A selection of walking, cycling & driving excursions from Jedburgh
Displaying Options 11 - 15 of 22
Abbotsford House - 16miles (25km)
Abbotsford is the house built and lived in by Sir Walter Scott, the 19th century novelist, and author of timeless classics such as Waverley, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe and The Lady of the Lake. Scott was a passionate collector of historic relics, including an impressive collection of armour and weapons, Rob Roy's gun and Montrose's sword, and over 9,000 rare volumes in his library. Visitors can see Sir Walter Scott's study, library, drawing room, entrance hall and armouries, and the dining room overlooking the Tweed where Sir Walter died on 21st September, 1832.
Smailholm Tower, Kelso - 17miles (27km)
The property belonged to the Pringle family from 1408 who were squires to the powerful Black Douglases at that time. The Douglases were crushed by King James II in 1455, which did not help the family fortunes. Later, David Pringle of Smailholm and his four sons were all killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Being a Border stronghold, Smailholm was often attacked and damaged by the English invaders as they marched north. Smailholm was sold to the Scotts of Harden in 1645 but that family moved to Sandyknowe in 1700 and the tower became derelict. Sir Walter Scott came here as a youngster (his grandfather held nearby Sandyknowe farmhouse) and the stories of Smailholm (and many other Border locations) became the inspiration for many of his stories and ballads. Set on a rocky ridge in moorland, the tower house has four storeys and there is a parapet on two of the sides which gives great views over the surrounding countryside.
Mellerstain House - 18miles (29km)
Mellerstain, one of Scotland's great Georgian houses was begun in 1725 by William Adam and completed several years later by his famous son, Robert. First mentioned in 1451, the estate was granted by Royal Charter to George Baillie of Jerviswood in 1642. His descendant, George Baillie and his wife lady Grisell Baillie commissioned the design of the present house. The interior decoration is outstanding - the ceilings are especially worthy of note, having been preserved in the original Adam colours. The Library is a masterpiece of Classical Decoration and colour - fine detailed plaster work incorporating marble busts by Roubiliac. Mellerstain houses a superb collection of paintings including works by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Ramsay, Aikman and Nasmyth and many lovely pieces of period furniture. The portraits on show in the house depict many members of the family. The house stands in beautiful parkland - the Italian-styled terraced garden was laid out in 1909 by Sir Reginald Blomfield and commands a glorious view overlooking the Lake to the Cheviot Hills in the distance.
Bowhill House & Country Park - 19miles (30km)
The Scottish Borders home of the Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry KT, is in the centre of an extensive estate of hills and valleys where history and landscape combine to provide a unique experience. Bowhill, much as Sir Walter Scott saw it in the "Lay of the Last Minstrel", is there for all to enjoy. Outstanding art collection with works by Canaletto, Claude, Raeburn, Reynolds, Gainsborough and Ruysdael. Its fine rooms display tapestries superb French furniture, Sevres and Meissen china and silver. There are strong associations with such historic characters as James Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch, Queen Victoria and Sir Walter Scott. Miles of paths meander through beautiful woodland, parkland and alongside lochs and rivers. This historic landscape, a model of integrated land-use, provides a perfect haven for wildlife.
Thirlstane Castle, Nr Lauder - 21miles (34km)
Thirlstane Castle was originally built in the 16th century by Sir John Maitland, chancellor to King James VI. By this date, castles no longer needed to be fortified to the same extent as before and this trend was even more evident when it was remodelled by John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, in 1670 when its height was increased to six storeys. It was extended again in 1840 and the interior has been much altered too. Sir Richard de Matulant (Maitland) was a descendant of a Norman family who came over with William the Conqueror in 1066. The Maitlands had estates in Northumberland and in the Scottish Borders and the ruins of an original Thirlstane castle stand some two miles from the present building. William of Thirlstane was a supporter of Robert the Bruce and in the succeeding centuries the old castle was occupied more than once by English invaders. The Young Pretender stayed at Thirlstane as he marched south through Lauderdale after the victory over Sir John Cope at Prestonpans.
Abbotsford is the house built and lived in by Sir Walter Scott, the 19th century novelist, and author of timeless classics such as Waverley, Rob Roy, Ivanhoe and The Lady of the Lake. Scott was a passionate collector of historic relics, including an impressive collection of armour and weapons, Rob Roy's gun and Montrose's sword, and over 9,000 rare volumes in his library. Visitors can see Sir Walter Scott's study, library, drawing room, entrance hall and armouries, and the dining room overlooking the Tweed where Sir Walter died on 21st September, 1832.
The property belonged to the Pringle family from 1408 who were squires to the powerful Black Douglases at that time. The Douglases were crushed by King James II in 1455, which did not help the family fortunes. Later, David Pringle of Smailholm and his four sons were all killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Being a Border stronghold, Smailholm was often attacked and damaged by the English invaders as they marched north. Smailholm was sold to the Scotts of Harden in 1645 but that family moved to Sandyknowe in 1700 and the tower became derelict. Sir Walter Scott came here as a youngster (his grandfather held nearby Sandyknowe farmhouse) and the stories of Smailholm (and many other Border locations) became the inspiration for many of his stories and ballads. Set on a rocky ridge in moorland, the tower house has four storeys and there is a parapet on two of the sides which gives great views over the surrounding countryside.
Mellerstain, one of Scotland's great Georgian houses was begun in 1725 by William Adam and completed several years later by his famous son, Robert. First mentioned in 1451, the estate was granted by Royal Charter to George Baillie of Jerviswood in 1642. His descendant, George Baillie and his wife lady Grisell Baillie commissioned the design of the present house. The interior decoration is outstanding - the ceilings are especially worthy of note, having been preserved in the original Adam colours. The Library is a masterpiece of Classical Decoration and colour - fine detailed plaster work incorporating marble busts by Roubiliac. Mellerstain houses a superb collection of paintings including works by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Ramsay, Aikman and Nasmyth and many lovely pieces of period furniture. The portraits on show in the house depict many members of the family. The house stands in beautiful parkland - the Italian-styled terraced garden was laid out in 1909 by Sir Reginald Blomfield and commands a glorious view overlooking the Lake to the Cheviot Hills in the distance.
The Scottish Borders home of the Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry KT, is in the centre of an extensive estate of hills and valleys where history and landscape combine to provide a unique experience. Bowhill, much as Sir Walter Scott saw it in the "Lay of the Last Minstrel", is there for all to enjoy. Outstanding art collection with works by Canaletto, Claude, Raeburn, Reynolds, Gainsborough and Ruysdael. Its fine rooms display tapestries superb French furniture, Sevres and Meissen china and silver. There are strong associations with such historic characters as James Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch, Queen Victoria and Sir Walter Scott. Miles of paths meander through beautiful woodland, parkland and alongside lochs and rivers. This historic landscape, a model of integrated land-use, provides a perfect haven for wildlife.
Thirlstane Castle was originally built in the 16th century by Sir John Maitland, chancellor to King James VI. By this date, castles no longer needed to be fortified to the same extent as before and this trend was even more evident when it was remodelled by John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, in 1670 when its height was increased to six storeys. It was extended again in 1840 and the interior has been much altered too. Sir Richard de Matulant (Maitland) was a descendant of a Norman family who came over with William the Conqueror in 1066. The Maitlands had estates in Northumberland and in the Scottish Borders and the ruins of an original Thirlstane castle stand some two miles from the present building. William of Thirlstane was a supporter of Robert the Bruce and in the succeeding centuries the old castle was occupied more than once by English invaders. The Young Pretender stayed at Thirlstane as he marched south through Lauderdale after the victory over Sir John Cope at Prestonpans.