Attractions
ABBEYS
Dryburgh Abbey, Nr Newtown St Boswells, Scottish BordersDryburgh Abbey, near Dryburgh on the banks of the River Tweed, was nominally founded in 1150 in an agreement between Hugh de Morville, Lord of Lauderdale and Constable of Scotland, and the Premonstratensian canons regular from Alnwick Abbey in Northumberland. Sir Walter Scott and Douglas Haig are buried in Dryburgh Abbey’s grounds grounds.
Melrose Abbey, Melrose, Scottish Borders
Melrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. Alexander II and other Scottish kings and nobles are buried at the abbey. The embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce is also said to be buried in the abbey's grounds, while the rest of his body is buried in Dunfermline Abbey.
Jedburgh Abbey, Jedburgh, Scottish Borders
Jedburgh Abbey is a ruined 12th century Augustinian abbey, founded in 1138.
Kelso Abbey, Kelso, Scottish Borders
Kelso Abbey was built in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks.
HISTORICAL HOUSES
Abbotsford House, Melrose, Scottish BordersThe home of Sir Walter Scott, one of the great literary figures, is situated on the banks of the River Tweed. Sir Walter Scott lived at Abbotsford while he was Deputy Sheriff of Selkirk Sheriff Court in 1799 until he died in 1832. Scott’s immense collection of historic relics, weapons and armour, and over 9,000 rare books can be seen at Abbotsford and visitors can visit the Private Chapel, and wander through the beautiful grounds, gardens and along the woodland walk. www.scottsabbotsford.co.uk Tel: 01896 752043 for more information and opening times.
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England, the first being Windsor Castle, and has been the home of the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309.
Alnwick Castle is very much a living castle, at the heart of thriving estates and businesses; and is still Norhumberland’s’ home today, as it has been for nearly seven hundred years.
www.alnwickcastle.com Tel: 01665 511100 for more information and opening times
Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland
Bamburgh Castle is one of the finest castle in England. It is perched on a basalt outcrop on the very edge of the North Sea at Bamburgh, Northumberland. It commands stunning views of the Farne Islands, Holy Island and landwards to the Cheviot hills. Bamburgh Castle continues to be the home of the Armstrong family. www.bamburghcastle.com Tel:
Bowhill House & Country Estate, Nr Selkirk, Scottish BordersBowhill lies approximately one mile above the confluence of the Ettrick and Yarrow Rivers; two of the tributaries of the River Tweed. It stands in beautiful scenery, surrounded by mixed woodland and farmland - the Scott properties. The ancient Ettrick forest which embraced the Bowhill Estate of today was a favourite hunting ground for the Kings of Scotland for hundreds of years. Newark Castle, one mile north of Bowhill, was used as a hunting lodge. The present house dates mainly from 1812, with no visible trace of the original building of 1708. The House gradually became the base of the Scott family in preference to Dalkeith in Midlothian. Branxholm Castle, near Hawick, was the Scott family base for some 500 years throughout the turbulent period of Border raids. www.buccleuch.org Tel: 01750 22204
Ferniehirst Castle, by Jedburgh, Scottish Borders
‘Scotland’s Frontier Fortress’. Built around 1470 to hold the gate for Scotland and to serve as a base for military raids and cattle-lifting forays. It is home to the Clan Kerr . Tel: 01835 862201 for more information and opening times.
Floors Castle, Kelso, Scottish Borders
Manderston, Nr Duns, Scottish Borders
Manderston is the supreme country house of Edwardian Scotland. A house on which no expense was spared with magnificient staterooms, the only silver-staircase in the world and extensive domestic quarters. www.manderston.co.uk Tel: 01361 882636 for information and opening times
Mellerstain House, Nr Gordon, Scottish BordersMellerstain was built in 1725 and finally completed in 1778. This grand stately home has a fascinating history, and is of unique architectural interest as the result of a fruitful collaboration of successive generations of the Baillie and Adam families, as patrons and architects. Mellerstain has been open to the public for fifty years and gives as an insight at to how life would have been some 230 years ago. Enjoy the fabulous paintings, embroidery, china and furniture collections, admire the classical perfection of Robert Adam's architecture and interior decoration, and be inspired by the friendly atmosphere and romantic location of one of Scotland's greatest Georgian houses. www.mellerstain.com Tel: 01573 410225 for more information and opening times.
Paxton House and Country Park, Nr Berwick-upon-Tweed
Set in the beautiful Scottish Borders overlooking the River Tweed, Paxton House was built in 1758 by John Adam for a young Scottish Laird Patrick Home of Billie. Paxton House is one of the finest 18th century Palladian country houses in Britain. Paxton House features 12 period rooms many boasting interiors by Robert Adam and fine collections of Chippendale and Trotter furniture. The magnificent Picture Gallery houses over 70 paintings from the National Galleries of Scotland. www.paxtonhouse.co.uk Tel: 01289 386291 for more information and opening times.
Thirlestane Castle, Lauder, Scottish Borders
Thirlestane Castle has its origins in the 13th century. It was rebuilt as the Maitland family home in 1590 and greatly enhanced by the Duke of Lauderdale in the 1670s. In 1840, it was extended and refurbished with the addition of two new wings. The Maitlands are a famous Scottish family who first came to Britain from France with William the Conqueror. As the seat of the Earls and Duke of Lauderdale, the Castle has at times held a central role in the history of Scotland. Now in the care of a Charitable Trust, Thirlestane has been carefully restored to its former splendour.
www.thirelstanecastle.co.uk Tel: 01578 722430 for more information and opening times.
Smailholm Tower, Nr Kelso, Scottish Borders
Smailholm Tower was originally built in the late 15th century /early 16th century by the Pringle family. Smailholm Tower was designed, in common with all Scottish peel towers, to provide its occupants with protection from sporadic English raids. Smailhom Tower was restored in the 1980s, and is now a museum.
Traquair House, Innerleithen, Scottish Borders
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