Burnbrae lies in the Scottish Borders, 5km north of the river Tweed and the picturesque
town of Kelso with its splendid square and ancient abbey ruins. Sir Walter Scott attended
school here. Even nearer are Floors Castle and Mellerstain, two stately homes with fine
interiors. They are occupied by the Duke of Roxburgh and The Earl of Haddington
respectively but you can visit these and other historic houses to see the interiors and
the art collections they contain. Mellerstain is one of the great Adam houses of Scotland.
The house was built in two stages - the two wings in 1725 by William Adam and the
large central block between 1770-78 by his famous son.
The outskirts of Edinburgh, St. Abbs Head on the east coast, fishing ports & beaches, the Cheviot hills and most of the Borders towns are within 40 minutes pleasant drive by car. During early summer, there are enormous colonies of nesting sea birds at St. Abbs Head
The Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick (live viewing by cctv and boat trips to Bass Rock and Isle of May) is a little over one hour's drive away.
Walkers and cyclists are especially welcome at Burnbrae.We have a secure store for cycles and each cottage has a heated drying cupboard. A washing machine and a tumble drier are provided. In addition to the possibilities for short walks within Burnbrae, there are walks starting at the site. Although spectacular in places, the Borders countryside is not intimidating and there is a wide choice of walking of all levels of difficulty. The region has less rain and more dry, sunny weather than do the more western parts of Britain.
Cycling
is a particular pleasure on the network of quiet lanes around Burnbrae. In the hills are many tracks which can be cycled by those with the necessary stamina and equipment. In Glentress forest, there are extensive cycling tracks separate from walking paths and mountain bikes can be hired from the Hub at the main entrance to the forest.
Restaurants and other facilities of Kelso
Horse riding is an integral part of Borders life for many. Kelso and other Borders towns have week-long festivals which include day rides along traditional routes through the Borders countryside. Come and enjoy the pageant as a pedestrian or participate on horseback. You can hire a horse locally. Nenthorn Riding Centre, immediately adjacent to Burnbrae, has horses for hire and provides lessons for beginners and experienced riders. Racing takes place at the Kelso course, 5km distant.
The Borders region has a wealth of golf courses, of which the nearest is at Kelso.
Fishing in the Tweed (5km distant) and its tributaries draws many to our region. For some, the fishing is sufficient reason for regular visits. Others have many reasons to return, not the least of which is enjoyment of the various gardens which are open for visits.
The history of this southern part of Scotland is complex and significant. Iron-age hill forts can be seen in several places. A substantial part of Burnbrae is designated as an ancient monument and the remains of a large Roman settlement are nearby at Newstead. Even nearer are the remains of Roxburgh castle, where (it is said) the first coins of the realm were minted. Several places in the Scottish Borders have strong associations with Mary Queen of Scots. This border country of Scotland has inpired and still inspires many artists, craftsmen, poets and other writers, of which Sir Walter Scott who spent much of his life here is perhaps the best-known. Perhaps your family had associations with the Scottish Borders in the past. Burnbrae is within easy reach of the wealth of records available in the region and in Edinburgh. If you need help researching your ancestors, contact Scottish Genealogy Research, a local enterprise. For guidance on resources available to you to add to your knowledge of your family history, visit the Ancestral Scotland site.
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