Small Group Tour of Scottish Borders

 Introduction

This evening, I am reporting on a one-day trip to the Scottish Borders.This is an often overlooked part of Scotland with rolling hills, rich arable farmland and ancient buildings.

Jedburgh Abbey 

Information on the Scottish Borders Tour

First stop was Melrose which has a history dating back to the Roman period. Here our key focus was Melrose Abbey. This now ruined structure was originally founded by King David I in 1136 for an order of Cistercian monks. Severe damage was inflicted by English armies during the Anglo-Scottish wars with re-building during 15th century. Catholic worship ceased at the Reformation in 1560 and the last monk died in 1590. Notable for a stone carving of a pig playing the bagpipes and (the alleged) burial-place of the heart of King Robert the Bruce.

Melrose Abbey 

Burial place of King Robert the Bruce’s Heart at Melrose Abbey

 

Pig playing bagpipes at Melrose Abbey


 Next, we moved on to nearby Jedburgh where we spent time visiting the ruined abbey and aspects of the old town.

Jedburgh Abbey was also founded by King David I, in 1138 with construction taking 100 years. An order of Augustinians occupied the site. Due to military conflicts between England and Scotland damage was inflicted on the Abbey by English armies in 1464, 1523, 1544 and 1545. After the Reformation in 1560 part of the building was converted to use as a parish church.

Jedburgh Abbey 

As the images below illustrate, Jedburgh has connections with famous Scots including Robert Burns, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Mary Queen of Scots.

 Entrance to Jedburgh Castle

Burns House, Jedburgh


 Prince Charlie’s House, Jedburgh 

High Street, Jedburgh

Mercat Cross, Jedburgh

Mary, Queen of Scots House, Jedburgh

(There is no documentary record of the famous queen owning or ever visiting the property. However, she did visit the town of Jedburgh.) 

Upon concluding our visit to Jedburgh we drove 100 miles N.W. to Glasgow where we checked into our lodgings.

More information

The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland provides a wide range of information including the Scottish Borders. The ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also available via Kindle.

 

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