One Day In The Scottish Borders (& Why It's Better Than The Highlands)

Driving through the Scotland Borders probably isn’t on the top of your list of things to do in Scotland, but it should be.

The Scottish Borders are as impressive (if not more) than the Scottish Highlands. But what makes them better is that the Scottish Borders are more easily accessible to visit in one day from Edinburgh.

One day in the Scottish Borders is spent visiting small towns, abbey ruins (instead of castles), and even historical landmarks.

And this is Scotland after all, so you’re met with gorgeous landscapes along the way!

Keep reading to find out more about things to do in the Scottish Borders, from how to get there, and why you should ultimately visit instead of going to the Highlands!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

How to Spend a Day Driving Through the Scottish Borders #hiddengemsscotland #drivinginscotland #scottishborders #edinburghtoscottishborders

Where Are The Scottish Border?

The Scottish Borders are in southern Scotland bordering well, England. They also border East Lothian, and Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland.

Popular towns in the Scottish Borders include Melrose, Berrick-upon-Tweed, and Jedburgh.

Why Visit Scottish Borders Instead Of The Highlands?

The Scottish Borders literally border the City of Edinburgh – that makes them A LOT closer to visit than the Highlands.

So you can easily visit the Scottish Borders in one day from Edinburgh compared to needing at least two days to visit the Scottish Highlands (and I don’t even think that’s even enough to fully appreciate it).

an jaw dropping scene of the tall mountains in the scottish highalnds. The grass covers rock mountains, it's a mix of green, yellow, orange and brown landscape. You can't even see the sky behind the two mountain peaks, it's completely cloud covered, and even covers some peaks behind it.
In the foreground, on a small moss covered mount are two people, they seem to be in the air as they face each other give a double high five... some would say, they are high fiving in the highlands! — *The mountainous terrain of the Scottish Highlands*

The Scottish Borders are equally (if not more) beautiful than the Sottish Highlands. It’s just a different kind of beauty.

There aren’t as many grandiose mountains in the Scotland Borders, it’s more flat land but there are some beautiful rolling hills to admire. But you still won’t be disappointed with the views.

And instead of castles, a day in the Scottish Borders is more about visiting abbeys, which is a much welcomed change from visiting all the castles Scotland.

scotts view in the scottish borders. It's a gorgeous landcsape view on a cloudy, but still sunny day. The clouds look as though they have movement, large ones cover the blue sky in the foreground, but become thinner and smaller the further they are in the distance. Meeting the clouds in the distance, is a mountain with three peaks . In front of it is farm land, some covered with trees leading all the way back to the front of the image. — *The flat land of the borders, with some mountains in the distance*

How To Get To The Scotland Borders From Edinburgh?

There are three options to get to the Borders from Edinburgh: public transit, car, or organized tour.

Taking Public Transit to the Borders of Scotland (Train & Bus)

Taking the train to the borders is a good option if you don’t have a car, but it will cost you a lot of time and flexibility.

There are two main train stations along the borders of Scotland: Tweedbank and Berrick-Upon-Tweed (along the coast).

Afterwards you will have to rely on the bus system to get anywhere else in the borders.

If you take the train and buses, you might also not be able to reach the more remote locations along the border.

day trips from edinburgh by train waverly station the sign is in blue against the old stone wall of the station

Renting A Car & Driving From Edinburgh to The Borders

One of the better ways to see the Scotland Borders is drive from Edinburgh.

The towns are so small that you’ll want to spend your day going from one to the other.

On top of that, there are points of interest in the middle of nowhere that buses just won’t go to.

So driving is the solution that gives you the most flexibility and possibility to see a lot more in the Scottish Borders (p.s. use my travel planner to help you organize the perfect day in the borders!).

The only problem with driving in is that the conditions are only slightly terrifying…

driving through the scottish borders. A two lane street on a bridge, both sides are lined with red brick stones, there isn't a lot of room for error. Beyond the bridge is green farmland, a tall tree without any leaves, and far off in the distance are some mountains.

