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The Scottish Borders - Castles, Cathedrals,
Monuments,
Stately Homes & Palaces
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Since the stone age, man has been
creating majestic structures that we still marvel at
today.
Whether you are interested in ancient monuments,
battlefield sites,
re-enactments,
Roman and Norman forts and castles, Stately Homes, Country Houses, Historic
Cathedrals, Ruined Abbeys etc, this is the page that
should give you the information you need.
Here we try to list properties in
private ownership but open to the public (even if only
occasionally) as well as those in the care of the
National Trust or English/Scottish Heritage.
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We know that not all the
properties in The Scottish Borders are listed. Please help us
make this guide comprehensive by giving details of
missing attractions
here.
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Foulden Tithe Barn
Foulden, Chirnside (4 miles south east of
Chirnside)
A two-storey barn used for storing payments to
the parish church made in grain.
Not open to the public, but may be viewed from
the road.
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Ayton Castle
Ayton, Eyemouth, Berwickshire (2 miles west of
Eyemouth)
Tel: 01890 781212
Open: 10 May - 13 Sept, Sun 2pm - 5pm by
appointment
A unique example of a restored Scottish Castle
now lived in as a family home. Conducted tours
and woodland walks.
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DRYBURGH ABBEY
Dryburgh, Melrose, Roxburghshire, TD6 0RQ
Tel: 01835 822381
Perhaps the most
beautiful of all the Border abbeys, the ruins of
Dryburgh Abbey are remarkably complete.
The burial place of Sir
Walter Scott and Field Marshall Earl Haig.
Situated 5 miles south east of Melrose on the
B6404, near St Boswells.
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Edin's Hall Broch
Abbey St. Bathans, Duns, (Duns via A6112)
One of the few Iron Age Brochs in lowland
Scotland and unusually large.
Open all year Any reasonable time.
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SMAILHOLM TOWER
Smailholm, Kelso, Roxburghshire, TD5 7RT
Tel: 01573 460365
Set on a high rocky
knoll this well preserved 16th Century tower
house holds an exhibition of tapestries and
costume dolls depicting characters from Sir
Walter Scott's Minstrelsy of the Borders.
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Greenknowe Tower
Gordon, Berwickshire (½ mile west of Gordon on
A6105)
A handsome towerhouse in an L plan built in 1581
and still retaining its iron gate.
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Hermitage Castle
5½ miles north east of Newcastleton off A7
Tel: 01387 376222
A vast and eerie ruin in a lovely situation,
Much restored in the early 19th century,
but incorporating fabric of various dates from
the 14th century.
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JEDBURGH ABBEY
4-5 Abbey Bridge End, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire,
TD8 6JQ
Tel: 01835 863925
Historic Scotland. A
famous Border abbey founded in 1138 by David I
as an Augustinian priory. Roofless but mostly
complete Abbey church. Romanesque and Gothic
details. Original 12th century west front.
The foundations are all
that remains of the cloister buildings. The
coronation of Malcolm IV and the marriage of
Alexander III took place here. Museum and video.
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Neidpath Castle
1 mile west of Peebles
Tel: 01721 720333
Authentic 14th century Castle set amidst
wonderful scenery on River Tweed, Pit prison,
well, museum, batiks, tartan display, picnic
area, car park. Erstwhile home of Fraser, Hay
and Douglas families.
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FLOORS CASTLE
Kelso,
Roxburghshire
Tel: 01573 223333
Fax: 01573 226056
Web:
www.floorscastle.com
The Largest Inhabited
House In Scotland! Home to the Duke and Duchess
of Roxburghe in the heart of the Scottish Border
Countryside. Filmed in the film of Greystoke as
the home of Tarzan, the house is full of
magnificent tapestries, porcelain and 17th
century French furniture and artworks. The
traditional Walled Gardens are brimming with
colourful herbaceous borders, kitchen gardens
that supply the Castle, soft fruit cages, glass
peach houses, Garden Centre, the Children’s
Adventure Playground and Coffee Shop.
Castle and Grounds, Gift
Shop and Castle Restaurant are open 1st April to
29th October: Adults £5.75, Seniors & Students
£4.75, Children 5-15yrs £3.25, Family £15,
Children Under 5 Free. The Walled Gardens,
Garden Centre, Children’s Adventure Playground
and Coffee Shop are open all year round and free
entry. For information on the events calendar
which includes Snowdrop Festival, Tapestry
Trail, Fruit Tree Pruning etc.
