Scotland: Historic Houses of the Scottish Borders 4635
Scotland: Historic Houses of the Scottish Borders 4635
Scotland: Historic Houses of the Scottish Borders 4635
4 Days Starting and ending in Various pick-up points available - please contact us for details
Visiting: Manderston House, Abbotsford The Home Of Sir Walter Scott, Traquair House, Mellerstain House, Floors Castle, Thirlestane Castle
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BHSB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 25
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Vegans, Meat, Please contact Brightwater with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
The Scottish Borders are often overlooked in comparison with the Highlands and Islands, whose grandeur and drama have an obvious attraction. Yet the Borders have a quiet, understated beauty of their own, with softly rolling hills draped in early morning mist, peaceful valleys dotted with sheep farms and the sinuous, salmon-filled River Tweed, which runs like a silver thread from the Lowther Hills to the sea at Berwick.
This prosperous region of Scotland is also home to a remarkable number of historic houses, ancient castles and stately homes, allowing the visitor to sample a huge slice of Scottish history and folklore in a short space of time.
These include Manderston House, described as ”The swansong of the stately home”, Traquair House, the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland, with a host of royal connections, Mellerstain House, an outstanding example of Georgian architecture and Abbotsford, home of Sir Walter Scott. Perhaps the grandest of all is Floors Castle, the magnificent home of the Duke of Roxburghe.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1
Location: Manderston House
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Peebles Hydro
Meals Included: Dinner
We depart by coach from our local pick-up points and drive into the Scottish Borders for our visit to Manderston House. Legend has it that Manderston House was “The swansong of the stately home”, and although most legends are unfounded, Manderston is all that the legend claims, and probably more besides. Built in the finest Georgian country house style in the 1790s for Dalhousie Weatherstone, the elaborate house became the home of the Miller Family in 1855, who made their initial fortune from trading hemp and herrings with the Russians. A large-scale remodelling of the mansion was undertaken in the early-20th Century, and when the Edinburgh architect, John Kinross, asked how much he could spend on the work, he was told that “it simply doesn’t matter . . .”.
We continue to our comfortable hotel where dinner is served this evening.
Day 2
Location: Abbotsford The Home Of Sir Walter Scott, Traquair House
Accommodation: Hotel, Hotel
Accommodation Name: Peebles Hydro
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Following breakfast we travel through Tweeddale to Abbotsford House, built by Sir Walter Scott following the success of his great novels. There are extensive grounds leading down to the River Tweed, a fine walled garden and a woodland walk, however it is the house that steals the show. Scott was a passionate collector of armour and weapons – Rob Roy’s gun and Montrose’s sword along with over 9,000 rare volumes are in his library. Scott died in the dining room overlooking the Tweed in September 1832 and it is poignant to stand there and reflect on his life and work.
In the afternoon we follow the River Tweed back towards Peebles and visit Traquair House, which is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland. Twenty-seven Scottish and English monarchs have visited Traquair including Mary Queen of Scots, and William the Lion held court here in 1209. The well-known Bear Gates were closed in 1745, not to be reopened until the Stuarts should ascend to the throne. Everywhere in the house are portraits, old prints and maps, which refer to its history. There is also a micro-brewery producing a tasty Traquair Ale.
We then return to our hotel where dinner is served in the evening.
Day 3
Location: Mellerstain House, Floors Castle
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Peebles Hydro
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast we will travel to Mellerstain House, the home of the Earl and Countess of Haddington, and one of Scotland’s great Georgian houses. Begun in 1725 by William Adam and completed by his famous son, Robert, between 1770 and 1778, the interior decoration is outstanding. The ceilings are especially magnificent having been preserved in their original eighteenth century colours. The Library is a masterpiece of classical decoration and colour with fine detailed plasterwork incorporating marble busts by Roubiliac. Mellerstain houses a superb collection of paintings including works by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Ramsay, Aikman and Nasmyth, many of which depict members of the family who have owned the house. There are also lovely period furniture and embroidery. The house stands in 200 acres of magnificent parkland with an Italianate style terraced garden laid out by Sir Reginald Blomfield in 1909.
We move on to Kelso to visit Floors Castle – home of the Duke & Duchess of Roxburghe, situated on a natural terrace overlooking the River Tweed and facing the Cheviot Hills. In 1721, William Adam was commissioned by the 1st Duke to make additions to the eastern end of an existing tower-house to create a plain, but symmetrical, Georgian country house. The 6th Duke invited the leading architect in Edinburgh, William Playfair, to remodel the castle between 1837 and 1847. He drew his inspiration for Floors from the highly ornamented picturesque style of Heriot’s Hospital in Edinburgh. The result is a romantic fairytale castle with its roofscape of turrets, pinnacles and cupolas. In the park can be seen a holly tree marking the spot where King James II of Scotland was killed in 1460, when his own cannon exploded while laying siege to Roxburghe Castle.
Dinner will be served back at our hotel in the evening.
