Things To Do in Melrose
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Melrose Attractions
A Walk Along the Borders: St. Cuthbert's Way
If you're feeling particularly saintly, you can walk in the footsteps of 7th-century St. Cuthbert along the Scotland-England border. The 101km (63-mile) path stretches from Melrose, 60km (37 miles) southwest of Edinburgh, across the border into northeast England to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne on the Northumberland coast. St. Cuthbert began his ministry in Melrose in about A.D. 650 and later was appointed prior at Lindisfarne. The walk passes many places linked to his legend, prehistoric relics, Roman ruins, and historic castles. The high point is Wideopen Hill, 434m (1,420 ft.) above sea level. Permission from landowners along the route has been obtained, and the walk is clearly marked. A leaflet suggests distances you can comfortably cover in a day and makes recommendations for overnight stops. Contact Roger Smith, Walking Development Officer, Scottish Border Enterprise Center, Bridge Street, Galashiels TB1 ISW (tel. 01896/758-991; fax 01896/758-625), for information.
- Historic Site
Abbotsford
Sir Walter Scott's home from 1817 until death, this is the mansion that he built and like his novels it quotes from history, too. Designed in the Scots baronial style, it has an entrance that mimics the porch at Linlithgow palace and a door from Edinburgh's tolbooth. Scott was a very… - Park/Garden
Little Sparta
Not highlighted by many guidebooks, this garden was devised by one of Scotland's most intriguing artists in the 20th and 21st centuries, the late Ian Hamilton Finlay, who died on March 27, 2006. It is a surprisingly lush plot of land, given the harsh terrain of the Pentland Hills all… - Religious Site
Melrose Abbey
These lichen-covered ruins, among the most evocative in Europe, are all that's left of an ecclesiastical community established by Cistercian monks in the 12th century. The tall walls still standing today follow the lines of the original abbey, but they were largely constructed in the… - Landmark
Thirlestane Castle
One of Scotland's most imposing country houses, Thirlestane has been owned by the Lauderdale family since 1218. A T-shaped building, the castle has a keep from the 16th century, and was much altered after Queen Victoria took the throne. The interior is known for its ornamental… - Historic Site
Traquair House
Dating from the 10th century, this is perhaps Scotland's oldest and most romantic house, rich in associations with Mary Queen of Scots and the Jacobite uprisings. The great house is occupied by the Stuarts of Traquair. One of the most poignant exhibits is an ornately carved oak…
Melrose Shopping
Melrose is one of the best destinations for shopping in the Borders. Most shops are open Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 5pm and Sunday noon to around 4pm.
The Country Kitchen, Market Square (tel. 01896/822-586), displays a comprehensive choice of English, French, and Scottish cheeses, along with pâtés and meat products. You can buy them prepackaged or order up gourmet sandwiches and picnic fixings. Abbey Wines, Abbey Street (tel. 01896/823-224), stocks the town's largest wine selection, plus at least 150 malt whiskies, some from the most obscure distilleries in Scotland.
The town's most complete collection of books is for sale at Talisman Books, 9 Market Sq. (tel. 01896/822-196), in an old-fashioned Edwardian shop. Gifts, especially impractical-but-charming items in porcelain and china, are available at Butterfly, High Street (tel. 01896/822-045).
Feeling chilly in the Scottish fog? A meticulously crafted wool or cashmere sweater from Anne Oliver Knitwear, 1 Scott's Place (tel. 01896/822-975), might provide the extra warmth you need. Lochcarron of Scotland, 5 Market Sq. (tel. 01896/823-823), is larger, but stocks only its own goods. Designers like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Jean-Paul Gaultier have ordered bulk amounts here for relabeling and distribution. For tartan and other fabrics, visit The Fabric Shop, High Street (tel. 01896/823-475), which both high-class couturiers and homegrown dressmakers find appealing.
