Melrose Abbey
The reputed burial place of Robert the Bruce's heart.
Scotland · Borders
Scottish Borders
Top attractions, upcoming events, festivals and family activities across Scottish Borders.
About Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders stretch from the North Sea coast at Berwickshire to the rolling Tweed Valley and the market towns of Kelso, Melrose, Peebles and Jedburgh. It's a region of ruined abbeys, textile heritage, salmon rivers and some of the UK's best mountain biking.
Borders events lean into Common Ridings — the historic horseback festivals that dominate summer weekends — plus book festivals at Melrose, food festivals at Peebles and traditional agricultural shows across the region.
Top attractions in Borders
Abbotsford House
Sir Walter Scott's dramatic mansion above the Tweed.
Traquair House
Scotland's oldest continuously inhabited house, with its own brewery.
Tweed Valley 7stanes
World-class mountain biking at Glentress, Innerleithen and Kirroughtree.
Kelso Racecourse & Floors Castle
National Hunt racing on a picturesque flat course, next to Scotland's largest inhabited castle.
St Abb's Head
Dramatic sea cliffs and nesting seabirds on the Berwickshire coast.
Upcoming events in Borders
See allNo upcoming events currently listed for Scottish Borders. Check back soon or browse all Scottish events.
Festivals in Borders
Common Ridings
June – AugustHistoric horseback ceremonies at Hawick, Selkirk, Jedburgh, Kelso, Lauder, Melrose, Duns, Coldstream, Galashiels and Peebles.
Melrose Book Festival
JuneLong-running literary weekend in the shadow-sm of the Abbey.
Tweedlove Bike Festival
MayWeeks of guided rides, races and demo days in Peebles.
Borders Book Festival
JuneOne of Scotland's premier literary festivals, hosted at Harmony Garden, Melrose.
Family activities in Borders
Ideas for families visiting Scottish Borders — most work rain or shine and pair well with the events listed above.
- Glentress Forest cycle trails
- Bowhill House adventure playground
- Kailzie Gardens and osprey watch
- Coldingham Bay for gentle surf
- Halliwell's House Museum, Selkirk
When to visit Borders
Late spring through mid-August is Common Riding season — check individual town dates. Autumn colours in the Tweed Valley are exceptional, and winter is quiet enough for a cosy country-hotel weekend.
Popular venues in Borders
All venuesWe're still building our venue directory for Scottish Borders. Browse all Scottish venues.
Explore Borders by category
Curated landing pages for the biggest event types in Borders.
Local guides
Borders — Frequently asked questions
What are Common Ridings?
Historic ceremonies dating back to the 13th century, where locals ride the boundaries of the town on horseback. Each Borders town holds its own Riding on a set weekend between June and August.
Is the Borders good for mountain biking?
Yes — the 7stanes trails at Glentress, Innerleithen and Newcastleton are among the UK's best purpose-built mountain-biking centres.
How do I get to the Borders from Edinburgh?
The Borders Railway runs from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank in under an hour; from there, buses fan out across the region.