Thinking of heading up to the Scottish Borders for a little trip with the Mrs and our 8month old.
While I know there is loads of riding, what else is there to do as a family sightseeing any good walk etc
Oddly although I’ve been going for years I struggle to think about it from a non-riding POV. What I would say though is that I’d rather stay in Peebles in that case. Just a livelier town with more to see and do.
You’ve got things like:
Neidpath Castle
Could walk up Gypsy Glen
Traquair House
And probably loads of other things that I’ve never paid attention to
I meant the borders area peebles is a great shout
borders donkey sanctuary
For such a small place Innerleithen has got quite a lot going for it. I find I don’t really go to Peebles that much these days. There’s quite a few places to eat(No 1(coffee), Traquair Arms, Loulabelles, Cafe Sitooterie etc, plus the usual takeaways). Peebles is a nice town also but you can’t get a nice coffee 🙂
There loads of good walking options since the Southern Upland Way passes nearby. It just depends how far you want to walk with an 8 month year old. During lockdown we walked the kids all over the place. You can do small sections of the SUW and loop back into Innerleithen. There’s also Lee Pen which overlooks the town and is a nice climb. You can also walk up the golfie as there’s a few walkers paths. The walk up to the old Kirnie Law Reservoir at the top of the golfie is worth doing on a nice day. A longer walk would be to the 3 Brethren but the views are worth it.
There’s lots of non tech family cycling as there’s a cycle path that goes from Walkerburn/Inners/Cardrona/Peebles with various stops for coffee/beer.
The grounds of Traquair house are worth a visit and you can now walk there via the new path opposite the red bull car park. If you don’t mind driving you can visit the grounds of Bowhill or there’s the Grey Mare’s tail walk which is about 30 mins drive from Innerleithen. It’s been very busy lately though so go early.
The Eildon Hills are a good walk and Melrose is a pretty town. Easier to do from Bowden village or the locks to teh east.
Ettrick Valley is a lovely drive and there is nice family friendly walking at Bowhill near Selkirk.
Various walks along the Tweed following either the St Cuthgbert's way or the Borders Abbey Way - both of these are ok for bikes in parts as well.
All the Borders Abbeys are worth a visit.
Smailholm Pottery might be your thing (family friends)
Very good bookshop and deli in St Boswells (always getting mentioned in the papers and David Millar spoke there at his book launch).
As above Traquair House and its grounds are decent.
If you're willing to travel a bit further, there are loads of lovely empty b-roads around Jedburgh, St Boswells, Ancrum, Kelso, Town Yetholm. Good family cycling territory.
Some decent suggestions above, I would add Velvet Hall Alpacas to the list.
Dawyck Botanic Gardens isn't too far away and is quite nice - although I thought the entry fee was rather high..
Melrose is worth spending a day in, I think that as I live in Melrose. Eildons are a great walk and easily doable with baby in a carrier.
If the abbeys are open then Dryburgh is the nicest one, lovely spot by the Tweed.
Lots of nice places to eat.
Most of the big houses, Bowhill, Floors etc are worth a visit if that is your thing, not sure how may are open though just now. Abbotsford is nice with great gardens and walks.
GT has lots of walking trails, its not just about the biking. Quieter walks though over in Cardronna
Feel free to message me if you want some more detailed recommendations for cafes etc
Peebles is a nice town also but you can’t get a nice coffee 🙂
So true. Well actually you can get a nice coffee in coltmans sometimes.
I live in Peebles, maybe *maybe* its a slightly more lively town but No. 1 is a beaut of a place to start your day and nothing in peebles is particularly inspiring. Dawyck gardens is worth a walk if car exploring. Horseshoe in for a meal in eddlestone also worth it.
Some good recommendations I have no problem walking a long way as we live in Wales and she's already been dragged up a fair few mountains.
Grey mares tail would be ace to see always wanted to climb that when I got a copy of cold climbs as a 10 year old.
Grey mares tail would be ace to see always wanted to climb that when I got a copy of cold climbs as a 10 year old
Thats really not a good idea just now.
Its a fantastic walk but its one of the staycation hotspots at the moment.
Cocoa Black's coffee Peebles is generally excellent. Don't go in if you are on a diet as the cakes are superb.
Cocoa Black’s coffee Peebles is generally excellent
You have been very very very lucky then.
Its bloody awful.
Never seen anyone add water to a flat white before.
Dawyck gardens
+1 great scenery & if you like trees (what mtber doesn't?) It's fab
Cocoa Black’s [s] coffee [/s] chocolate and cake courses Peebles is generally excellent. Don’t go in if you are on a diet as the cakes are superb
FTFY
I took the kids to Grey Mare’s Tail on Monday and it wasn’t too busy, however, I did encounter more Midgies in 2 hours than I have in the previous 40 years of living in the Borders! I stopped counting bites when I got to 100 on one leg!
The Great Polish Map of Scotland at the Barony Castle.
Dawyck Botanic Gardens
SCOTT's view for the view!
V close to dryburgh abbey which is ace
SCOTT’s view for the view!
Well, it's not a bad view from my house - but I don't want hunners of folk turning up!
Peebles is a nice town also but you can’t get a nice coffee
There's Greggs! And Costa!