Earth houses in Scottish Borders
Home to dramatic history and romantic ruins, the Borders’ wide open spaces provide the perfect settings for adventure.
- Scottish Borders
Popular camping styles for Scottish Borders
Earth houses in Scottish Borders guide
Overview
With its rolling hills, gentle valleys, quaint towns and rural countryside, the beauty and peacefulness of the Scottish Borders belies its turbulent history. Straddling the frontier between Scotland and the ‘Auld Enemy,’ England, the region has seen centuries of war and battles, although it has also inspired great works of literature by the likes of Sir Walter Scott and John Buchan. The Borders is home to magnificent abbeys, stately homes and castles, and unique events such as the Common Ridings. It's also the setting for plenty of thrilling adventures, from mountain biking to long-distance walks and golfing, all best experienced in the summer.
Where to go
Berwickshire
Partly lying along the coast, Berwickshire county promises scenic walks along the edge of the North Sea, pretty harbour towns and even surfing. Wildlife watchers should head for St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve for close-up views of thousands of nesting seabirds in summer, including guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes. Camping options include quiet farm sites with glamping options including shepherd's huts.
Hawick
Long-famed for its knitwear and cashmere, visit Hawick to purchase a high-quality jumper to remember your trip by. Outdoor activities around Hawick include cycling, horse-riding and golfing and the town is also the setting for the first and largest of the Common Ridings. Camping options here include pitching a tent in an attractive walled garden.
Jedburgh
Known as the historic gateway to Scotland, the pretty market town of Jedburgh is a stone’s throw from the English border and has opportunities for adventures from horse-riding to cycling in its surroundings. Don’t miss the fascinating Jedburgh Abbey and Mary Queen of Scott’s House. Campers can park or pitch a tent in one of the area’s well-equipped holiday parks.
Melrose
In the valley of the River Tweed, and dominated by the triple peaks of the Eildon Hills, Melrose’s top attraction is the 12th-century Melrose Abbey, the final resting place of Robert the Bruce’s heart. The Abbey is also the starting point for the St Cuthbert's Way 62-mile (100-kilometre) long-distance trail to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) off the coast of Northumberland, England. Your overnight options include caravan parks close to the town centre.
