Duns
Visiting the Scottish Borders was high on our wish list in 2018. With great friends living just on the English side, and my forefathers from South Shields on the Tyne, it was a “ must visit”, part of the world for us to explore.
Two other couples were to join us so we had specific accomodation needs for our week in the Borders. Through AirBNB, Wedderburn Castle and specifically it’s West Lodge, was the answer. The Lodge has three en suite double bedrooms and the grounds of the Castle with its amazing stone wall surrounding the estate, is perfect.
The nearest town to Wedderburn Castle is Duns and it is a pretty Scottish town with excellent mens hairdresser, butcher, fishmonger and bakery, plus the prerequisite supermarket. We were self catering, and everything we needed was to be found in Duns.
Duns also provided some excellent walking country, it’s own Duns Castle giving us a lovely ramble with a mix of track, forest and Castle grounds to go through.
Berwick upon Tweed
The historically strategic location of Berwick upon Tweed, between the Scots to the north and English to the south, has created a wonderful walled military garrison town. Linking south to England there are 3 bridges, spanning the River Tweed. One bridge takes the main East Coast Train Line, the others are “ old” and “ new” road / pedestrian but all very impressive to view.
Berwick is definetly a good day out of you are in the Borders area. There is an interesting walk around the “ wall” of the old military garrison . The town itself is impressive and has lovely history in its own right with good cafes and pubs providing plenty of refreshment options.
Melrose, Hirsel & Newton St Boswell’s
The Borders are a walkers paradise, with the Cheviots just to the south and unlimited opportunities in the north. We were lucky to have a friend to show us a number of these but information on them is easily available.
One lovely walk we managed was at Hirsel, the home of the Hume family, Sir Alec Douglas Hume, being a former British Prime Minister. This was about 4Km in length and took in much of the lovely grounds at Hirsel.
Newton St Boswell’s and the River Tweed, again provide a lovely area to explore, to walk from and return to, post walk to the Mainstreet Trading Company – tea rooms and bookshop! Absolutely a must visit if you are anywhere near, cakes to die for!
Abbotsford – Sir Walter Scott
Ivanhoe was just one of many stories written by Sir Walter Scott at his desk at Abbotsford and the house was created very much to his design. The day we visited was a bit wet and misty, the Scots call this weather – dreich- which is just a perfect description.
Nevertheless Abbotsford is a super place to visit, good parking, cafe with views down to the house, lovely walled gardens and a first class audio tour of the main house. The house interior is furnished as originally and the audio tour makes all of this extremely interesting – if you like that kind of thing, of course.
Travels with My Wife 