A Trip Around The Borders Abbeys
Written by Graeme Johncock
It’s not unusual for visitors to Scotland to immediately head into the Highlands after touching down in Edinburgh. However, there’s an incredible region to be found in the other direction, full of outstanding scenery and fascinating stories. There’s a lot to see in the Scottish Borders, but if you only have one day then I would explore the four Medieval Abbeys.
Melrose Abbey
The first Borders Abbey that you reach is Melrose and it’s one of the most incredible. Not just because of its architecture or beautiful setting, but because this is the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart! The body of this famous King of Scots lies in Dunfermline, but his...
Rhymer’s Stone
Just a few minutes outside of Melrose, up a quiet dead-end road, another special story is marked by the Rhymer’s Stone. This is said to be where Thomas the Rhymer, a legendary Scottish prophet, was enchanted by the Queen of the Fairies. After spending seven years in the Fairy Kingdom,...
Scott’s View
Leaving the main roads well behind, a narrow winding route climbs to one of the most breathtaking spots in Scotland. Scott’s View looks out over a patchwork of fields towards Eildon Hill, bursting from the otherwise quietly undulating landscape. This was a favourite of Walter Scott, giving the viewpoint its...
Wallace Statue
A short distance away at Bemersyde, a walk through the woods leads to a surprising monument. Standing at over 30 feet tall, an enormous statue of William Wallace gazes out over the Borders landscape. It was erected by the Earl of Buchan in 1814, making it over 50 years older...
Dryburgh Abbey
At the end of the road stands the ruins of Dryburgh Abbey, not the grandest or richest of the four found in the Borders, but easily the most peaceful. Founded in the 12th century in a loop of the River Tweed, it feels like a very special place. It’s secluded...
Lunch At Simply Scottish
Right in the heart of Jedburgh now, grab some lunch at Simply Scottish. The soup and a sandwich deal is a bargain and even better if you upgrade to Cullen Skink!
Jedburgh Abbey
The town of Jedburgh is dominated by its Augustinian abbey which, even though in ruins, is still substantial enough to take your breath away. Being built so close to the English border saw Jedburgh destroyed several times but always rebuilt, just a little bit grander than before. In 1285, the...
Mary Queen of Scots House
There’s much more to see in Jedburgh, but the most interesting is the Mary Queen of Scots House. This 16th century townhouse wasn’t owned by the queen, but she stayed here for a few weeks during a turbulent period of her life. Many of the rooms inside feel like they’ve...
Kelso Abbey
Round off an epic trip around the Borders with a final trip to Kelso Abbey. There’s very little left of this historic building, but it’s still well worth seeing from the outside. It’s a brilliant example of Romanesque architecture and was once the largest and richest of the Borders Abbeys...
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Email