Day 4
Location: Thirlestane Castle
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Following breakfast we check out of the hotel and travel from Tweeddale over into Lauderdale, where we visit Thirlstane Castle, a magnificent 16th Century castle set in a quiet meadow landscape. The family home of the Duke of Lauderdale, Thirlestane Castle is one of the oldest and finest castles in Scotland and dates back to at least the 12th Century. The central part of the present castle was completed in 1590, remodelled in the 1670s and then enlarged in the 1840s. Throughout its long history, Thirlestane has belonged to the Maitland family, one of the most famous in Scotland. The Maitlands came to Britain in 1066 with William the Conqueror and settled in Northumberland. In about 1260, Sir Richard Maitland married Avicia, daughter and sole heiress to Thomas du Thirlestane. It was this marriage that bought the lands of Thirlestane and others into the ownership of the Maitland family. Lunch is provided in the Victorian Kitchen here, a chance to discuss and compare the wonderful houses and castles we have seen here in the bonny Borders.
Following this, our final visit, we return to our original pick-up points.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals - as per the itinerary
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Comfortable coach travel throughout
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Services of a professional tour manager
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All visits as outlined in the itinerary
What's Not Included
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International Travel
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Tipping and Gratuities
Check out our Q&As
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
No
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Will I receive more details of the holiday before I travel?
You will receive detailed joining instructions around 10 days prior to you departure, but you are of course welcome to contact us at any time should you have any queries.
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What facilities do your coaches have?
Generally, our coaches have reclining seats, air-conditioning and toilets, however this cannot always be guaranteed as sometimes we have to use smaller vehicles. Toilets are recommended for emergency use only and regular comfort stops will be made throughout your holiday while travelling around.
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Do I have to go on the included excursions?
Absolutely not. You are more than welcome to spend the day at your hotel or exploring independently should you wish. All we ask is that you inform your Tour Manager, so they are not left waiting for you to join the group.
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Is there time to relax?
Although our itineraries may seem jam-packed, boasting access to some of the most exclusive sites across the UK and beyond, a Brightwater Holiday is just that: a holiday. Each trip will counter in more than enough free-time for you to explore places at your own leisure. And with most nights and the majority of meals being included in our tour prices, you can relax in hand-picked accommodation.
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Do I need to be an expert?
Absolutely not! Although some of our tours are specifically focused on one thing, all you need to enjoy a Brightwater holiday is interest and bags of enthusiasm! Even on our most specialist tours, we take travellers from all skill levels, from experts to beginners.
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How fit or active do I need to be for one of your holidays?
You need to be able to get on and off the coach unassisted, and most – but not all – coaches have a kneel facility that lowers the front step for ease of boarding
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Do you have self-drive holidays?
Yes, we do – tailored to your exact requirements!
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What’s the luggage allowance on your coaches?
There’s no fixed limit, but we generally say one large suitcase to go in the luggage compartment and a smaller bag that you can take onto the coach with you. For flight-inclusive holidays, we include a luggage allowance of at least 20kg.
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Where are your departure points?
UK garden holidays generally depart from London, with additional pick-ups depending on the route of the coach, while holidays to Scotland depart from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth, with Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen sometimes included. All Eurostar holidays depart from London St. Pancras and flight-inclusive holidays depart from one or more of the main London airports, with regional flights .
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What about the company that will be kept?
For single travellers, those with a companion or even those travelling in a larger group, you'll find that the signature of any Brightwater Holiday is the company. You won't ever be travelling with a group of strangers, instead, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with a strong shared interest who will soon become your firm friends.
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What is a Brightwater Holiday?
Bursting with enthralling, educational and enlightening itineraries, a Brightwater Holiday, by its very nature, is packed with bucket-list-worthy destinations, behind the scenes passes and expert-led experiences. From creating bespoke quality garden and special interest tours for groups and individuals alike, we have made it our business to make our guests' travel dreams come true.
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Why is there a single supplement?
Unfortunately, single room supplements are charges that are often imposed on us as a company when we book rooms for group holidays. However, most hotels do charge less for single occupancy, and we always pass this saving on to our solo travellers in the form of a modest single supplement.
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How much are your optional excursions?
Prices start from as little as £20, but please contact our friendly team for questions about specific itineraries or excursions.
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Can I pre-book my coach seats?
Yes, you can. In the case of front seats, guests with limited mobility are given priority. Please get in touch with our friendly team to discuss any requirements you may have.
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How to get there? Easy!
With a Brightwater Holiday, the journey is just as important as the destination and we make getting you to your tour start point easy. From organising group flights and individual travel plans, to offering accessible local departure and pick-up points, we go out of our way to ensure that your journey is as convenient and hassle-free as it can be.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Travel insurance is required for all overseas holidays and is also strongly recommended for UK holidays – primarily to protect yourself against cancellation charges should you be unable to travel.
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Sep 10, 2025 - Sep 13, 2025Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Brightwater Holidays allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform brightwater holidays, 25 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Brightwater Holidays requires a minimum deposit of 15% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of brightwater holidays charges.
At 40 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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