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Peebles Crosskirk
Peebles
A few minutes walk from Peebles High Street. The
nave and west tower of a Trinitarian Friary,
founded in the late 13th Century with
foundations of the domestic buildings.
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Scottish Heritage
A vast 14th and 15th century ruin associated
with the Douglases and Mary Queen of Scots.
Restored in 19th century. Nearby 14th century
Hermitage Chapel.
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THIRLESTANE CASTLE
Thirlestane Castle Trust, Lauder,
Berwickshire, TD2 6RU
Tel: 01578 722430
Fax: 01578 722761
E-mail:
admin@thirlestanecastle.co.uk
Web:
www.thirlestanecastle.co.uk
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Thirlestane Castle is
the ancient seat of the Earls and Duke of
Lauderdale.
It is still the Maitland family home. Famous for
its unrivalled 17th century plasterwork
ceilings, the castle has fine furnishings,
pictures, Maitland family treasures, historic
toys and country life exhibition.
Facilities include free parking for castle
visitors, a woodland walk and a gift shop.
Coffees, light lunches and teas are served in
the Old Servants Hall.
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The perfect location
for banquets, private receptions, musical
evenings & corporate events. The Castle is
licensed to hold civil wedding ceremonies.
Opening Times & Dates
2006
Open for Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Monday -
14th, 16th, 17th April 2006.
Open 14th April 2006 until 24th September 2006
on Sun, Mon, Wed & Thurs.
Open July & August every day except Fridays.
Times: 10.00am - last admission 3.00pm.
Special opening at other times can be
arranged for pre-booked groups
For further information on Thirlestane Castle,
Lauder, Scotland see our website.
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JEDBURGH ABBEY
4-5 Abbey Bridge End, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire,
TD8 6JQ
Tel: 01835 863925
Historic Scotland. A
famous Border abbey founded in 1138 by David I
as an Augustinian priory. Roofless but mostly
complete Abbey church. Romanesque and Gothic
details. Original 12th century west front.
The foundations are all
that remains of the cloister buildings. The
coronation of Malcolm IV and the marriage of
Alexander III took place here. Museum and video.
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Cockburnspath Parish
Church
In Cockburnspath, Borders on A1
Unusual round tower in the west gable and
sundial.
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Cross Kirk
At Peebles, Borders, on A72
Historic Scotland. Nave and west tower of
Trinitarian Friary. Late 13th century.
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Edrom Church
Edrom, Duns (3½ miles north east of Duns off the
A6105)
The richly-carved Norman doorway of the old
parish church of Edrom in the Kirkyard. Open all
year Any reasonable time.
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Ferniehirst Castle -
Chapel
Information Centre & Kerr Museum (1½ miles south
of Jedburgh on A68)
Tel: 01835 862201
Ferniehirst Castle - Scotland's Frontier
Fortress, Ancestral home of the Kerr family.
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Kelso Abbey
Kelso (near town centre Square)
Pillaged for stone after its destruction, little
remains of this 1128 abbey, once the Borders
greatest and richest. West front and tower are
the most interesting part. James III was crowned
here.
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Melrose Abbey
Tel: 01896 822562
The Surviving remains of the Church are of the
15th century and are of an
elegance unique to Scotland.
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MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS' HOUSE
Queens Street, Jedburgh
Tel/Fax: 01835 863331
E-mail:
fionacolton@hotmail.com
See our
website
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Admission Charge: Under 16's free
Contact: Fiona Colton
Open: March to November, Mon - Sat,
10am-4pm. Sun, 1pm-4pm. |
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One of the most popular
visitor attractions in the Scottish Borders. A
16th Century fortified bastel house is the
atmospheric setting for displays on the life and
times of Mary Queen of Scots. Archive material relating
to her visit to Jedburgh in 1566 and original
material from the 16th Century recreate the
turbulent reign of one of history's most
charismatic personalities. The house is set in
award winning gardens and is dramatically
floodlit at night. An extensive range of
souvenirs, postcards and books are available.
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Bowhill House & Country
Park
3 miles west of Selkirk
Tel: 01750 22204
Georgian mansion, world-renowned art collection.
