Scottish Borders Tours

About Scottish Borders

The Scottish Borders is the southeastern corner of Scotland, stretching along the English border from the coast to the hills of the Southern Uplands. It is Scotland's answer to the English countryside — gentle, green, and remarkably accessible from Edinburgh (roughly an hour by car). Unlike the dramatic Highlands, the Borders reward slow exploration: abbey ruins, river valleys, textile towns, and walking routes through rolling farmland and forest. The region is defined by its four great abbeys — Melrose, Jedburgh, Dryburgh, and Kelso — all founded in the 12th century and all ruined by English raids during the Wars of Independence. Melrose Abbey, founded in 1136, is the most complete and most visited. Its rose-tinted sandstone ruins are among the most beautiful in Scotland, and it is the burial place of Robert the Bruce's heart (his body lies in Dunfermline). Jedburgh Abbey sits dramatically in the town centre. Dryburgh, the most peaceful, lies in woodland by the Tweed. Kelso Abbey's massive west front still stands in the charming cobbled town near Floors Castle. Sir Walter Scott is the Borders' presiding spirit. Abbotsford, his fantastical mansion near Melrose, is open daily year-round — the visitor centre is free, and the estate walks are free. The house itself tells the story of the man who invented the historical novel and shaped Scotland's romantic image. Sir Walter Scott's Way is a 92-mile walking route linking sites associated with his life and work. Floors Castle, near Kelso, is the largest inhabited castle in Scotland and the seat of the Duke of Roxburghe. Overlooking the River Tweed with a Victorian walled garden, it opens 1 May to 30 September 2026 (£22 adults, children free). Kelso itself is one of Scotland's most attractive small towns — a French-style cobbled square, independent shops, and the Tweed flowing past. The River Tweed is one of Britain's great salmon rivers, and the region has a rich textile heritage — cashmere and tweed mills still operate in towns like Hawick and Selkirk. The Southern Upland Way, Britain's first official coast-to-coast long-distance path, crosses the region from west to east.