View Menu
Visit Us

Visiting The Borders

Covering about eighteen hundred square miles, the Scottish Borders stretches from the rolling hills and moorland in the west, through gentler valleys to the rich agricultural plains of the east, and on to the rocky Berwickshire coastline with its secluded coves and picturesque fishing villages. It is easy to see why Sir Walter Scott was so enamoured with the region that he chose to build his beloved house, Abbotsford, here.

Whether you explore by car, on bike or on foot, you’ll discover friendly towns and picturesque villages, as well as the castles, abbeys, stately homes and museums that illustrate the exciting and often bloody history of the area. It’s that history which is commemorated in the Common Ridings and other local festivals, creating a colourful pageant much enjoyed by visitors and native Borderers alike.

It should also come as no surprise that an area so rich in hills and moorland, valleys and rivers should have mastered so many ways of enjoying the great outdoors. The area is a paradise for hillwalkers and cyclists of all types while in the River Tweed and its many tributaries, you’ll find some of the best fishing in Scotland. The Scottish Borders is also home to rugby and passion and rivalry inevitably emerge as the Rugby Sevens tournament gets under way through spring and summer.

As the Borders is a region famed for its textiles, a major attraction for many is to browse and buy beautiful tweeds and tartans and the highest quality knitwear direct from the local mills and shops.

The region’s picturesque rural setting and unspoilt coastline means that local chefs don’t have to look far for sourcing tantalisingly fresh fruit and vegetables from nearby farms, succulent meats from locally-reared livestock and freshly-caught seafood. There’s an abundance of tasty food and drink in the Scottish Borders – get stuck in!

For further information on things to see and do, where to stay go to VisitScotland or Scotland Starts Here. For further details on riding in the Scottish Borders visit Ride Scottish Borders, and for walking and cycling routes go to Walk Scottish Borders and Cycle Scottish Borders.