The Reality Of Driving In The Scottish Borders

The downside to driving through the borders is the actual driving conditions.

For starters, coming from North America, you’re on the opposite side of the road in the United Kingdom.

But on top of that, the road conditions are terrifying! The roads are very narrow, in my mind, they were one-lane and should have been ONE way… but they were all TWO WAY roads!

And sometimes there wasn’t even enough space to pull over if there was an oncoming car…

Then there are a lot of blind corners, and I found the speed limit to be way too high. The thought of another car came coming up around the bend terrified me.

But in reality, there aren’t too many people driving out here… so I guess they just don’t expect much traffic on these roads.

By the way driving in the Highlands isn’t any better, in case you were wondering…

Read my full post about what it’s like driving in Scotland as a foreigner!

the view of the road through the windshield of a car. You can see the dashboard, and a mans hand grips the wheel (on the right side of the car). The road is narrow, only fitting one car as there's tall grass on either side.

Alternative To Driving: Scottish Border Organized Tours

If you cannot fathom driving in Scotland, you can give up some flexibility and book an organized tour. Viator offers a few options for day trips from Edinburgh.

An organized tour from Edinburgh is the perfect compromise between driving and the train – you don’t have to drive yourself but you’ll be able to visit more than one place in one day.

Just find a tour that works for you and it becomes a totally stress-free day!

They offer a few tours from Edinburgh to popular destinations around the Scottish Borders.

For example, depending on your interests, you can visit Rosslyn Chapel with this tour, or Hadrian’s Wall on this tour.

a fall scene of some scotland ruins. There are red leaves on the grass, leading your eye perfectly to the old schottish home in ruins in the middle of the picture. Above the house is a clouded blue sky and some leaves from trees further frame the image and the house below

Buy The Explorer Pass For One Day In The Scottish Borders

There are three main abbeys to stop in the Scottish Borders: Melrose, Dryburgh, and Jedburgh.

They’re all included in the Scotland Explorer Pass, so if you’re interested in visiting them (and other castles in Scotland), I highly recommended buying the pass if you’re visiting Scotland for two weeks.

If you don’t have the pass, each abbey will cost about £6 so I don’t think it’s worth it stopping at all three. Especially since they all cover roughly the same material.

In that case, if you only visit one, I’d say the most worthwhile is Melrose Abbey in Scotland. It has a museum included in the admission as well as an audio guide.

You can skip Dryburgh altogether (it’s the most ruined), and at Jedburgh (which was actually our favourite) you can see the outside without paying.

Related

Top 10 Castle Ruins In Scotland Near Edinburgh

scottish borders sheep graze, There are six white sheep in a sea of tall grass. All of them have their heads down, except for one, which happens to be looking directly at you. Their face is completely black, against their white wool. The clouds above are dark and ominous, and you can see fog in the distance, most likely rain. But there are spots of yellow, where the sun behind the clouds is trying to peak through.

Things To Do In The Scottish Borders

Now that we’ve gone over the basics, it’s time to go over what you should do in the Scottish Borders…

Visit Abbotsford House

The first stop on your Scottish Border road trip is Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott.

Sir Walter Scott was a very famous Scottish author, essentially putting Scotland on the map by popularizing and reviving the clan stories of the Jacobites. I

n a way, he made Scotland the land of plaid and tartan (so you have him to thank for all your patterned Scottish souvenirs!).

At Abbotsford House, you have the opportunity to visit his beautiful home and walk around the gardens.

P.S. if you do have a Scotland Explorer, this is the only activity in the day that isn’t included, but in my mind, it was worth the extra cost.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any organized tours that take you to Abbotsford House. But if you’re driving, there’s a free parking lot outside the house.

a man in scottish tweed hat stands on the side, looking back at abbotsford house in the scottish borders. IT's tucket behind lush gardens, and before the rolling mountains. It looks more like a castle than a house, with spikes and towers built in a beautiful stone.

