Scottish Borders
- Gardens in Northumberland
Festivals:
- All Borders towns have annual festivals connected to the Riding of Boundaries which took place when there was trouble at the borders between Scottish and English residents.
- There are spectacular parades on horseback.
- Walking festivals & Music festivals in the summer, classical or traditional folk.
- There is a brochure detailing these at www.bordersevents.com
Children's Activities:
- Harestanes – nature trails, walks and competitions for children. Marked countryside routes and restaurant. Very suitable for kids.
- Slotia Kids – children’s centre, indoor and outdoor fun.
- Pot-a-doodle-do – creative arts centre, quad biking, play area.
- Conundrum Farm Visitor’s Centre – farm trail, fishery, restaurant.
- Falconry Centre – owl flying and falconry courses.
- Children’s adventure playgrounds at Bowhill and Floors Castle.
& More:
- Abbeys: Ruined abbeys in Melrose, Kelso and Jedburgh, with excellent visitors centre giving their history and details of how they were founded and run.
- Water Sports:Enjoy Keilder Dam and St Mary’s Loch.
- Museums: Small, attractive museums in all Border towns.
- Knitwear: Milltours, famous for top quality knitwear. Visitors centre in Hawick and Selkirk. Bargains available from mill shops.
- Horseriding: Riding schools in all areas offering ride outs to experienced riders or classics for the beginner Riding in the Borders, Riding in Northumberland.
- Swimming Pools & Leisure Centres: at Kelso, Hawick & Jedburgh
- Edinburgh is only 1 hour away by car.
Enjoy more photos of Northumberland & The Scottish Borders by Graeme Peacock