A waterfall and snowdrops at Dawyck botanic garden
A waterfall and snowdrops at Dawyck botanic garden

Ten fantastic places to visit in… the Borders

July 31, 2019 / Kenny Smith /
July 31, 2019 |

If you’re in the Scottish Borders, you are in an area that’s packed full of historic homes and places to visit.

Whether you love music, books, or large classical buildings, there’s definitely something for you.

We round up 10 great things to see, do and visit.

ROBERT SMAIL’S PRINTING WORKS

This fascinating museum in Innerleithen has a restored Victorian printworks where visitors can watch the forgotten art of hand-typesetting. Look at the old Victorian office, reconstructed water wheel and other historical objects.

FLOORS CASTLE

Home to the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe, Floors Castle, just outside Kelso, was built in 1721 and has welcomed over a million visitors to its magnificent interior and gardens since opening to the public in 1977.

MUSIC AT PAXTON

This well-established classical music festival runs each July at Paxton House, near Berwick-upon-Tweed. Each year it attracts some of the top performers, for a celebration of chamber music.

DAWYCK BOTANIC GARDENS

A waterfall and snowdrops at Dawyck botanic garden

Dawyck Botanic Garden, near Peebles, is one of the world’s finest arboreta. Features include the wonderful Azalea Terrace, the Swiss Bridge, Dynamo Pond and the Beech Walk. Dawyck has one of Scotland’s finest tree collections including some of Britain’s oldest and tallest trees, dating back to 1680.

BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL

This annual event takes place in the wonderful gardens of Harmony House in Melrose. It features talks and readings from a host of leading UK and international authors, as well as children’s events.

HEART OF HAWICK

This fantastic £10m project is one of the most unique regeneration schemes in the Borders, which transformed empty buildings into a new cinema/theatre and café/bar and visitor centre, local archive hub and textile museum.

TRAQUAIR HOUSE

Traquair House, just outside Innerleithen, dates from 1107 and offers a lovely interior, extensive grounds, maze, craft workshops, restaurant and the Traquair House Brewery. The estate also hosts a number of festivals.

ABBOTSFORD

Abbotsford House

The magnificent home of Sir Walter Scott, near Melrose, sits on the banks of the Tweed amid the landscape that inspired his greatest works. The house has a fine collection of relics and weapons, and a library of 9,000 rare volumes.

COLDINGHAM BAY BEACH

This award-winning beach, three miles north of Eyemouth, is one of the best in the Borders. It won a prestigious Blue Flag in 2010. With lifeguards in the summer, rockpools for exploring, and lots of fi ne sand, it’s perfect for the kids.

MARCHMONT HOUSE

Marchmont House is an 18th century Palladian mansion near Greenlaw in the Scottish Borders. It was been chosen as the winner of the 2018 Historic Houses/Sotheby’s restoration award following an intensive six-year effort to convert it from a former care home into a sumptuous property which its owners hope will become a hub celebrating makers and creators.

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