Places to see and visit
These are just a small sample of the castles, towers and historic sites within the Scottish Borders region from Berwickshire right across to Galloway.
| Paxton House | ||
| One of Adam’s finest 18th Century country houses, part of the National Galleries of Scotland, is home to the largest collection of Chippendale furniture in Scotland. | ||
| Manderston House | ||
| Described as the swansong of the great classical houses and boasts the only silver staircase in the world. | ||
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Hermitage Castle | |
| The vast eerie ruin located in Liddesdale, much restored in the early 19th Century but incorporating the fabric of various dates from the 14th Century. | ||
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Jedburgh Abbey | |
| Founded by David I of Scotland situated in the Royal Burgh of Jedburgh on the banks of the Jed Water in 1138, since then it has been sacked and rebuilt numerous times over the centuries. | ||
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Floors Castle | |
| The largest inhabited castle in Scotland, home to the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe. | ||
| Mellerstain House | ||
| Superb Georgian house by William and Robert Adam, exquisite plaster ceilings, beautiful interior decoration, fine period furniture, marvellous art collection. | ||
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Smailholm Tower | |
| Set on a high rocky knoll, well preserved 15th Century tower house. | ||
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Hume Castle | |
| A site of great antiquity and history, commanding incomparable views of The Merse. | ||
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Kelso Abbey | |
| Even in its fragmentary state this is a superb piece of 12th Century architecture. | ||
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Thirlestane Castle | |
| One of the oldest and finest castles in Scotland originating from the 13th Century. | ||
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Abbotsford House | |
| Overlooking the River Tweed, the house Sir Walter Scott built and lived in. | ||
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Melrose Abbey | |
| At one time probably the richest Abbey in Scotland, burial place of the casket believed to contain the heart of Robert De Brus. | ||
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Dryburgh Abbey | |
| Perhaps the most beautiful of the Border Abbeys, the ruins are remarkably complete. | ||
| Traquair House | ||
| The oldest inhabited house in Scotland spanning over a thousand years of Scottish history with strong associations with Mary Queen of Scots and the Jacobites. | ||
| Bowhill House | ||
| Set in the magical scenery of the Yarrow and Ettrick valleys, this Georgian mansion part of the estate of the Duke of Buccleuch. | ||
| Sir Walter Scott’s courtroom | ||
| Set in the Ancient and Royal Burgh of Selkirk, dating from 1803, former town house and sheriff court is where Sir Walter sat as Sheriff of Selkirkshire until 1832. | ||
| Caerlaverock Castle | ||
| With its moat, twin towered gatehouse and imposing battlements, Caerlaverock Castle is the epitome of the medieval stronghold. The castle’s turbulent history owes much to its proximity to England which brought it into border conflicts. | ||
| Drumlanrig | ||
| The magnificent Drumlanrig Castle, constructed from distinctive pink sandstone, was finished in 1691 by architect William Douglas, the first Duke of Queensberry and represents one of the first and most important Renaissance buildings in Scotland. | ||
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Threave Castle | |
The home of the ‘Black Douglas; the Earls of Douglas’ until their fall in 1455. For further information on any of the above, go to the following website links – www.visitscottishborders.com |
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