Top 6 Castles around Melrose And District

The gardens are described as outdoor rooms within high walls. These include the South Court, Morris Garden, and Walled Garden. The estate is open to the public, offering visitors the chance to explore the historic house, gardens, and surrounding woodlands.

Abbotsford House served as both a family home and a workspace for Sir Walter Scott, housing his study, library, and collections of artifacts. He designed the house in the Scots Baronial style and filled it with books and historical objects.

Adult admission is currently £13 each. There's a small kiosk and souvenir shop. Beautiful, shady grounds with plenty of benches.

For Goethe, Walter Scott's books were "the best things ever written in the world". With his historical novels, such as the one about the knight Ivanhoe, the Scottish writer, who was born 250 years ago, was one of the most famous authors of his time. Quote from Walter Scott: "I have read enough books to know that the deepest sayings come from the lips of poor and uneducated women and men. Things often come to light that are perhaps only found more sublime and moving in the Bible. Even the poet will only fulfill his true calling if he recognizes everything that is not a true inner education of the heart as vain and worthless." (Text from https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/250-geburtstag-des-schriftstellers-wie-sir-walter-scott-den-100.html )

An absolute highlight. The house is worth a look. The weapons collection is worth seeing. The garden is lovingly laid out and very well maintained.

Elibank was formerly known as Eliburn and overlooks the River Tweed from a commanding position high on its steep right bank. The late 16th century fortress is rudely built without any dressings and comprises an oblong main-block, with a square wing attached to the east corner. The remains are in a dilapidated state. In 1511 Elibank, or Eliburn as it was then, was in the hands of the Liddale family. However the ruined building that we see today was probably built by Sir Gideon Murray of Glenpoit who acquired Elibank from John Liddell of Halkerstone in 1594-5. The castle was already a ruin in 1722. Elibank is reputed to be the home of “Muckle Mouth Meg”. In the waning years of the 16th century, the Laird of Eliburn despaired of finding his daughter Meg a husband as she was no beauty and was not called “muckle mouth” without reason. One moonless night towards the turn of the old year the laird and his household were alerted by cries and a shot from the darkness beyond the castle. The laird, careful of his cattle and goods, and being no stranger to the ways of Reivers himself, kept a watch who had surprised a band of rogues that had forced a way into his barnekin and were attempting to drive off his livestock. In the ensuing confusion the laird’s men captured one of the thieves and flung him into the dank dungeon below the castle floor. In the morning the prisoner was brought before the laird, who evidently thought the lad worthwhile, and offered him a choice. He could hang or he could marry Meg. Horrified at the prospect of marrying Meg, for her fame was widespread, the lad chose the gallows. Meg’s father was not to be cheated of a husband for his daughter however, so he returned the unwilling suitor to the evil prison cell to reconsider. The lad, who it turned out, was Walter Scott from nearby Ettrick eventually reconsidered his choice and he and Meg were married. Surprisingly enough it seems that he and Muckle Mouth Meg got along well, she mellowed and he settled down and the marriage was something of a success in the end.

Newark Castle is a large ruined tower. It was first mentioned in 1423 and was packed back to the Crown in 1445 from the Earls of Douglas, and became one of only two royal castles in the Middle March. In 1645, after the Battle of Philiphaugh, one hundred prisoners were killed in the courtyard here, and Cromwell's troops occupied it in 1650. There's quite a lot of history here!

Abbotsford was the home of Sir Walter Scott. He built the house and laid out the gardens after the success of his literary work. The house was finished in 1824 and opened to the public after his death in 1833. It holds his amazing collection of books, weapons & artefacts. Open for paid visits every day from 10:00 - 17:00 with last entry at 16:00. You can pay to visit the house and garden or just the garden for a bit less.