scottish borders

The Scottish Borders are around 20 miles from Edinburgh and will provide all the distraction you need as the cluster of quaint towns and picturesque villages combine outdoor fun and historic sights.

The Borders run from Tweedsmuir in the west to the North Sea in the east and perch on the banks and tributaries of fishing mecca, the River Tweed.

At 97 miles the river is the second longest in Scotland but it is known as “The Queen of the Scottish Salmon Rivers”. Fishing here should even put a smile on a beginner's face as more fish have been caught in the Tweed than any other river in Britain.

One of the most attractive places to take advantage of the River Tweed’s generosity is Peebles [map] because the town sits on both sides of the river. Surround by hills, farms and forests and close to the Forest of Tweeddale, Pebbles is also popular with mountain bikers and walkers.

Probably the most well known town in the Scottish Borders is Jedburgh. Believed to be the first established parish in Scotland, Jedburgh has an intriguing history dating back to the 10th century. More recently, in World War II American men were trained there for convert missions in France.

Sights to see in the town include The Capon Tree, believe to be about a thousand years old, Jedburgh Castle Jail and Jedburgh Abbey.

Just down from Scotland’s largest inhabited castle Floors Castle, is the pretty town of Kelso [map]. Lying at the junction of the River Tweed and the River Teviot, Kelso offers strolls by landscaped gardens, horse racing at Kelso Racecourse and the Scottish Championship Dog Show.

Other major towns and villages in the Scottish Borders include Coldstream, Lauder, Duns, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Hawick, Melrose, Newcastleton, and Selkirk.

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