View of Melrose
Nestled in the beautiful Tweed Valley, Melrose is an exciting market town that’s steeped in history and packed with charm. Its bustling streets are jam-packed with quaint cafés and boutique restaurants, and people travel from far and wide to enjoy a varied and interesting list of annual events.
Just north of the border with England, it is within one hour’s drive of Edinburgh and a short distance from the coastal trail and some quaint fishing villages. One of the most popular attractions is the remnants of Melrose Abbey, which is the final resting place of the heart of Robert the Bruce. It is a fine example of late 1300s religious architecture, it was the second Cistercian Monastery on the site. It was an abbey until 1560 when the last monks died after the Protestant Reformation of 1530. Whilst you’re there keep an eye out for the bizarre yet charming bagpipe-playing pig of Melrose.
Melrose Abbey
Melrose is closely associated with its Roman past. The area has been inhabited for thousands of years. In AD79 the Romans built a fort called Trimontium, translated as the ‘Place of Three Hills’. The triple hills in the name are known as the Eildon Hills, and a walk to the summit of any one of them can give you views of Melrose and the River Tweed in the glen below. Visit the Three Hills Roman Heritage Centre in the heart of Melrose.
Another place of historical interest is novelist, playwright and poet Sir Walter Scott’s former mansion, Abbotsford, or if you like National Trust gardens pay a visit to Priorwood and Harmony Gardens too.
Nowadays, the town is a great base to discover the Scottish borderlands, and has also got a good selection of amenities to pick up provisions including a small supermarket, a greengrocer and a delicatessen. If you are looking for a break from cooking why not try out the menu at the Townhouse. It boasts a traditional Scottish menu in a relaxed restaurant with friendly staff. Elsewhere in Montrose you can also try out the George & Abbotsford Steakhouse which is arguably the finest in Scotland. Quite a claim!
“Melrose Abbey is the final resting place of Robert the Bruce’s heart…”
Fishing on the River Tweed is a popular local pastime and there are a number of great spots along the banks. Melrose is also world famous for being the home of the ‘Rugby Sevens’ as the first tournament took place there in 1883. We have many lovely cottages in and around Melrose. Why not visit our collection and feel inspired?