Melrose Scotland

Not too far from Abbotsford, is the town of Melrose and the Melrose Abbey.

Melrose is a lot smaller than I thought it would be, thinking it was one of the larger towns on the borders during my research. But just because it’s small, doesn’t mean it’s not worth a quick walkthrough, especially since you’re already stopping here to see the abbey.

One of the other main places to check out in town is the Priorwood Gardens, next to the abbey. If it’s warm enough outside, this is the perfect spot for a picnic lunch. You’ll have the ultimate view of the Melrose abbey!

The town has only one main street but there are a few shops, restaurants, and cafes. If you have a bit of extra time, you can also head to the Roman Heritage Museum in town.

This was also the only town and destination that you might have to pay for parking. If you’re lucky, you can find street parking for free. But be careful, you don’t want to waste too much time looking; if you can’t find anything, there’s a paid lot across from Melrose Abbey.

the view of melrose in Scotland. This is a roundabout in the middle of the town, connection at least two streets. There are homes lining the streets, very small town vibe homes with only three stories, but a shop is on the main floor.

The Main Attraction: Melrose Abbey In Scotland

Melrose Abbey is magnificent. It still has a few walls standing, so you get a sense of the grandiose height of the building.

With your ticket to the abbey, you also get an audio guide and access to a museum.

In the abbey, make a point to walk through the graveyard as well. It’s supposed to be the burial spot of Robert de Bruce’s heart. Robert de Bruce, a King of Scotland, is the true Braveheart, and not actually William Wallace. When he died, they removed his heart to throw first into battles until they buried it in Melrose Abbey.

And don’t forget to keep your eye out for the stone pig playing the bagpipes on the wall.

You can also climb to a second level of the abbey and get a birds eye view of the grounds.

Melrose Abbey is one of the top destination in the Borders so it’s included on most organized tours. The highest rated is this tour on Viator, that also stops at Rosslyn Chapel and Hadrian’s Wall.

melrose abbey in the Scottish borders. Although there's no ceiling, you can see the size that the abbey once was, because the walls are still stnading. It's in the shape of a cross, with arched walls leading to the centre and an even taller arched wall in the centre. The sun is still rising, so it's peaking through all the empty archway, brightening up the green grass around the ruined abbey.

Quick Stop On The Way: The Leaderfoot Viaduct

This is a short pit stop on the side of the road as you’re driving through the Borders of Scotland.

It’s easy to miss though, you have to keep your eyes peeled for signs to exit for the Leaderfoot parking lot. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk to the viaduct.

Once you’re here, admire the views, and of course, take some photos!

There’s a plaque here to get a bit more information about the history of the viaduct as well.

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Worthwhile But Terrifying Drive To Scott’s View

Once you’re back in the car, get ready to drive up the mountain for more out of this world views of Scotland. If you’re driving, you’ll want to follow signs for Scott’s View.

If you haven’t been comfortable driving up to this point, I recommend skipping Scott’s View… The road, if it were even possible, gets even narrower. You’re also going uphill, and there’s really no space to pull over if there’s oncoming traffic.

You might not encounter any cars on your way, but if you do, you might be in trouble.

Keep in mind, it’s really not that popular (especially during low season) so there aren’t many cars on the road. Yet we still managed to encounter a car… each way. Thankfully they were both in relatively easy-ish spots for one of us to somewhat let the other car pass by.

But once you make it to the top, just take some time to really appreciate this jaw dropping view!

If you aren’t up for the most terrifying drive I’ve ever been on, this tour to the Scottish Borders from Edinburgh, actually makes a stop at Scott’s View!

a typical view of the scottish border. A tall tree frames the left and top of the image, blocking the sunny and cloudy sky. Below it is farmland way into the distance. You can barely make out some cows grazing on the fields.

Quick Stop! Say Hi To Sir William Wallace!

