The Scottish Borders consist of 1,800 square miles of unspoilt and tranquil rolling countryside that stretches south of Edinburgh and the Lothians to the English border in Scotland’s south east corner. To the east is the magnificent Berwick coastline and to the west is Dumfries and Galloway.
This is an area where visitors can enjoy the very best outdoor activities; learn about the fascinating history and culture of the area by visiting its many historical and cultural sites of interest and simply soak up its untouched and natural beauty.
The Berwickshire coast is perfect for stunning cliff-top walks and the Berwickshire Coastal Path runs from Eyemouth to St. Abbs affording great sea views. This coastline has some very dramatic cliffs and charismatic fishing villages.
St. Abbs is popular with holidaymakers who come here to walk and see the wonderful marine and bird life; the waters in this area provide the perfect conditions for a diverse range of sea life including grey seals, dolphins, whales and seabirds. The St. Abbs Head Nature Reserve is well known for the conservation work it does to maintain the pristine condition of this stretch of coastline.
The River Tweed and Tweed Valley is a playground for outdoor enthusiasts, with a host of wonderful walking routes and off-road mountain bike trail and includes the 7 stanes mountain bike centre. Keen anglers will of course also know that this area is famous for the quality of its salmon fishing rivers.
The regions border towns include Galashiels, known for its textiles and 19th century architecture, Peebles situated on the River Tweed, a handsome and sophisticated little town with parkland and river side-walks, and Selkirk which has great views of St. Mary’s Loch.
Also of interest is Kelso, much favoured by Sir Walter Scott, for its wonderful architecture and cultural past. Close by Scotland’s largest inhabited house, Floors Castle, occupies acres of parkland which overlooks the River Tweed. The castle itself houses collections of paintings, furniture and porcelain.
At Melrose, Abbotsford, the former residency of Sir Walter Scott, remains one of the most famous houses in the world. Here there is a visitor centre and family play trail for the children – well worth a visit.
This region has not always been as peaceful as it is today; historically it’s been the focal point for many cross border conflicts which can be evidenced by the large number of castles and grand stately homes that can be found throughout the area; it also provides some fascinating days out for visitors!
Take a look at our selection of holiday cottages in the Scottish Borders today.