Here are some suggestions for things to do in the area if you do not want to fish every day, are flooded off or have friends that are not fishing. For more information see the Scottish Borders Tourist Board site or call in at their Information Centres at Peebles, Melrose, Kelso & Jedburgh which are open all the year round.

Historic houses

Traquair is believed to be the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. It is over a thousand years old and still a family home. The house has historical associations with Mary Queen of Scots and the Jacobite Risings.

Abbotsford on the banks of the Tweed was home to Scotland's most famous novelist Sir Walter Scott. Bowhill, surrounded by woodlands, has a fine picture collection and an adventure playground for the younger visitor.

Mellerstain is a Georgian house renowned for its interior design by Robert Adam and Floors Castle with its castellations is also near Kelso. Thirlestane Castle in Lauder has impressive Restoration ceilings. Manderston is an Edwardian house at Duns with a unique silver staircase. Near Berwick upon Tweed is Ayton, a sandstone castle, that overlooks the border and Paxton House that was designed by Adam with furnishings by Chippendale.

Castles and monuments

Nearly every town in the Borders has a ruined abbey and they are an important part of the backdrop to the area, along with the other battlefields and monuments. The ruins of Jedburgh, Dryburgh, Kelso and Melrose abbeys all reveal the turbulent past of the Borders.

Berwick-upon-Tweed

Lower Tweed

Gardens

Many of the historic houses have impressive gardens for the visitor to look around. Other houses, although not normally open to the public, do open their gardens occasionally through Scotland's National Garden Scheme.

National hunt racing

Kelso Race Course has been voted 'the most friendly race course in Britain' and has meetings throughout the national hunt season.

Shopping and local crafts

The Borders is famous for its woollen mills and cashmere. Hawick is the home of cashmere which can be bought from the various mill shops at reasonable prices. Pringle and its long association with golfing jumpers has a factory and shop in Hawick. The Hawick Cashmere Company has a shop in Hawick and Kelso. Throughout the area there are local craftspeople making pottery, glassware, leather work and jewellery. Further afield the shops of Edinburgh and Newcastle are only an hour and a half away.

Outdoor activities

For the more energetic there are many activites to do. Nearly every town has its own golf course. There is some spectaular walking in the Cheviots, and the Eildon Hills are an easy climb and give an impressive view of the Borders. Some of St Cuthbert's Walk passes through the Borders and is well signposted and there are several bicycle routes. There are numerous riding schools that give tuition and treks.

Other things to do