Another quick pit stop is at the William Wallace statue.

If you didn’t know, Sir William Wallace was pretty important to Scottish history fighting in the First War of Scottish Independence. Braveheart, the movie, is based on his story (except the part about his heart, if you remember, that was actually Robert de Bruce).

Once again, you’ll have to keep your eyes out for the signs on the road telling you when to pull over into the parking lot for the William Wallace Statue.

From the parking lot, it’s less than a 5-minute walk to the giant stone statue of Sir William Wallace. It’s a pretty peaceful walk as well, through the forest and Scottish farms.

This is the only way to see the statue. We originally thought we could just drive by to see it, but there’s no way you can see him from the road.

a giant red stone statue of william wallace in the scottish borders. It's a man with a beard fully dressed in armour and holding a giant staff, that's almost taller than him. You can see the edges of some trees, but the statue soars way above them, showing how tall it is!

Visit Dryburgh Abbey

Dryburgh Abbey is the most ruined, but the most different from the other two abbeys you’ll see today.

For example, instead of being on the edge of a town, it sits surrounded by greenery and borders the Tweed River. If you have the Explorer Pass, it’s definitely worth a quick stop here!

There are two points of interest you’ll want to look for at Dryburgh abbey: the gravesite of Sir Walter Scott, and a 1000-year-old yew tree.

You’ll have to have a car to visit Dryburgh Abbey though, no tours make a stop here. There is a free parking lot before you reach the abbey.

dryburgh abbey in the scottish borders on a crisp fall day. The scene before you is a graveyard, with tombstones popping out of the ground, seemingly randomly. Behind them is the ruins of an abbey, just two stone walls still stand, they are decorated with archways and red stone. The sun brightens up the grass, and a nearby tree that's changed to orange and red leaves, but also casting a shadows on the grass from the tombstones and the abbey.

The Town Of Jedburgh

If you’re pressed for time on a day on the Borders of Scotland, or would prefer taking public transit, I’d recommend visiting Jedburgh over any other town.

Jedburgh is the largest town in the Borders, with an abbey to explore, along with two other museums.

I also suggest making a pit stop at the Abbey View Café for a delicious pick me up and homemade scone or cake once you’re in town!

The ultimate digital travel bundle: travel planner & daily travel journal

My digital travel planner template has everything you need to plan your vacation. And keep track of your travels every day with my digital and printable travel journal.

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jedburgh town in the scottish borders. You stand in the middle square of the town, with a stone monument and light fixture in the middle. Behind the monument is the road and four attached homes lining the street, each one is three stories, with a shop on the main floor, and all of them a different colour. The largest house on the left is orange, attached to blue, yellow, and red homes.

Jedburgh Abbey

Jedburgh Abbey is the most intact of the Scottish Border abbeys.

It was pretty much just missing windows and a roof. There’s even an entire intact rooms to explore so you really get a sense of the full size of the abbey.

There’s also a short museum explaining life at the abbey and its history too.

But the best part is that you don’t even have to pay to see it. If you don’t have the Explorer Pass, you can walk right up to it and see the entire way through, for free!

If you’re driving, you can park for free in the visitor’s centre, directly across from the abbey.

If you’d prefer a tour, a photo stop in Jedburgh is included on this tour from Viator.

a ruined abbey sits atop a small hill. It's long and at least four stories tall, there isn't a roof, but the stone work is impeccable, with arch windows and grand doorways. There's a tower offset on the right side, adding even more height to this ruined abbey.

Other Museums In Jedburgh

There are two other museums you can visit in Jedburgh: Mary Queen of Scots House, and the Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum.

We opted for the Mary Queen of Scots House and would highly recommend it! Honestly, a day trip to the Scottish Borders was worth it just for this exhibit alone.

The museum gave us all the information we were looking for about Mary, rounded out our Scotland trip very nicely.

It covered all the key players in her life, why she was loved throughout Scotland, and why she was ultimately killed. Oh and did I mention, it’s totally free!?

