The Borders is a large, excessively beautiful area located (does the name give it away?) on the Border with England. This position has created a place with a highly distinctive history and culture. From Ridings to rugby, from Reivers to Romans, and from monasticism to market towns, with a bit of farming, weaving, and fishing (river and sea) thrown in for good measure.
Let your guide show you some of the highlights and interpret this special region for you.
You could ask for a tour focusing on places connected to the great writer Sir Walter Scott, including his burial amongst the romantic ruins of Dryburgh Abbey; the spectacular view he adored; the home, Abbotsford House, that he built for himself and his family which still houses his vast collection of artefacts from Scottish history; and Smailholm Tower owned by his ancestors and in the shadow of which he grew up taking inspiration for his tales.
Discover the ruins of the string of Abbeys including Melrose Abbey and Jedburgh Abbey, with remarkable carvings and twelfth century architectural details. The old market towns which grew up around many of the Abbeys have their own particular charms, too. Your guide can help you find the best of them to explore.
You might like to take a tour of a working woollen mill, operating as they have for centuries in the area, now producing materials for the biggest names in fashion.
There are a wealth of exceptionally grand mansions with impressive collections and elegantly landscaped grounds to explore, such as Floors Castle, Traquair House, Thirlestane Castle and Mellerstain House.
Ask us for advice on which of all these magnificent sites are going to be the ones for you!
To book your STGA Blue Badge guide go to Find Your Guide