Scottish Borders
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The Scottish Borders lie in the south of Scotland, with northern England on the other side of the border and the Scottish county of Dumfries and Galloway to the west. The Borders is beautiful but tranquil area, steeped in history. It is full of meandering rivers, trees, pretty towns and ancient abbeys. |
The nearest airport is Edinburgh. I would advise you to hire a car to visit the Borders as public transport is very limited. At present the only rail stations which serve the area are Edinburgh or Berwick upon Tweed.
I will describe each of the towns which I consider to be the most interesting to visit, starting from east to west.
Eyemouth, Coldingham and St Abbs
| These towns lie on eastern coast of the Borders region. It is possible to walk along the coastal path along this route. The views down the cliffs and out to sea are really spectacular. St Abbs, a small fishing village, is the most northerly. The harbour is very busy at the weekends with divers. There is a bird reserve where you can see guillemots, kittiwakes and razorbills, to name but a few. Coldingham has a stunning beach, golden sand, clean and well sheltered. It is popular with surfers and it is possible to hire suits and boards. Eyemouth is a small fishing port. One of the attractions there is watching the seals jumping out of the water to eat pieces of fish hanging a few metres above on a fishing rod like contraption: you buy the fish from a nearby stall and they provide the contraption. The old pier was first constructed in 1747. In 1834 the new quay was built which directed the River Eye down to the estuary. There is a small museum in Eyemouth, open during the Summer months. |
Eyemouth is a small fishing port. One of the attractions there is watching the seals jumping out of the water to eat pieces of fish hanging a few metres above on a fishing rod like contraption: you buy the fish from a nearby stall and they provide the contraption. The old pier was first constructed in 1747. In 1834 the new quay was built which directed the River Eye down to the estuary. There is a small museum in Eyemouth, open during the Summer months. |
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Where to eat Eyemouth
The Ship Inn, Old Quay, Eyemouth, tel 01890 750224, is a pub restaurant serving freshly prepared tasty meals.
Contended Sole, 3 Old Quay, Eyemouth, tel 01890 750268, is a pub which serves meals. I have eaten here on several occasions, I particularly like the Sunday roast.
Sooty Duck, School Rd, Coldinghan, tel 01890 771990 has a healthy choice option on the menu. My husband has eaten there and thought that the staff were very friendly and the food was good.
Coldstream
Coldstream is just over the border on the northern bank of the River Tweed. What you notice most in Coldstream is the Majorbanks Monument. A statue of a local MP, Charles Majorbanks, sits on the top of a high Doric column. The town was the home of the Coldstrean Guards regiment, formed in 17th century. You can find our more about the regiment and local history at Coldstream Museum. You can have a pleasant walk on the footpath by the riverside, Hirsel Country Park has a tearoom and marked walkways. The original Hume Castle was destroyed by Cromwell in 1650. Hirsel House was built to replace the castle.
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View over the River Tweed from Henderson Park, Coldstream
Kelso
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Kelso is a rather grand town, with an impressive cobbled main square. A part of the square was originally used to tie up cattle on market days. Construction of the Abbey in a Romanesque style, began in 1128. During medieval times it was one of the wealthiest abbeys in Scotland and was renowned for its extensive library. Kelso Bridge was rebuilt at the beginning of the 19th century. Just outside the town is Floors Castle. The castle is still used as a family home. It was first expanded in 1721 by William Adam. |
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Jedburgh
The former Jedburgh castle hosted the wedding feast of King Alexander II in 1285 here but it was destroyed in 1409. The Castle Jail was built on the site of the castle in the 1820s and is now a visitors centre. Jedburgh Abbey remains in very good condition considering that construction started in 1150, taking 75 years to complete. Mary Queen of Scots House is an attraction telling the story of the life of the doomed Queen. She stayed in house in 1566. There are 2 interesting sites just of the A68 south of Jedburgh. The Capon Tree is said to be 1000 years old. It was given this name as legend tells that a group of Capuchin monks sought shelter under the tree on their way to Jedburgh Abbey. James Hutton, a local doctor and farmer, developed his Theory of the Formation of the Earth, a geological text, after observing the rock shape and layering at Allans Mill.
Where to stay Jedburgh
| The Allerton is a four star guest house in a 19th century Georgian home. It is less then a five minute walk from the centre of Jedburgh. A double room costs from £70 per night. |  |
| The Jedforest Hotel is a very highly regarded four star hotel. The former shooting lodge sits in 30 acres of grounds with its own river and loch fishing. A double room costs from £90 a night. |  |
Hawick
Hawick is the largest town in the Borders. The June Annual Ridings was recently voted one of the best festivals in the world
in the Rough Guide to World Parties. The Ridings follows the ancient
custom of riding around the town boundaries bearing the town flag in
order to look out for dawn raids. The proceedings last for several days
with events such as the reinactment of the capture of the English flag
in 1514 by a local man, various ceremonies and horse racing, You can
find out about local history at the Hawick Museum
which is housed in Wilton Lodge, a grand Victorian mansion, and the
Drumlarig Tower Visitors Centre. Hawick has a tradition of producing
high quality knitwear. The mills were originally powered by water from
the River Teviot and Slitrig Water. Peter Scott has an outlet shop in the town.
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The picture opposite above shows the James Thomson Bridge and statue in Hawick. The footbridge, which crosses the River Teviot, opened in 2006. James Thomson. 1827 - 1888, was a local poet and songwriter best known for composing the lyrics to the "Star o' Rabbie Burns" often sung at Burns suppers. Thomson also wrote songs and poems about the Hawick Ridings, The statue is by local artist Bill Landles. whose great great grandmother was a friend of Thomsons living in the same row of tenement flats as Thomson. When the houses were demolished Thomson carved Landles great great grandmother a goblet from a wooden roof beam. A cast was made of the goblet, which is exhibited in the local museum and sits prominently at the front of the statue.
Where to stay Hawick |
| Wiltonburn Farm Bed & Breakfast is set in a beautiful green valley 2 miles outside Hawick. There is a Cashmere Designer Knitwear showroom and an art gallery on site. A double room costs from £55 per night. |  |
| The Mansfield Hotel was formerly a grand family home. It has now been transformed into a three star hotel, full of character, It is located on the outskirts of Hawick and site in 10 acres of grounds. Double rooms costs from £80 a night. |  |
Selkirk
Selkirk was the first town in the Borders to have an abbey. William Wallace was declared "Guardian of Scotland" in the town in 1298, as it was one of the few Borders town still under Scottish control during this period. Every June there is the largest Common Riding in the Borders which commemorates the 79 men killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.Up to 500 riders participate in this event. Sir Walter Scott, the author, was Sheriff in Selkirk between 1804 and 1832; his courtroom is now a museum.
Where to stay Selkirk
| The three star County Hotel sits in Market Square in the centre of Selkirk. It is a small friendly, privately run hotel. A double room costs from £75 per night. |  |
| The Philipburn Hotel is a luxury 4 star establishment, some of the rooms have a balcony and a jacuzzi. It is 3 miles outside Selkirk. A double room costs from £99 per night. |  |
Pebbles
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| Cringletie House was built in 1861 and has been converted to a 4 star hotel. The hotel is surrounded by 28 acres of land. Each of the 14 bedrooms is individually decorated. A double room costs from £110 per night |
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| The Barony Castle Hotelis a lovely hotel dating from 1536. It is a 3 star hotel near the village of Eddleston, five miles from Peebles. The hotel sits in 25 acres of woodlands and gardens. A double room costs from £89 a night. |  |
It is easy to visit the adjacent country of North Northumberland when you are in the Scottish Borders.