You can also visit the Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum, taking you through what it’s like to be in an 1820s prison in Scotland.

inside mary queen of scots house in Jedburgh. This room has narrow and tall painted portraits of the key Scottish players during the time, including Mary Queen of Scots. There's are three portraits on either side of a fireplace

Finally Stop At The Border… Are You In England Or Scotland?

The last stop for the day before heading back to Edinburgh is about a 20-minute drive from Jedburgh, to the actual Scotland / England border.

The place to stop is Carter’s Bar, where you can literally have one foot in England and one in Scotland.

It’s also up at the top of a mountain, so it gives you some pretty beautiful views as well (which is never a bad thing!).

The parking lot is right off the highway so keep your eyes peeled, for the last time today! The sign appears quickly so before turning in, be aware of traffic behind you!

If you aren’t driving, you can book this tour on Viator which stops at Carter’s Bar, as well as Melrose Abbey and Jedburgh Abbey!

two vertical photos side by side. They each have someone standing in front of the same rock, but it is of either side of the rock. On one side the rock says Scotland, the other says England. This is Carter's Bar in Scotland

More Points Of Interest Near The Scottish Borders

There are a few other points of interest around the Scottish Borders that we didn’t have a chance to see.

Rosslyn Chapel

Rosslyn Chapel is very popular spot to visit in Midlothian, just outside Edinburgh and before reaching the Scottish Borders.

Rosslyn Chapel was founded in the 1400s but it really became popular after Dan Brown published the DaVinci Code. The novel ended at none other than Rosslyn Chapel and the film even used it as a filming location.

Berrwick-Upon-Tweed

Berrwick-upon-Tweed is in Northumberland, and is actually an English town on the border. It’s a good destination if you’re travelling by train as there’s a direct route from Edinburgh.

There’s also enough to do here for the day, with a beach and castle.

Hadrians Wall

Another very popular spot is Hadrians Wall, and it’s also on the English side of the border.

It’s a UNESCO world heritage site of a 73 mile ruined wall from the Roman Empire. Although it looks like it separated England and Scotland, it never did!

the outsode of mary queen of scotts exhibit. It's an old stone building, with different sizes and colours. It's about 5 stories with randomly offset small window. There's a narrow tower in the middle of the house. There's also a tree on either side of the house.

Consider Time Constraints On A Day Trip From Edinburgh

Keep an eye on the time if you want to make it to certain museums in Jedburgh. We planned to arrive no later than 3:00 P.M. to be able to visit the Abbey and the Mary Queen of Scots House.

What we didn’t realized is that during off-peak season, the Abbey closes at 4:00 P.M.

Another thing to watch out for is sunset, especially if you’re visiting Scotland in the fall. Sunset is pretty early, with the sun starting to set around 4:00 P.M., and we didn’t want to drive back in the dark. But I will admit, sunsets in Scotland are magical even from the road!

The ultimate digital travel bundle: travel planner & daily travel journal

My digital travel planner template has everything you need to plan your vacation. And keep track of your travels every day with my digital and printable travel journal.

See the bundle on Esty, and use my code ATRLOVE for an extra discount!

a magical sunset in scotland across the farmland populated with solar wind fans. The sky goes from a deep orange on the horizon, to a rich golden yellow until turning to purple.

The rest of the grass and farmland is in shadows, but you can almost make out a greenish tint. — Sunset over Wind Turbines

Need A Place To Stay In Edinburgh?

What’s nice about the Scottish Borders is that you can easily visit in one day from Edinburgh. The less movement on vacation for me, the better! Are you looking for a place to stay in Edinburgh? Here are a few recommendations!

I stayed at an Airbnb for a month in Edinburgh just across from The Meadows. For shorter stays, I found these accommodations to stay at for every type of traveller.

Best Location & Price: Just down the street from the Royal Mile Motel One Edinburgh – Royal is a short walk to all the main attractions. See room rates & availability.

