SIR WALTER SCOTT’S HOME

MELROSE SEVENS

Melrose is the home of Sevens rugby. Teams from all over the world descend to battle it out every April at the Greenyards.

FREE MUSEUMS

The Liveborders group highlights 12 free museums, including the Mary, Queen of Scots’ Visitor Centre. See liveborders.org.uk.

BE ON YOUR GUARD

August’s Coldstream Civic Week includes a trip to Flodden Fields. There is a museum in town all about the Coldstream Guards,

GARDENING TIME

Melrose has two National Trust for Scotland gardens. Harmony is a relaxing walled garden and Priorwood a dried flower garden.

ENJOY A STATELY HOME

There’s Gunsgreen, Thirlestane Castle, Paxton House, Floors Castle, Mellerstain, Neidpath Castle, Traquair or Monteviot. As well as taking in 200 years of architecture, Abbotsford also contains artefacts from the great writer’s life.

GET THE ABBEY HABIT

Dryburgh Abbey is the burial place of writer Sir Walter Scott. And don’t miss Melrose, Jedburgh and Kelso Abbeys.

ONE STEP AT A TIME

John Buchan, author of The 39 Steps, had Borders connections. Drop by Peebles’ John Buchan Story Museum to discover more.

GO TO THE RACES

The Kelso Races are quite a spectacle. This National Hunt racecourse prides itself as Britain’s friendliest.

TO THE FORE

The Borders has some of Scotland’s best golf courses, including Peebles, Torwodlee, The Roxburghe and more.