The Borders is Scotland with a difference. This once-turbulent region in southeastern Scotland, made famous through the novels of Sir Walter Scott, is a gentle blend of landscapes—fertile farmlands spreading beneath rolling hills. It's also drier and warmer than the rest of the country. The region is characterized by distinctive market towns with squares and its historic buildings and monuments.
Notable attractions range from the rugged headland above the fishing village of St. Abbs (http://www.stabbsvisitorcentre.co.uk) in the east to the remote and desolate fortress of Hermitage Castle to the west. There are grand houses and abbeys, including the spectacular ruins of the 14th-century Melrose Abbey, where the heart of Robert the Bruce was buried, Floors Castle and Traquair House, Scotland's oldest inhabited dwelling. For more information on these attractions, visit https://www.historicenvironment.scot.
Sir Walter Scott's Abbotsford (http://www.scottsabbotsford.co.uk) is open to the public, and in the old courtroom at Selkirk there is an audiovisual display about his association with the area.
Although the industry is in decline, the Borders is still known for its woolens. A number of mills can be visited, including those in Hawick, Walkerburn and Innerleithen.
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