VISIT THE SCOTTISH BORDERS
Places to visit and things to do in the Scottish Borders including visitor attraction websites with opening times and prices. There are also links to our unique pages exploring the Borders and the neighbouring North East of England.
Always check opening times and prices
on the attraction website before visiting
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ABBOTSFORD
THE HOME OF SIR WALTER SCOTT
The beautiful former home of Sir Walter Scott built in the Scottish Baronial style above the River Tweed between Melrose and Galashiels.
Scottish Borders TD6 9BQ
Visit the Abbotsford website for more details
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KELSO : FLOORS CASTLE
Grand castle on the outskirts of Kelso described as the largest inhabited house in Scotland. It is the home to the Duke and Duchess of Roxburgh.
Kelso, Roxburghshire TD5 7SF
Visit the Floors Castle website
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LIDDESDALE : HERMITAGE CASTLE
(HISTORIC SCOTLAND)
Formidable medieval Scottish Borders castle ruin that embodies the dark history of the border country.
Newcastleton TD9 0LU
Visit the Historic Scotland website
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JEDBURGH ABBEY
(HISTORIC SCOTLAND)
Beautiful abbey ruins in the Scottish Border town of Jedburgh, nine miles north of the border with England. It was built by King David I.
Jedburgh, TD8 6JQ
Visit the Historic Scotland website
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KELSO ABBEY
(HISTORIC SCOTLAND)
Medieval abbey ruins in the lovely Borders town of Kelso. The abbey grounds are situated close to a bridge across the River Tweed, which is joined by the River Teviot slightly upstream.
Bridge St, Kelso TD5 7JD
Visit the Historic Scotland Kelso Abbey website
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DUNS : MANDERSTON HOUSE
Impressive house near Duns. Historically connected to the Hume family and later Lord Palmer of the Huntly and Palmer biscuit-making family.
Duns TD11 3PP
Visit website for events and open days
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JEDBURGH : FERNIEHIRST CASTLE
Situated south of Jedburgh, Ferniehirst is the seat of Clan Kerr.
Ferniehirst Castle, Jedburgh TD8 6NX
Visit the Ferniehirst Castle website
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MELROSE ABBEY
(HISTORIC SCOTLAND)
An especially beautiful abbey ruin, with the Eildon Hills and lovely town of Melrose forming a backdrop.
Melrose, Borders TD6 9LG
Visit the Melrose Abbey Historic Scotland website
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ST BOSWELLS : DRYBURGH ABBEY
(HISTORIC SCOTLAND)
Situated near St Boswells, built in 1150, as a Premonstratensian establishment of canons who were by Hugh de Moreville, Constable of Scotland.
Dryburgh Abbey, St Boswells TD6 0RQ
Visit the Historic Scotland website
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JEDBURGH CASTLE JAIL AND MUSEUM
Early nineteenth century jail, now a museum featuring Jedburgh’s history. On the site of Jedburgh Castle.
Castlegate, Jedburgh TD8 6QD
Visit the Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum website
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GALASHIELS : THE GREAT TAPESTRY OF SCOTLAND
Remarkable 143 metre (469 feet) long tapestry depicting the history of Scotland up to 2013 depicted in 160 linen panels. It is more than twice the length of the Bayeux Tapestry.
14-20 High St, Galashiels TD1 1SD
Visit the Great Tapestry of Scotland website
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LIDDESDALE HERITAGE CENTRE AND MUSEUM
Museum featuring the history and heritage of Liddesdale in the Liddesdale town of Newcastleton.
Newcastleton TD9 0QG
Visit the Liddesdale Heritage Centre website
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PEEBLES : TWEEDDALE MUSEUM AND GALLERY
Museum and Gallery in Peebles Library.
Peebles EH45 8AG
Visit the Tweddale Museum and Gallery website
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DUNS CASTLE
Accommodation and wedding venue. Castle tours available.
