Trimontium – Roman Helmets, Dressing Up and a Treasure Hunt
A few hours.
The route
The Trimontium Museum on Melrose's Market Square tells the story of the great Roman fort that stood by the Tweed at Newstead, and it's made with children in mind.
There's a treasure hunt for a lost legion, a dressing-up corner of shields and helmets, and torches and magnifying glasses to explore with. It's all on one level, buggies are welcome, and so are dogs.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
The nearest of ours is The Scullery in Yarrow, 13 miles away. Sleeps 2; next free Fri 13 Nov to Sun 15 Nov.
Then The House in the Hill, 15 miles away. Sleeps 4; next free Thu 29 Oct to Sat 31 Oct.
The day
Melrose
An hour or two among the Romans, from the treasure hunt to the dressing-up corner.
About an hour and a half
Trimontium Museum
The Trimontium Museum is on Melrose's Market Square, just before Burt's Hotel. It has no car park of its own: the Abbey car park, a short walk away, is paid. There's free parking beside the park opposite the Greenyards rugby ground and at Priorwood, and free spaces across from the museum for up to an hour. It's open every day from 10am to 4.30pm, and walk-ins are welcome. Tickets, good for a year, are £8 for adults and £4 for children aged 5 to 15 at the time of writing, under-5s free, or £20 for two adults and two children. Children get a treasure hunt for the members of a lost legion, a dressing-up corner of shields, swords and helmets, a craft to make, and torches and magnifying glasses to explore with, and a sticker at the end. Look out for the paw prints a Roman dog left in a tile 2,000 years ago. The VR experience is for children of eight and over, booked online. The gallery and shop are on one level, with room for buggies, and there's an accessible toilet off reception and baby changing. Dogs are welcome too. Over Christmas and New Year, check before going.
If it rains
It's all indoors: the only wet part is the walk from the car park.
Burts Hotel, a restaurant in Melrose.
The Hoebridge, a restaurant in Gattonside.
Photograph by Trimontium Museum via Google