Melrose Tourist Information

The Scottish Borders’ favourite heritage gem, Melrose sits in the heart of the region, surrounded by the Eildon Hills and featuring one of the most beautiful of the Border Abbeys, the romantic ruins of Melrose Abbey. Other heritage delights attracting huge numbers of visitors to Melrose annually include the riverside Abbotsford, historic home of Sir Walter Scott, author of literary legends including ‘Rob Roy’, Ivanhoe and Waverley.

Famed as the birthplace of the Rugby Sevens, Melrose centre is as enchanting as its abbey ruins, featuring a selection of character heritage inns, cosy restaurants, select specialist shops and elegant cafes and tearooms. Myths and legends abound in Melrose – hardly surprising then that Sir Walter Scott chose this beautiful Borders area to turn what was a small farmhouse into a large estate completely designed by himself. King Arthur is believed to be buried in the surrounding Eildon Hills and Melrose Abbey is thought to be the burial place of Robert the Bruce.

Tour the lavishly carved masonry ruins of Melrose Abbey, with adjacent visitor centre. Melrose Abbey is the starting point for St Cuthbert’s Way which pushes south to Jedburgh then east across the Cheviots towards Holy Island on the Northumberland Coast.

Scott’s historic home Abbotsford in Melrose is a pilgrimage for Scott fans from around the world. With recent new dazzling visitor centre and stylish redesigned basement tearoom, allow a good day for a tour of Scott’s fairytale turreted house, what he called his ‘Copnundrum Castle’  and the beautiful riverside grounds that surround it. Stay in the heart of Border Abbey and Sir Walter Scott Country – find B&Bs, cottages and inns in Melrose online & book.