Modern & New Apartment: Stay in Edinburgh’s New Town at Golden Thistle Apartment to live like a local. It’s offers a beautifully renovated modern apartment with cafes and bars at your fingertips! See room rates & availability on Plum Guide.

Luxury: The Balmoral Hotel is Edinburgh’s finest hotel but nothing compares to it. J.K. even stayed here to finish writing the Harry Potter Series. Maybe you’ll get lucky and stay in the same suite! See room rates & availability.

See other accommodations on Booking.com in Edinburgh, or more apartments on Plum Guide.

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Everything You Need to Know About Going on a Day Trip to the Scottish Borders | Discover one of Scotland's best kept secret! Even better than the Highlands in my opinion are the Scottish Borders. They're beautiful, and are filled with different activities to enjoy! #scottishborders #drivingscottishborders #daytripfromedinburgh #scotlandhiddengem #scottishbordersitinerary

Edinburgh Scotland City Guide! All the Basics in One Place! #scotlandinfographic #edinburghinfo #edinburghtravel

Last update on 2024-10-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Charlotte

Monday 25th of November 2019

What a great guide! I feel like I love Scotland even though I haven't been there yet :D It looks so beautiful!

admin

Tuesday 26th of November 2019

Well then you definitely have to visit! It's even better in person :)

Daria

Sunday 24th of November 2019

I love Scotland and I can't wait to visit again! I'd love to book a trip there in spring and will definitely remember about your recommendations! Dryburgh Abbey looks amazing!

It's probably beautiful there in the spring (early enough to miss bulk tourist season!) Dryburgh Abbey is really special, different from both the other abbeys in the borders.

Andrea Peacock

That does sound like a scary drive with only room for one car! That’s good you didn’t come across too many people! That viaduct is so beautiful! All your photos are so pretty, this area definitely looks like it’s worth visiting!

Sunday 26th of January 2020

Provence is incredible! It's one beautiful landscape after the next, but definitely have to be careful on those roads!

Yukti Agrawal

Saturday 23rd of November 2019

The Scottish Borders is in southern Scotland bordering with England and I would love to see all those small towns, abbeys, and historical landmarks. These borders look perfect trip for nature lovers like me.

Defs a spot for nature lovers! It's so lush and green there, was absolutely stunning!

Joshua

The Scottish borders are so underrated! Had a great time there myself :)

Glad to hear that! They're truly something special!

One Day In The Scottish Borders (& Why It’s Better Than The Highlands)

Where Are The Scottish Border?

Why Visit Scottish Borders Instead Of The Highlands?

How To Get To The Scotland Borders From Edinburgh?

Taking Public Transit to the Borders of Scotland (Train & Bus)

Renting A Car & Driving From Edinburgh to The Borders

The Reality Of Driving In The Scottish Borders

Alternative To Driving: Scottish Border Organized Tours

Buy The Explorer Pass For One Day In The Scottish Borders

Related

Things To Do In The Scottish Borders

Visit Abbotsford House

Melrose Scotland

The Main Attraction: Melrose Abbey In Scotland

Quick Stop On The Way: The Leaderfoot Viaduct

Never forget a favourite travel memory

Worthwhile But Terrifying Drive To Scott’s View

Quick Stop! Say Hi To Sir William Wallace!

Visit Dryburgh Abbey

The Town Of Jedburgh

The ultimate digital travel bundle: travel planner & daily travel journal

Jedburgh Abbey

Other Museums In Jedburgh

Finally Stop At The Border… Are You In England Or Scotland?

More Points Of Interest Near The Scottish Borders

Rosslyn Chapel

Berrwick-Upon-Tweed

Hadrians Wall

Consider Time Constraints On A Day Trip From Edinburgh

The ultimate digital travel bundle: travel planner & daily travel journal

Need A Place To Stay In Edinburgh?

Shop My Scotland Day Trip Amazon Must-Haves

Related Posts

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