Scottish Borders Tourist Board

A guide to the Borders region with an events diary, recommendations on where to eat out and a searchable Accommodation Guide.

Hawick Word Book

This PDF book is over 2000 pages long and is part of a project to record the words and dialect of Hawick but has expanded to cover many aspects of the area - including family genealogy and places in the area.

Hawick Archaeological Society

Aims to garner interest in Hawick’s past by commemorating the achievements of its people and supporting the local museum. Projects include a cairn to the poet William H Ogilvie and a sculpture in the centre of Hawick commemorating the Battle of Hornshole.

Royal Burgh of Peebles

A bright and lively site covering accommodation, what to see and do, history, local businesses in theis Border town.

Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site

Although the Roman-built Hadrian's Wall is nowadays in England, in former times it marked the border between Scotland and the rest of Britain. A background to the history of the wall is provided with good illustrations and maps of the various sites and museums along the wall. They thus provide a useful description of the Roman attempt to keep out the savages from the north.

Selkirk

Selkirk is the site of the first Border Abbey and where William Wallace, 'Braveheart', was declared guardian of Scotland. The site has background and illustrations on these and other events, including the Selkirk Common Riding when up to 500 riders saddle their horses at daybreak to ride the Marches and re-enact the story of the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

Melrose

Historical and architectural attractions, calendar of events and scenery, plus history and a map.

The Web pages for the "Muckle Toon" of Langholm has a photo gallery and background to the Langholm Common Riding.

Kelso

Principally about Maxwell House in Kelso (described unfairly by Sir Walter Scott as 'vulgar and modern' but the site also has a brief description and pictures of Kelso itself and also local attractions such as Smailholm Tower and Hermitage Castle as well as the Eildon Hills.

Kelso Online

An official site for the Border town of Kelso, there are pages on its history (including Kelso Abbey), local events and recreation (including Kelso racecourse, rugby and the declaration of the "Kelso Laddie") and a map of the town. There are photos from around the town, including the cobbled main square.

Barony of Cowdenknowes

The region of Cowdenknowes is just south of Earlston and north-east of Melrose in the Scottish Borders. The Web site gives a history of the barony and the Border rievers who raided not only across the border but other parts of the area too. There is information on the main Border families who were involved in these unlawful activities and biographies of some of the well known "characters" of the area including Kinmont Willie, a notorious Border reiver, Thomas the Rhymer who, according to legend, lived with the Queen of the Elves for seven years, and Muckle Mou’ed Meg who married one of the Scott family who had been caught raiding her father's estate and agreed to the marriage to avoid being hung!

Paxton House

Situated on the banks of the river Tweed, Paxton House is a hidden gem. Built by the Adam brothers in 1758 for the young Patrick Home it is perhaps the finest example of 18th century Palladian Country houses in Britain. It has one of the most magnificent collections of original Chippendale furniture in Britain alongside the largest collection of publicly owned art exhibited outside of the National Galleries of Scotland.

Manderston In Duns, Berwickshire, Manderston is an Edwardian country house with opulent staterooms and the only silver-staircase in the world - when the architect asked how large his budget was, he was told that money was no object. The House and Gardens are open to the public - and there is a "virtual tour" on the web site.

Border Events

Having frequently heard people in the Borders saying "there's nothing to do" the creators of this Web site set out to prove otherwise, with a selection of places to see, things to do and exhibitions in the area.

Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board

A basic introduction to this south-western corner of Scotland. The Accommodation Section is particularly comprehensive. The site also covers what to see and do, gardens, golf, walking, cycling and travel.

Dumfries and Galloway Virtual Region

Arts and crafts, accommodation, facts and figures, postcard rack, maps and Accommodation in south west Scotland. The site's Hall of Fame has good biographies of a number of people connected with the region including:

Robert Burns Thomas Carlyle

Samuel Crockett Jane Haining

William Nicholson The Wicker Man

Castle Douglas and Stewartry

Community portal for Castle Douglas and all the Gallovidian towns in the Stewartry Region. Things to do, businesses, accommodation, what's on, eating out, shopping in Castle Douglas and the Stewartry plus forums, videos and links.

Mull of Galloway & South Rhins

Set up by South Rhins Community Development Trust this site covers the extreme Southwest corner of Scotland describing the area, its attractions.

Museum of Scottish Lead Mining

At Wanlockhead (Scotland's highest village at 1531 feet above sea level) in Dumfries and Galloway, the Museum of Scottish Lead Mining site not only covers the Museum itself but other tourist attractions in Wanlockhead including a beam engine and 18th and 19th century miners' cottages in the village. And then there is a section on gold - with details of gold panning courses and a history of Scottish gold.

