Houses, Gardens and Historic Sites things to do
-
Traquair House
Website: http://www.traquair.co.uk/
Telephone: 01896 830323
Dating back to 1107, Traquair was originally a hunting lodge for the kings and queens of Scotland. Later a refuge for Catholic priests in times of terror the Stuarts of Traquair supported Mary Queen of Scots and the Jacobite cause without counting the cost.
Visitors are invited to enjoy the house, extensive grounds, maze, craft workshops, 1745 Cottage Restaurant and the famous Traquair House Brewery housed in the eighteenth century wing and producing the world famous Traquair House Ales
-
Bowhill House
Website: http://www.bowhillhouse.co.uk/
Telephone: 01750 22204
Bowhill - This majestic House and its Estate have been the centre of life in this rural oasis for more than 200 years. Bowhill enjoys a regal seat in the heart of the ancient royal hunting forest of Ettrick and is blessed with an abundance of glorious scenery.
-
Abbotsford House
Website: http://www.scottsabbotsford.com/
Telephone: +44 (0)1896 752043
Abbotsford, once the home of Sir Walter Scott, has a Visitor Centre, restaurant, play trail and estate paths which are open seven days a week all year round and are free to access. Abbotsford as seen today was built in three phases: the first from 1817 to 1819; the second from 1822 to 1825; the third in the 1850s, about twenty years after Scott’s death.
-
Melrose Abbey
Website: http://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/melrose-abbey/
Telephone: 01896 822562
Melrose Abbey Discover a place so beloved by Robert the Bruce, he chose it as the final resting place for his heart. Melrose Abbey is a magnificent ruin on a grand scale, and it was a highly desirable place to be buried.
David I founded Scotland’s first Cistercian monastery in 1136. Being so close to the border, Melrose Abbey suffered at English hands during the Middle Ages. Rebuilt in the 1380s, it was used as an abbey until the Protestant Reformation of 1560. Afterwards, the existing monks were allowed to stay on: the last died in 1590.
Other suggested Historic Scotland properties include Dryburgh, Jedburgh and Kelso. Smailholm Tower, Fodden Old Tithe Barn, Edin’s Hall Broch, Edrom Norman Arch, Greenknowe Tower and Hermitage Castle are also place of historic interest. https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/search-results?r=128
-
Mertoun Gardens St Boswells TD6 0EA
Website: http://www.mertoungardens.co.uk/
Telephone: 01835 823236
It is possible that at least part of the gardens existed prior to 1703 when the house was built, since the former mansion house, known as Old Mertoun House - now the head gardener’s house in the walled garden - dates from 1677 and nearby is a well preserved, circular dovecot dated 1567, thought to be the oldest in the county.
There are borders of herbaceous plants, shrub roses and azaleas and an arboretum, established over the last 40 years, with a great variety of both conifers and hardwoods. Paths and grass walks provide access to all parts of the garden and its surrounding woodland, as well as forming several most attractive circular walks, with views over the River. To the north is the Walled Garden of about three acres, in which is situated Old Mertoun House, 1677. On a south-facing slope, it contains a great variety of fruit trees, vegetables and flowers and is immaculately maintained.
Open 1st April to 30th September, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, 2pm to 6pm, or by appointment. Last entry 5.30pm.
Mertoun Gardens can be found by the B6404, 2 miles north-east of St Boswells.
-
Mellerstain House
Website: http://www.mellerstain.com/
Telephone: 01573 410225
Mellerstain, one of Scotland’s great Georgian houses was begun in 1725 by Scottish architect William Adam and completed in 1778 by his more famous son, Robert. The result is an outstanding example of 18th century Scottish architecture, and some say one of Robert Adam’s finest works.
The house stands in beautiful parkland and gardens with a playground,coffee shop and holiday cottages. A must-see is the Italian-styled terraced garden (laid out in 1910 by Sir Reginald Blomfied), designed to offer new perspectives as you descend to the rose gardens, great lawn and ornamental lake. The woodland includes many unusual trees.
