The real Scotland starts right at the border with England and stretches out up to Edinburgh. Different accents in the shops and different names for beer in pubs are just two of the ways in which Scotland stamps its own personality straight away. Even the scenery changes and the hazy blue peaks of the Cheviot and Eildon Hills running out to a wide horizon have lifted the hearts of generations of travellers at Carter Bar on the A68. Where ever you travel here, you can be sure of a real Scottish experience.
Rich, rolling farmland alternated with pine forests and rivers characterises the Scottish Borders. It's a land of ancient abbeys, castles and historic houses and also boasts strong literary connections, with Sir Walter Scott having lived here.
It takes very little time to get to the Scottish Borders, from north or south with Edinburgh and Newcastle just an hour or so away. And once here, there is more than enough to make the most of your days.
Whether you explore by car, on bike or on foot, you'll discover friendly towns and picturesque villages, as well as the castles, abbeys, stately homes and museums that illustrate the exciting and often bloody history of the area. It's that history which is commemorated in the Common Ridings and other local festivals, creating a colourful pageant much enjoyed by visitors and native Borderers alike.
It should also come as no surprise that an area so rich in hills and moorland, valleys and rivers should have mastered so many ways of enjoying the great outdoors. The area is a paradise for hill walkers and cyclists of all types. In the River Tweed and its many tributaries, you’ll find some of the best fishing in Scotland. The River is brimming with salmon, sea trout and brown trout. Beats are available on almost a daily basis!
The Scottish Borders is also home to rugby and passion and rivalry inevitably emerge as the Rugby Sevens get under way through spring and summer.
So whether you're looking for something action-packed or prefer it a little more laid-back, the Borders have all you need rejuvenate you.
