One of my favorite people, Merle, loves Scotland about as much as I do. So, we're talking a bit about the amazing country of Scotland this week as I continue to explore my friends' bucket lists.
Scotland, the overview. It is part of Great Britain, and has spent a great deal of its history at war with England. They are known for their tartans, kilts, bagpipes, Catholicism, ruggedness, independence, and Haggis.
The part of Scotland that I decided to discuss today is the area that they call The Borders. This is the southern part of the country and the part that I decided to talk about is the southeastern part of the country along the Tweed River. I picked this as a starting point, because I am Scottish largely, and this is where my family hails from. Just thought I would take a walk down ancestry lane here.
Kelso is one of the small villages of the Borders, and a great little place to hang out, visit a castle, such as Floors; or ruins of an Abbey, like Kelso. Did I mention that Scotland is full of castles and abbeys? Well, it is. Tweedside, as it was known in the time that my ancestors were there, was a highly productive, highly disputed area. There were castles of the English royalty, feudal lords, dukes, earls and whatever. There are many estates, castles, and so forth the see in the area. Kelso is also a shopping area, so it's a great place to find tartans, and other local products.
Sir Walter Scott, one of the area's best known kindred spirits spent most of his time in Edinburgh, but he also spent time along the borders just south of there. More than one of the villages has monuments to him, and there is a courtroom to visit and some small museums.
Neidpath Castle is yet another of the many castles in the south of Scotland. It sits just outside the village of Peebles, yet another village along the Tweed River. You can visit the grounds now, and hopefully tour the home after covid-19.
Melrose Abbey is another ruin that is well worth a visit. It was founded and run by Cistercian Monks in 1136. It is found in the town of Melrose, a quiet little burg in Roxburghshire.
I will make a note here. This area is not far from Edinburgh. Edinburgh is the large city in this area. The area of the borders that I am talking about is south of there, and very rural. The towns are small, the breweries and distilleries are local, the products are local, the cuisine is local. This is a place to visit that is not as full of people in general, and has a wealth of history. You can stay in a manor house, you can hike in the forest, and in general relax.
Pele Towers are probably the most awe inspiring feature of the Borders. There is a train called the Borders Train that stops all along the border and that's where you'll find the towers.
During the war years, the border was greatly disputed with the English. The Pele Towers are a series of towers and fortified country homes that were used to guard the border in war times. Today you can find a whole map of the Pele Towers and travel along the Border and see them. Just one more part of history in the south of Scotland.
Selkirk is ancient. The buildings are ancient, the canals are ancient, the homes are ancient, and even the graves of the famous are ancient. Selkirk, also has manor houses and house museums to visit, as well as its canal. It is a beautiful town and one of the best towns to dine in in the region. While everything seems modern there, the structure is old, quaint, and impossible to resist.
Needless to say, hunting, fishing and everything outdoors is part of life in this area. They have coastal towns as well, so seafood is available everywhere; and it's fresh.
If you like the great outdoors, St. Mary's Loch is a great park and great location. You can do all the outdoor activities there. They also have a scenic driving road, and a 7.8 mile hiking path around the loch. It's beautiful, and a great way to get out and enjoy nature in the wilds of Scotland.
Scotland is known for some amazing things. There's so much to see, that once again, I couldn't talk about it all in one blog. My family tartan is from Tweedside, so I started in the south. My people were simple farmers, and the area has only changed so much. Now it's Roxburghshire and the Borders. Ancient buildings still stand and ancient cuisine is still available. The scenery is magnificent and will make any camera happy.
It never hurts to take a tour on your first visit to a country like Scotland. It's helpful to have a guide who knows what you're looking at and which castle you should tour. There are a lot of historical castles and estates and towers. You can't visit them all on one trip, even if you only visit a small area. So, check your activities carefully, plan carefully, bring in a knowledgeable guide and enjoy!
