The Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders offers a quality of life, almost unrivalled anywhere else. It is an ideal place for families, not only because it offers a variety of events and outdoor pursuits, but also because the state run educational system is excellent.
For others, the beautiful rolling countryside, offers an enormous range of activities, from hill walking, trout and salmon fishing on the world famous River Tweed, to horse riding, mountain biking, cycling, game shooting, bird watching, and golf over the twenty-one golf courses in the area.
The area's association with horses is well known, with the Common Ridings, Kelso Race Course, Point 2 Points, and Hunting featuring throughout the year.
The Melrose 7's is another draw to the rugby-mad area, where the game of 7's was born, and has featured teams from across the world.
With a population of around 111,000 the Scottish Borders region covers an area of around 4,732 square kilometres/1,827 square miles.
please click on images to see larger versions
The Central Borders is the most densely populated area within the Scottish Borders, and includes such towns as Galashiels, Melrose, Earlston, Newtown St. Boswells, St. Boswells, Kelso, Jedburgh, Hawick, and Selkirk.
Other principal Scottish Border towns and villages include:
Lauder, Greenlaw, Duns, Eyemouth, Coldstream, Langholm, Innerleithen, Peebles, and Stow.
For a more detailed look at the Scottish Borders region, please use the map below.
View Larger Map
For distance mileages and routes across the Scottish Borders please see the new AA Route planner.
Trains
Berwick-upon-Tweed, and Dunbar stations are on the East Coast main line, serving Edinburgh and Newcastle and with regular GNER services to London and the North. Both are easily accessible from the Borders region.
Roads
The main trunk roads that run through the Scottish Borders from the South of Edinburgh are the A68 to Newcastle via Jedburgh and the A7 to Carlisle via Galashiels.
A link to the West, exists via the A72 from Galashiels, via Peebles and onto Hamilton just outside Glasgow.
Airports
Important links:
Local government (Scottish Borders Council):
Health (Borders General Hospital):
Education (Scottish Borders Council):
Private Schools
Longridge Towers School
www.lts.org.uk
St Mary's School, Melrose
www.stmarysmelrose.org.uk
Tourism (Places to stay, eat and visit):
www.scottishbordersheritage.co.uk