Mossburn Animal Centre

Mossburn animal sanctuary is based in SW Scotland in Dumfries & Galloway near the town of Lockerbie. It is home to a wide variety of animals including cattle, horses, ponies, pigs, goats, poultry, rabbits, guinea pigs, sheep, raccoons, reptiles and wildlife ... and more ... They rescue misused, abused, unwanted and neglected animals and provide work placements for children and adults with problems who find working among animals very therapeutic. Visitors are made very welcome at Mossburn. The attractive site has lots of illustrations of the creatures which have been rescued or are permanent residents.

Stranraer, Port Patrick, Cairn Ryan

History and heritage, tourism, places to visit in the Dunfries and Galloway towns of and Portpatrick as well as Cairnryan. There is also a business directory and a facts and figures section.

Friends of Ellisland

Ellisland Farm, Dumfries, inspired some of the best nature poems by Robert Burns when he worked there. It is now a visitor attraction and it provides an insight into Robert Burns's life on a farm two hundred years ago. Guided tours of Ellisland farmhouse and museum are always available. The site provides information on the history of Ellisland, its location, the Dumfries Burns Trail and some of the poetry of Robrert Burns which was written at Ellisland.

Gretna 2000

Local web site for Gretna and District in Dumfries and Galloway featuring bygone days and the main business of the area - everything to do with Weddings from cakes and churches to outfitters and wedding rings.

SW Scotland Events

Professional events organiser providing tailor-made special events - imaginative Scottish wedding planners, conference and party organisers operating throughout SW Scotland.

Gretna Area Business Forum

This Web site argues that the Gretna area has more to offer than just being a romantic wedding location! It covers walking, cycling, fishing, wildfowling, golf, gardens in Dumfries and Galloway. The area is rich in history and colourful characters, including the Border Reivers, Robert the Bruce, Robert Burns plus the fascinating story of Gretna Township and the munitions factories during the Great War.

Gretna Marriages

This is a directory for a number of related Web sites dealing with Gretna Green, including the Mill Hotel, a family-run hotel in a converted 18th century farmhouse specialising in "Gretna Weddings" and The Forge for an anvil wedding with candlelit ceremonies and churchlike setting.

Kirkcudbright

The site for this quiet fishing and farming town has stories about some of the people of the town, including Caesar, the town cat. There is an accommodation finder and local attractions include Historical Sites to Visit in and around Kirkcudbright/>.

Dalbeattie

Created by Dalbeattie Internet, there are general Views of Galloway as well as local attractions such as a lengthy text description of the history and background of Dundrennan Abbey and Episcopalian Church, of Christ, known as the "Leicester Quarrymens' Church". There is also a lot on Murdoch of the 'Titanic' - the ship's officer who came from Dalbeattie.

Wigtown Booktown

Highlights the concentration of bookshops, dealers and publishers in the town. There are also text-only pages on history and heritage, visitor attractions and accommodation.

Castle Douglas

This site has been created to raise awareness in Castle Douglas and to provide a resource for local people and holiday makers. It contains details of 80 local organisations (and growing), things to do, things to see and local history specifically on Castle Douglas and the immediate area. Site includes cycle routes, walks, Threave Garden etc.

Creetown Gem Rock Museum

A privately owned world-class collection of gemstones, crystals, minerals, gemstone objet d'art and fossils, Gem Rock is regarded as as one of the finest private collections of its kind. Mmore than just a static display, it is a fully interactive experience with lots of things to do as well as to see.

Clatteringshaws, Galloway Forest Park

Clatteringshaws is situated in the Galloway Forest Park on the A712 (known as the Queen’s Way) between New Galloway and Newton Stewart. The Galloway Forest Park was created in 1947 and has marked cycle and walking trails, picnic areas and interpretation centres in an area of 293 square miles (759 sq. km). The Web pages include images, information and links for the Clatteringshaws area including Clatteringshaws Dam, Loch & Visitors Centre, Grey Mare’s Tail, Loch Dee, Murray’s Monument, Queen’s Way, Raiders Road, Red Deer Range, Wild Goat Park.

Westlands Activities, Annan

Westlands Activities in Annan, halfway between Dumfries and Carlisle, offers Go Karting, Quad Biking, Crazy Golf, Clay Shooting, Fishing and Paintball shooting for individuals, families, corporate days, birthday parties, and stag or hen parties.