Scotland

The gently rolling hills, unspoiled moorland and river valleys of the Borders welcome you to bonnie Scotland. As soon as you cross the border you'll hear the Scots tongue and see evidence of a turbulent history - ruined castles, fortified abbeys and the traditional Common Ridings, when literally hundreds of horse riders take to the streets to mark momentous moments in Border history. The south of Scotland is also known for its agriculture, cashmere, knitwear and seven-a-side rugby, which was invented in Melrose.

Adventure seekers will be rewarded with a variety of hill ranges and forested areas including the Cheviots, the Lammermuirs and the Moorfoots as well as the Border Forests with their footpaths and trails for bikes and horses. The coastal areas of the Solway Firth and Berwickshire are great for wildlife.

Long distance walks include the 212-mile coast to coast Southern Upland Way and the 62-mile St Cuthbert's Way from Melrose to Holy Island. Cyclists can try the 89-mile Tweed Cycleway from Biggar to Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Four Abbeys Cycle Route or the numerous cycle tracks in the Border Forests. There are a variety of golf courses in the area and some of the best fishing in Scotland is available in the River Tweed and off the Berwickshire coast.

Right on the Scottish border is the Keilder Water and Forest. Newcastleton, which was founded in 1793 as a handloom-weaving centre, is a great base for exploring the area. The largest of the border towns is Hawick which is famous for its knitwear. One of the best-known Common Ridings takes place each year in June to celebrate the defeat of English soldiers in 1514. The surrounding area of Teviotdale has some splendid walking.

Cheviot Hills
(picture courtesy of Scottish Borders Tourist Board)

Jedburgh, with its red sandstone abbey and turbulent history, is a good base for the Borders Forest Park and the Cheviot Hills. Kelso is where the rivers Tweed and Teviot meet. There's a pretty abbey, a five arched bridge over the River Tweed and Floors castle, Scotland's largest inhabited house. To the south, in the foothills of the Cheviots, are the villages of Town and Kirk Yetholm on the route of St Cuthbert's Way and the end of the Pennine Way.

Some of the most glorious scenery in the south is around Selkirk and the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys. St Mary's loch is the largest stretch of water in the south. Melrose, at the foot of the Eildon Hills, is the home of rugby sevens. You can climb to the top of the Eildon Hills or visit Melrose Abbey, home to the heart of Robert the Bruce! Lilliesleaf and St Boswells are charming little villages to the south set amongst farming land. Sir Walter Scott is buried at nearby Dryburgh Abbey.

Coastal Eyemouth has a lively harbour, sandy beaches and some of the best sea fishing. The quaint fishing villages of St Abbs, Coldingham and Burnmouth are great for walking, bird watching and fishing.

At Duns you can climb Duns Law for commanding views of the Merse, the low-lying farmlands leading to the coast. Duns Castle Nature Reserve covers 190 acres and has a variety of walking trails. Abbey St Bathans is a peaceful village nestled between the hills and the sea on the route of the Southern Upland Way. The medieval town of Lauder is bounded on three sides by the gentle, heather-clad Lammermuir Hills, which rise to over 530m. It's a popular area for grouse shooting between August and December.

Peebles, on the banks of the River Tweed, has Neidpath Castle high above the river on a rocky outcrop. The nearby forests of Innerleithen, Thornylee and Glentress all have great walking, cycling and horse riding. The villages of Eddleston and West Linton to the north are good access points for the Moorfoot and Pentland Hills. The Tweedsmuir Hills, to the west, offer challenging walking with three peaks over 800m high. Buzzards and Kestrels can often be spotted in the skies.

World famous Gretna Green still attracts runaway couples from all over the world. The nearby Castle O'er Forest has way-marked walks and great views of Eskmuirdale. The town of Langholm is a good base. The bustling town of Dumfries has the Forest of Ae to the north and Mabie Forest to the south. Both have way-marked walks, horse trails and good mountain biking. At New Abbey the highest of the coastal hills - 569m Criffel - has great views across the Solway Firth and surrounding countryside. There are a string of quiet relaxing villages along the Solway Firth Heritage Trail and the bird watching is great.

Around Colvend are the lively harbour town of Kippford, secluded Rockcliffe and the beaches of Sandyhills Bay. South west of Dalbeattie is Screel Hill which has impressive views of the coast and the Galloway hills as well as good cycling routes. Nearby Castle Douglas also has good walking and views from Douglas Fir. Loch Ken runs 9 miles from Castle Douglas to New Galloway and has excellent bird watching, water sports and fishing.

St Johns Town of Dalry is a great town for walkers - there are river walks and access to the Southern Upland way. The 300-square mile Galloway Forest Park is also nearby. There's moorland, lochs, red deer, feral goats, peregrine falcons and golden eagles for the nature lover. From the busy town of Newton Stewart you can climb the 843m Merrick in the Galloway Hills and the "Highland" scenery of Glen Trool or Bruce's Stone is just 12 miles north of the town. To the south of the busy town of Stranraer lies the Mull of Galloway, Scotland's most southerly point. There are fantastic views, a lighthouse and a nature reserve.

In the north of the shire lies Moffat, famous for its woolen mill products and local toffee. You can climb the 822m White Comb in the Moffat Hills and see Grey Mare's Tail, a 200ft waterfall set in dramatic moorland, or visit the Devil's Beef Tub, a huge natural depression used by border raiders for hiding stolen cattle.

Mennock Pass
(picture courtesy of Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board)

South Lanarkshire is home to the leafy Clyde Valley with its tearooms, garden centres and lush fields laden with fruit. The market town of Biggar has a variety of museums and a magical puppet theatre. From nearby Tinto Hill, which is 707m high and a challenging hike, you can enjoy good views over the whole valley. The traditional market town of Lanark is also steeped in history - it's where the Scots parliament first sat in 978 AD and also where William "Braveheart" Wallace lived. The nearby world heritage site of New Lanark village also has some great walks along the River Clyde.