The Scottish Borders
Click here for an interactive map of our guided tours and their locations.
To the South of Scotland lie the beautiful Scottish Borders, home to many ruins of
dramatic castles, four beautiful medieval Abbeys and Abbotsford, home of
Sir Walter Scott, Scotland's most famous novelist.
This is the land of gentle sloping hills, of burbling streams and of ballad
and folklore. Hear tales of King Arthur and his Knights reputed to be
living in the Eildon Hills and of Thomas the Rhymer, the Prophet Poet, who
spent six years in the Fairy Kingdom.
The Borders was traditionally the home of Scottish knitwear and you can
visit the Lochcarron Cashmere Centre, at Galashiels, where you can also
trace your Scottish ancestry.
The Kelso and Melrose areas attract fishermen from around the world and there are a number of charming old fashioned hotels which are somehow preserved in aspic, ideal locations if you want to immerse yourself in the 19th century as well as the waters of the Tweed and Teviot. The Borders are a popular holiday destination for golfers too as there are over 21 courses in this unspoilt part of Scotland.
Think about coming in June, when you can see the famous Common Ridings in the Border towns when the townsfolk go out en masse on horseback to mark out the towns’ ancient boundaries. This annual and colourful pageant harks back to the days of sheep and cattle rustling in the Middle Ages, when the Border Reivers (bandits) ruled by the sword and “Jedhart (Jedburgh) Justice” prevailed – hand ‘em first and ask questions later!