Mellerstain is approx 20 mins from Melrose & Kelso/1 hour from Edinburgh & Berwick-upon-Tweed
-
Thirlestane Castle
Website: http://www.thirlestanecastle.co.uk/
Telephone: 01578 722430
Thirlestane Castle is a magnificent 16th Century Castle set in a quiet meadow landscape. The family home of the Duke of Lauderdale, Thirlestane Castle is one of the oldest and finest castles in Scotland. It still remains a family home to the Maitland family today. During the summer months Thirlestane is open to the day visitor and for group tours.
-
Monteviot
Website: http://www.monteviot.com/
Telephone: 01835 830380
The Kerr family acquired the lands in the sixteenth century; the Kerrs themselves are an old Borders family, recorded in the Lowlands from the 12th century. Monteviot itself is an ancient site, and Dere Street, the Roman road from York to Newstead at Melrose (Trimontium), runs through the park. The present house of Monteviot began as an early-eighteenth century lodge built by the 1st Marquis of Lothian. In the nineteenth century Monteviot, was greatly admired and was developed into the principal seat of the Marquises of Lothian.
-
Floors Castle
Website: http://www.floorscastle.com/
Telephone: 01573 223333
Home to The 10th Duke of Roxburghe and his family
Floors Castle is not only a Duke's family home, but also the heart of the diverse Roxburghe Estates in a beautiful part of the Scottish Borders.
Just over an hour's drive from Edinburgh and Newcastle, visit this stunning Castle and see for yourself the collection of fine art, porcelain, newly restored tapestries, grand rooms and superb views. There are woodland and riverside walks, formal and informal gardens and lots of lovely places to sit and watch the world go by.
-
Paxton House
Website: http://paxtonhouse.co.uk/
Telephone: 01289 386291
Paxton House is an 18th-century Palladian stately home with original interiors, Chippendale furniture and a tearoom, a few miles south-west of Berwick-upon-Tweed, overlooking the River Tweed.
The impressive Picture Gallery displays over seventy Scottish related paintings dating from the 18th century to 1960 lent by our partner The National Galleries of Scotland including work by Sir David Wilkie, Sir John Everett Millias, William McTaggart, the Scottish colourists, and Anne Redpath.
-
Gunsgreen House
Website: http://www.gunsgreenhouse.org/
Telephone: 01890 752062
Gunsgreen House was built back in 1753 by local smuggler John Nisbet, and of a John Adam design.
The architecture includes secret hiding places where smuggled goods were kept.
Visit Gunsgreen House and see the amazing ‘tea chute’- the only one of its kind, where smuggled tea was hidden from prying eyes.
-
Manderston
Website: http://www.manderston.co.uk/
Telephone: 01361 883450
Manderston is the supreme country house of Edwardian Scotland; the swan-song of its era. A house on which no expense was spared with opulent staterooms, the only silver-staircase in the world and extensive "downstairs" domestic quarters. It stands in 56 acres of formal gardens, with magnificent stables and stunning marble dairy. John Kinross the architect, when enquiring how large his budget was, was told that money was no object. It was built for Sir James Miller who married the Honourable Eveline Curzon, daughter of Lord Scarsdale, head of one of the oldest families in the country. The House and Gardens are open to the public, and all enquiries are most welcome.
-
Cragside
Website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside
Telephone: 01669 620333
Extraordinary Victorian house, gardens and woodland - the wonder of its age. Enter the world of Lord Armstrong - Victorian inventor, innovator and landscape genius.
Discover the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity. It is crammed full of ingenious gadgets – most of them still working. The gardens are incredible. One of the largest rock gardens in Europe leads down to the Iron Bridge, which in turn leads to the formal garden.
-
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne
Website: http://www.lindisfarne.org.uk
Telephone: N/A
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England. It is also known just as Holy Island. It constitutes the civil parish of Holy Island in Northumberland. Holy Island has a recorded history from the 6th century AD. It was an important centre of Celtic Christianity under Saints Aidan of Lindisfarne, Cuthbert, Eadfrith of Lindisfarne and Eadberht of Lindisfarne. After the Viking invasions and the Norman conquest of England, a priory was reestablished. A small castle was built on the island in 1550.
Lindisfarne Priory - the extensive ruins visible today are dominated by the 12th-century priory church, which probably stands on the same spot as its Anglo-Saxon predecessor. The associated monastic buildings were modified in the later Middle Ages in response to the changing needs and numbers of the monks.
our twitter feed