The area is rich in natural beauty, and fantastic for walkers, cyclists, fishermen etc. Walking trails range from St Cuthbert's Way (Melrose to Northumberland coast), the Borders Abbeys Way (68 mile circular route linking the four great Borders Abbeys), to the Southern Upland Way (linking Scotland's east and west coasts). You will find outstanding mountain biking at Glentrees & Innerleithen, and Newcastleton. For planned routes, you can make use of options such as the Four Abbeys Cycle Route, and the Tweed Cycle Way (from Biggar to Berwick-upon-Tweed). If you are interested in fishing, see www.fishpal for more information on fishing seasons, booking and prices. If you would like to arrange fly fishing casting lessons or a day or two fishing on the Tweed, Teviot or other local waters, we can thoroughly recommend using renowned instructor Mick McDaid: see www.mickmcdaid.co.uk for more details.
Children enjoy splashing about in the nearby River Teviot, where there is a small pebble beach - a short walk from the cottage. There is also a deer park near Jedburgh and a donkey sanctuary (open at week-ends) and a 'pick-your-own' strawberry farm near St Boswells, and a great adventure playground and other delights at Bowhill, all of which are popular with our younger guests. Climbing the local Minto Hills and Ruberslaw Hill is a good way to work off excess energy before delicious lunch in the cafes in Denholm. Nearby Eastcote Archery Centre has indoor and outdoor ranges and is suitable for ages 10+. For rainy days, there are cinemas in Hawick and Galashiels and an ice rink in Kelso. Hawick, Selkirk and Galashiels all have swimming pools. There are golf courses everywhere, the nearest at Minto about 2 miles away.
Historic attractions include Floors Castle (largest inhabited house in Scotland), Manderston (famous silver staircase), Mellerstain (beautiful Adam house), and Traquair (romantic and oldest inhabited house in Scotland). Abbotsford (the home of the famous novelist, Sir Walter Scott) is also definitely worth a visit, as are Smilholm Tower (fortified 15th century tower house with splendid views) and Hermitage Castle (magnificently bleak and forbidding).
Golf:
You can buy a Freedom of the Fairways Golf Passport for three or five days (for adults the respective costs are £95 and £130), which allows access to 21 beautiful golf courses (supplements payable for three of these). It is available from 1 April to 31 October and a maximum 36 holes can be played at any one course. Tee times should be booked in advance. You can find out more and buy a Golf Passport from any of the Scottish Borders VisitScotland information centres, by calling 01835 863 170 or by booking online at visitscottishborders.com/shop.
The nearest courses to the cottage are Minto (tel: 01450 870 220) and Hawick (tel: 01450 372 293). Minto is set in undulating parkland between the Minto Hills and Teviot Valley. Hawick is the oldest golf club in the Scottish Borders and the course offers some of the best views in the region. It counts Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie among its honorary members. Other nearby courses include Kelso, Jedburgh, Roxburghe, St Boswells (9 hole), Selkirk ( hole) and The Woll.
Other Activities:
Rugby Sevens, trout/salmon fishing (Rivers Tweed and Teviot), shooting, Borders Common Ridings (historic festivals), cashmere outlets, Abbotsford