Duns TD11 3NW
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DUNBAR : JOHN MUIR’S BIRTHPLACE
Birthplace museum of the Scottish-American conservationist, John Muir, who was the key figure in the conservation and protection of the Yosemite valley and Sequoia National Park in the United States.
126 High Street, Dunbar EH2 1JJ
Visit the Jim Muir Birthplace website
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MARCHMONT HOUSE
Impressive Palladian style mansion with extensive art collection, located between Greenlaw and Duns.
TD10 6YL
Visit the Marchmont House website
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DUNBAR TOWN HOUSE AND GALLERY
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High Street, Dunbar EH42 1ER
Visit the Dunbar Town House website
Explore Dunbar, Lothians and the Berwickshire Coast
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HAWICK : BORDERS TEXTILE MUSEUM
Museum dedicated to the tweed and knitwear industries of the Borders.
Tower Knowe, Hawick TD9 9EN
Visit the textile museum website
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GALASHIELS : OLD GALA HOUSE
Dating in part from the 1450s. Set in beautiful grounds. Originally a tower house of the Pringle family, now a museum and conference centre.
Scott Crescent, Galashiels TD1 3JS
Visit the Old Gala House website
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BERWICK : PAXTON HOUSE
Palladian style house by James, John and Robert Adam played in beautiful grounds with woodlands and walled garden. Boat trips on the River Tweed.
Paxton near Berwick upon Tweed TD15 1SZ
Visit the Paxton House website
Explore the Berwickshire region
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THIRLESTANE CASTLE
Wonderful Scottish baronial castle near the town of Lauder.
Near Lauder TD2 6RU
Visit the Thirlestane Castle website
Explore the Melrose and Lauderdale area
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TRAQUAIR HOUSE
Scotland’s oldest inhabited house situated in Tweeddale near Innerleithen. A beautiful stately Scottish baronial style home with an impressive history.
Near Innerleithen EH44 6PW
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COLDSTREAM MUSEUM
History of the Coldstream guards plus history of Coldstream.
12 Market Square, Coldstream, Berwickshire
Visit the Coldstream Museum website
About Coldstream and Berwickshire
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EYEMOUTH MUSEUM
Museum dedicated to the story of Eyemouth and its fishing industry.
Manse Road, Eyemouth TD14 5JE
Visit the Eyemouth Museum website
Explore the Berwickshire Coast
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FAST CASTLE
Ruined remains of a castle on the rocky coast of Berwickshire first mentioned in the fourteenth century.
North of St Abbs Head, Coldingham
Explore the Berwickshire and Lothian Coast
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ST ABBS HEAD NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE
(NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND)
Beautiful scenery on the Berwickshire Coast.
TD14 5QF
Explore the Berwickshire and Lothian Coast
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JEDBURGH : MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS VISITOR CENTRE
The Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre in Jedburgh is set in a sixteenth century tower house. Mary lived for a month in Jedburgh during 1566 in what proved to be a turning point in her life.
Queen Street, Jedburgh TD8 6EN
Visit the Mary Queen of Scots visitor centre website
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DAWYCK BOTANIC GARDEN
Arboretum, woodland and garden, set within a beautiful glen. Managed by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Stobo, near Peebles EH45 9JU
Visit the Dawyck Garden RBGE website
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KELSO RACECOURSE
Horse racing venue in the Scottish Borders.
Racecourse, Kelso TD5 7SX
Visit the Kelso Racecourse website
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MELROSE : SCOTT’S VIEW
Famous viewpoint near Melrose said to have been one of the favourites of Sir Walter Scott. Looks down to the site of Old Mailros monastery, linked to St Cuthbert with the three peaks of Eildon Hill forming a backdrop.
Off the B6356 between Earlston and St Boswells
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DRYBURGH : WILLIAM WALLACE MONUMENT
Impressive 31 feet high monument to William Wallace, the Guardian of Scotland (aka ‘Braveheart) dating from 1814 with beautiful view of the Eildon Hills.
Near Dryburgh TD6 0RQ
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GRETNA : FAMOUS BLACKSMITHS SHOP
Famed as historic marriage venue of eloping young couples from England in times past. Museum and wedding venue.
Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway DG16 5EA
Visit Gretna Old Blacksmiths website
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GRETNA : CALEDONIA PARK (RETAIL PARK)
Designer outlet.
Glasgow Road, Gretna DG16 5GG
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COLDINGHAM PRIORY
Coldingham Priory was founded by King Edgar of Scotland (reigned 1097-1107) during the Norman era. Former priory church is now Coldingham parish church with extensive neighbouring monastic ruins.
The Bow, Coldingham TD14 5NG
Visit the Coldingham Priory (parish) website
Explore the Berwickshire coast
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GREENKNOWE TOWER
(HISTORIC SCOTLAND)
Remains of a sixteenth century tower house near the village of Gordon. Only the grounds are currently accessible.
Near Gordon, Grid Reference NT 639 428
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EDIN’S HALL BROCH
(HISTORIC SCOTLAND)
An impressive Iron Age Broch fort (brochs are a rare feature in the lowland part of Scotland). Reached by a hike along the Whiteadder Water near Abbey St Bathans.
Near Abbey St Bathansm Grid Reference NT 772 603
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UNION CHAIN BRIDGE
Beautiful bridge across the River Tweed linking Scotland to Northumberland in England. Situated between Horncliffe (Northumberland) and Paxton (Berwickshire).
Near Horncliffe TD15 2XT
Explore Horncliffe and Norham | Berwickshire
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CESSFORD CASTLE
Fifteenth century ruined castle, once a stronghold of the Ker family.
Cessford TD5 8EG
Explore the Kelso and Cessford area
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SELKIRK : AULD KIRK (KIRK O’ THE FOREST)
Enigmatic ruins of the Auld Kirk on the site of the Kirk o’ the Forest where William Wallace was proclaimed ‘Guardian of Scotland’ in 1298.
Kirk Wynd, Selkirk TD7 4AW
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CANONBIE : GILNOCKIE TOWER
Historic home of the Armstrong clan and home to the Clan Armstrong Centre. Great place to explore the history of the Border Reivers.
Near Canonbie, Dumfriesshire DG14 0XD
Visit the Clan Armstrong website
Explore the area | About the Border Reivers
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MELROSE TRIMONTIUM MUSEUM
Museum in the town of Melrose featuring the story of the nearby Roman fort of Trimontium (named from the three peaks of the Eildon Hills). Trimontium was the largest Roman fort and settlement north of Hadrian’s Wall.
Market Square, Melrose TD6 9PN
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MELLERSTAIN
One of the grandest houses of the Scottish Borders described as a “Robert Adam masterpiece”.
Near Gordon TD3 6LG
Explore Berwickshire | Explore the Kelso area
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SMAILHOLM TOWER
(HISTORIC SCOTLAND)
Imposing border tower in a stunning rocky setting.
Smailholm, Roxburghshire TD5 7PG
Visit the Historic Scotland website
Explore Melrose | Explore Kelso
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THE JIM CLARK MOTORSPORT ROOM
A museum featuring the Scottish racing driver Jim Clark who was raised on a farm in the nearby village of Chirnside from the age of six.
44 Newtown Street, Duns TD11 3AU
Visit the Jim Clark Museum website
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HIRSEL ESTATES
Historic home of the Douglas Home family. Extensive grounds include museum, coffee shop and craft businesses.
Coldstream, Berwickshire TD12 4LW
About Coldstream and Berwickshire
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PRIORWOOD GARDEN
(NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND)
Garden set within precinct of Melrose Abbey.
Melrose TD6 9PX
Visit the NTS Priorwood website
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The above map is interactive. Select and click on any region on the map to discover attractions in your chosen area.
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EXPLORE THE SCOTTISH BORDERS
Our Scottish Borders pages cover the region in more depth exploring the towns, villages and history of the region.
All photos © David Simpson englandsnortheast.co.uk
Scottish Borders History Pages
Berwickshire Coast and Lothians
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