Victorian kitchen, audio-visual, visitor centre,
adventure playground, woodland walks, theatre.
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Abbotsford House
3 miles west of Melrose
Tel: 01896 752043 Fax:
01896 752916
Abbotsford, built and lived in by Sir Walter
Scott 1811 - 1832. Contains his library and
collection historical relics. Gardens & chapel.
Gift shop & tearoom.
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Manderston
2 miles east of Duns on A6105
Tel: 01361 883450
The swansong of the great classical house,
superb state rooms, princely stables,
extravagant marble dairy, extensive formal and
woodland gardens and biscuit tin museum.
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Mellerstain Trust
Mellerstain House, Gordon, Berwickshire, TD3 6LG
Tel: 01573 410225
5 miles from A68 at Earlston lies Scotland's
finest Adam mansion with decorative plaster-work
and colourful ceilings. Period furniture, Art
collection. Tearoom, Gift shop.
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Traquair House
1½ miles from Innerleithen
Tel: 01896 830323 / 830785
Scotland's oldest inhabited and most romantic
house Visited by 27 Kings and Queens.
18th century working brewery, maze, craft
workshops, extensive grounds.
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PAXTON HOUSE & COUNTRY PARK
Paxton, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland,
TD15 1SZ
Tel: 01289 386291 Fax: 01289 386660
E-mail:
info@paxtonhouse.com
Web:
www.paxtonhouse.com
Open 1st April to end October daily.
House: 11am -
5pm, last tour
4pm. Tearoom,
Shop & Gardens:
10am - 5pm.
Group bookings
available at all
times by prior
arrangement
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Built for a dashing
young Scottish laird, Patrick Home of Billie, in
1758 on a ridge overlooking the majestic River
Tweed, Paxton House is one of the finest 18th
century Palladian country houses in Britain.
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The House boasts interiors by Robert Adam and
the finest collections of furniture by Thomas
Chippendale, to include the largest picture
gallery in a Scottish Country House, Paxton now
houses over 70 paintings from the National
Galleries of Scotland.
With 12 period rooms to explore, over 80 acres
of gardens, woodland and parkland and a mile of
the breathtaking River Tweed for you to enjoy,
together with the gift shops, Stables tea-room,
adventure playground, picnic areas, changing
exhibitions, and more, Paxton is simply not to
be missed.
Some areas are not accessible for wheelchair
users. For further information see our website.
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Apple Tree Herb Nursery
Apple Tree Cottage, Main Street, Birgham,
Coldstream
Tel: 01890 830622
Family run nursery selling herbs and
ornamentals, cut flowers, vegetables and fruits
in season. Also garden design and maintenance.
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Floors Castle Garden
Centre
Floors, Kelso
Tel: 01573 224530
Enjoy the unusual, the creative and your
favourites in the lovely atmosphere of this
garden centre for the individual.
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Harmony Garden
St. Mary's Road, Meirone
Tel: 01721 722502
This attractive walled garden has magnificent
views over Melrose Abbey and the Eildon Hills.
Opens to visitors for the first time in 1998.
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Kailzie Gardens
2½ miles from Peebles on B7062
Tel: 01721 720007
A family day. Walled garden. Herbaceous and rose
borders. Greenhouses. Art Gallery. Shop,
children's corner. Ducks. Stocked trout pond.
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Lilliesleaf Nursery
Garden Cottage, Linthill, Lillienleaf
Tel: 01835 870415
Visit this charming walled garden in the heart
of the Borders for a wide range of plants.
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Mertoun House Gardens
Off the A68/A699 at St. Boswell's, Borders
Tel: 01835 823 236
26 acres of grounds with walled garden and
dovecote.
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Priorwood Garden and Dried
Flower Shop
At Melrose, Borders, off the A6091 next to the
Abbey
Tel: 01896 822 493
National Trust for Scotland. Orchard
includes historic apple trees. Most of the
plants grown are suitable for drying. Flower
arrangements are for sale in the shop. Courses
on flower arrangement are offered.
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Teviot Water Gardens
On the B6400/A698, south of Kelso, Borders
Tel: 01835 830 380
River garden. Herbaceous shrubs, rose garden,
unusual conifers, water garden of islands linked
by bridges.
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