Places to visit in Scottish border area

DebbieR

Hi, we've booked a week's holiday in July in a cottage half way between Peebles and Edinburgh. We'll be spending a couple of days exploring Edinburgh but wondered if anyone had ideas for other days out in the area. We have a 16 year old daughter who likes shopping(obviously!), so any towns in the area which have interesting little vintage/charity shops would suit her (and me!). We also like visiting castles etc and would like to spend a day by the sea, so any recommendations there would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.

giraffe69

Jedburgh, Hawick and Galashiels all in the area and worth a visit.

Baking_Mad

Hi, I'm not very familiar with the Peebles area but I've recently heard that there is a fab little cafe called The Chocolate School in Peebles, you can make your own chocolates and the hot chocolate they serve comes in enormous mugs.

Melrose Abbey below is worth a visit and Melrose is full of lovely little shops you are after

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/melrose/melroseabbey/index.html

Thirlestane Castle near Lauder is nice as well but doesn't look like they've got any good events in July, there are a couple of nice little galleries and cafes in Lauder (Flat Cat Gallery and Spotty Dog Deli)

http://www.thirlestanecastle.co.uk/

If you are going to the sea go to Coldingham and St Abbs. Coldingham beach is wonderful and you can have a nice walk from there to St Abbs where there are a couple of lovely cafes in the harbour.

Hope this helps
Have a lovely holiday

DebbieR

Thanks for the replies

I'd already looked at Melrose Abbey and we'll definitely be going there, it looks lovely.
I've just googled St Abbs and it looks gorgeous, just the sort of place we like. I think Jesmond will be on our list too!

longforgotten

We loved Jedburgh.

Particularly the house that Mary Queen of Scots stayed in. Only a small house but free if I remember rightly.

Extremely interesting.

The jail was good too. We just looked at the Abbey, didn't go in although very impressive.

Is Bamburgh Castle too far away. The castle is great right by the sea. The beach absolutely wonderful ! and Bamburgh is a lovely little place to walk around with pretty church.

rising_from_the_ashes

alionaear wrote: »

If you are going to the sea go to Coldingham and St Abbs. Coldingham beach is wonderful and you can have a nice walk from there to St Abbs where there are a couple of lovely cafes in the harbour.

Will second this .... I was lucky enough to live there for a while *sigh* and it really is lovely.

longforgotten wrote: »

Is Bamburgh Castle too far away. The castle is great right by the sea. The beach absolutely wonderful ! and Bamburgh is a lovely little place to walk around with pretty church.

Yup .... another stunning place ....

Other place with wonderful beaches & loads to do is East Lothian http://www.visiteastlothian.org/home.asp (but a bit further away - maybe worth a trip detour on the way back from Edinburgh!)

Innerleithen is a lovely wee village very close to Peebles and well worth a visit and is where the stunning Traquair House is http://www.traquair.co.uk/

If anyone's "into" cars / racing, there's the Jim Clark Museum in Duns http://www.duns.bordernet.co.uk/tourist/attractions/clark.html

Shopping .... designer outlet at Livingston http://www.livingstondesigneroutlet.com/?gclid=CL-iwfqutK8CFUYKfAodS3tmkw - again slightly further away but an easy detour on the way back from Edinburgh & some fantastic shops!

Would be worth having a hunt online as many of the towns have gala events / weeks etc (most towns are around 10 miles from each other so fairly easy & not too far to go) and there's big agricultural shows as well. Some interesting info here http://returntotheridings.co.uk/

Will try to think of some more!:) You'll have a wonderful time - it's a beautiful part of the world (not that I'm biased in any way of course;))

mr_lordi

Pick a day with good weather and visit North Berwick, lovely beach and some nice little shops. Although smaller Dunbar and Ayemouth are nice too.

DebbieR

Thanks for all the helpful replies! I've been to Bamburgh(we live on Teesside) but only had time to look round the Castle itself - the beaches looked fantastic though. Traquair looks lovely too. I was a bit worried that we wouldn't find much to do but you guys have given me loads of inspiration. Thanks very much :beer:

greenface

Another shout for Jedburgh and its history we stayed in a pub called the spread eagle and the owners took care about their gaff & good food .

2010

Whatever you do in Edinburgh, go on the free walking tour of the city.
It takes about 3 hours and visits the main sites and the guides are very good.
No need to book, just turn up.

http://www.newedinburghtours.com/daily-tours/new-edinburgh-free-tour.html

The boarders

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Berwick on Tweed, Kelso, Melrose, Jedburgh and Hawick.