Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
on to Hawick (one hour). There are also frequent services to Edinburgh (£6.90, two
hours).
Around Kelso
The area around Kelso has two starkly contrasting historic buildings to visit, and the twin
walkers' villages of Town and Kirk Yetholm.
Sights
Smailholm Tower
(HS; www.historic-scotland.gov.uk ; adult/child £4.50/2.70; 9.30am-5.30pm daily Apr-
Sep, 9.30am-4.30pm Sat & Sun only Oct-Mar) Perched on a rocky knoll above a small
lake, this narrow stone tower provides one of the most evocative sights in the Borders and
keeps the bloody uncertainties of its history alive. Although the displays inside are sparse,
the panoramic view from the top is worth the climb.
The nearby farm, Sandyknowe, was owned by Sir Walter Scott's grandfather. As Scott
himself recognised, his imagination was fired by the ballads and stories he heard as a
child at Sandyknowe, and by the ruined tower a stone's throw away.
The tower is 6 miles west of Kelso, a mile south of Smailholm village on the B6397.
You pass through the farmyard to get to the tower. First bus 66 between Kelso and
Galashiels stops in Smailholm village.
TOWER
Mellerstain House
( www.mellerstain.com ; adult/child £8.50/4; 12.30-5pm Mon, Wed & Sun Apr-Oct) Fin-
ished in 1778, this is considered to be Scotland's finest Robert Adam-designed mansion.
It is famous for its classic elegance, ornate interiors and plaster ceilings; the library in par-
ticular is outstanding. The upstairs bedrooms are less attractive, but have a peek at the
bizarre puppet-and-doll collection in the gallery.
It's about 6 miles northwest of Kelso, near Gordon. First bus 66 between Kelso and
Galashiels passes about a mile from Mellerstain House.
HISTORIC HOUSE
TOWN YETHOLM & KIRK YETHOLM
The twin villages of Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm, separated by Bowmont Water, are
close to the English border, about 6 miles southeast of Kelso. Hill-walking centres, they
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