Our Local Area

The Scottish Borders is an area of immense natural beauty and it boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage.
 
Geographically it encompasses important rivers, such as the Tweed and its tributaries; major coastal geological features - not least of all Bass Rock and the magnificent sea cliffs from Berwick-upon-Tweed north to St Abbs; large tracts of remote hills and moorland in the Cheviots and the Lammermuirs. All of these provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife; the seal and seabird colonies of the Farnes, Bass Rock and the Berwickshire cliffs (where Buzzards and Red Kite are now reported); the wild, white cattle of Chillingham whose bloodstock goes back to the thirteenth century; the wild seabird centre at North Berwick.
 
Human settlements can be traced back to Iron Age settlements and fortresses such as those at Yeavering Bell; there are Forts and Castles from the Dark Ages through Medieval times (Ad Gefrin, Fast Castle); fishing villages, now with only remnants of their glorious herring fleets of the 18th and early 19th centuries (Eyemouth, Cove, Burnmouth - where the memories of 'Black Friday' still live on in the 'psyche' of the communities. The annual ceremony of 'riding the bounds', which is still marked in many border towns, harks back to their security and defence in the time of the infamous 'Border Reivers'; other festivals, such as the crowning of the Herring Queen (Eyemouth) and the Salmon Queen (Tweedmouth) have happier and more recent origins.

For those seeking evidence of our cultural heritage, there are probably too many sites to choose from! Sir Walter Scott's house at Abbotsford on the banks of the Tweed and Traquair House - Scotland's oldest inhabited house - are probably two of the most famous and interesting. The regimental museums of the King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB), housed in the Barracks in Berwick-upon-Tweed, and of the Coldstream Guards, based in Coldstream itself, bear witness to the region's strong military history. Closer to home, Eyemouth's museum contains a great deal of interesting material on life through the ages in the town - with a particularly evocative display describing the events of 'Black Friday'.
 
As you might expect in an area with a strong agricultural background, there is a wealth of high quality produce available at local farmers' markets. As well as the usual fare, many family businesses have now successfully diversified into making award-winning cheeses and ice cream. We make good use of much of this local produce for breakfasts!
 
Contained as it is between hills and the sea, the area is a focus for a wide range of activities. Many towns boast at least one golf course; sea angling is available either from the shore or on chartered fishing boats; the area is renowned for its clear water and diving in the marine reserve off St Abbs and Eyemouth is extremely popular; surfing in the North Sea is not for the faint-hearted but is thriving at Coldingham Sands and at other sites along the coast; sailing and canoeing are also available.
 
Increasingly, visitors are seeking the tranquility of peaceful walks through a beautiful landscape: there are many 'official', well-documented tracks and pathways - such as the Southern Upland Way - but, equally, there is ample opportunity for those who just want to wander, watch wildlife, and take photographs as memories to revisit on cold winter evenings by the fireside!
 
Finally, for those who visit from farther afield, it would be remiss to omit the fact that we are so close to Edinburgh. A forty minute drive up the A1 takes you to a whole new world in our capital city.