Scottish Borders Accommodation

Cloisters, Jedburgh Abbey, Scottish Borders
Jedburgh Abbey, Scottish Borders
Mary Queen of Scots House, Jedburgh
Jedburgh Town Centre, Exquisite flower displays in the Borders' towns
King Edward I, founder of Jedburgh Abbey
Jedburgh Abbey, view from the top of the staircase
Jedburgh Abbey detail - gothic carvings

Jedburgh History Information

With a pretty village centre (all the Scottish Borders towns have exquisite flower displays, particularly here at Jedburgh and at Melrose) and a choice of historic attractions including one of the Scottish Borders' famous abbeys, Jedburgh has much to offer both the passing through and longer stay visitor. A selection of craft and other fine shops can also be found around Market Place and Canongate. Situated as it is on the Borders main A7 route north upto Edinburgh, Jedburgh makes a superb base to break a journey, with a choice of fine pubs, cafes and restaurants alongside historic Borders Abbey, Jedburgh Castle Jail and the Mary Queen of Scots house which serves as a comprehensive museum on Mary Stuart, drawing attention to her visit to Jedburgh in 1566. Robert Burns also stayed in Jedburgh (a plaque on a village pub denotes where he may have stayed). Whether your stopping off or planning a longer stay in the Scottish Borders, Jedburgh offers a superb base especially for families. Green spaces in the area include Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre, Jedforest Deer and Farm Park and Monteviot House Gardens.

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Jedburgh is also a popular base for walkers looking to hook into the Borders Abbeys Way which winds 19km/12 miles up from Jedburgh and Jedburgh Abbey to Kelso, and the other way down to Hawick and upto Selkirk and Melrose Abbey. Jedburgh Tourist Information Centre, Murray's Green, Jedburgh TD8 6BE. Tel. 0870 6080404. (Pick up Jedburgh Town Trail guide leaflets here). The Borders Abbeys Way runs upto Kelso (19km/12m) alongside Jed Water. Pretty short Riverside walks are highly recommended in this historic town whose proximity to the English Border (10 miles) meant that it saw numerous battles and border raids right up until the 17th Century.

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Jedburgh Prison History, Jedburgh Castle Jail Museum

A stroll up hill to Castlegate brings you to Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum, once site of Jedburgh's medieval castle which was totally obliterated by the Scots in the early 1400s to ensure the English didn't make use of it. In the 19th century Jedburgh Prison was built on the site. The gruesome experience of prison life in the 19th century is laid bare here via displays, cell block recreations and audio visual shows. A jailer's house is also onsite with an exhibit on the local history of this Borders town.

Whilst Jedburgh Castle is medieval, the prison dates from the 1820s. Open from the end of March to end of October.

Jedburgh Castle Jail & Museum, Castlegate, Jedburgh, TD8 6QD. Tel. 01835 864750.

Jedburgh Abbey & the Borders Abbeys Way, Kelso to Jedburgh

Jedburgh sits just 10 miles from the English Border, and its invasion scars are there for all to see. Founded in around 1138 by David I, Border armies were constantly invading it. It might have taken a battering, but the Jedburgh Abbey ruins which remain are impressive indeed - intricate carvings of some rather ghoulish gothic faces can still be seen on the cloister wall remains.

Alongside the Jedburgh Abbey remains, an excellent visitor centre contains a model of how the Abbey would have looked in its intact state plus 8th century carvings and artefacts all excavated from the Jedburgh Abbey grounds. A narrow staircase also allows you to climb to a higher level at one end of the Romanesque and Gothic inspired Cloister. Up here are the best views of the remains. Special discount Scottish Borders Explorer passes are available from historic Scotland for combined entrance to 5 of the Borders top historic attractions incuding Dryburgh Abbey, Jedburgh Abbey, Melros Abbey, Hermitate Castle and Smailholm Tower. Pick up one at the first attraction you visit.

For more information on Jedburgh Abbey Tel. 01835 863925 and see the Historic Scotland weblink right.

One of the best ways to enjoy the Scottish Borders countryside and take in all the main Borders Abbeys is via the 64.5 mile/103 km Borders Abbeys Way (weblink right). It's a circular walkway taking you through the heart of the Scottish Borders and can be done in shorter stretches from Kelso to Jedburgh, Jedburgh to Hawick, Selkirk to Melrose and Melrose back to Kelso. Kelso is usually taken as the starting and finishing point, and plays host to the annual Scottish Borders Festival of Walking in early September annually. (Pick up your Scottish Borders Walking Festival booklet at any tourist information centre in the Borders).

Mary Queens of Scots House, Jedburgh

Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots visited Jedburgh in October of 1566 and stayed in this house, now a visitor centre, in Jedburgh. The visitor centre offers a comprehensive look at Mary's turbulent life, with some fascinating displays which include tapestries, paintings, furniture, a selection of Mary's personal items and arms and armour. This visitor centre in Jedburgh is undoubtedly one of the definitive museums in Scotland on Mary Queen of Scots.. Mary was undertaking a brief tour of the Borders in 1566, undertaking local court duties. She arrived here in Jedburgh from nearby Traquair House close to Innerleithen. She also made a rough ride to Hermitage Castle to visit the Earl of Bothwell who later became her lover.

During this 'rough ride' to Hermitage she caught a fever, and actually nearly died in this house in Jedburgh. The house itself is a finely preserved example of a 16th century bastel house set within pretty public gardens. A death mask is also on show within the museum, however there's some controversy as to whether this is indeed her death mask. Most prefer the one held in the Lennoxlove collection at the Hamilton Estate/Leith as authentic. There's been talk of recent of work on a Hollywood movie focusing on the relationship between Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I. Scarlett Johansson is to play Mary Stuart. The film promises to raise the profile and interest around Mary Queen of Scots as well as the usual Hollywood butchering of history a la Mel Gibson as Wallace!

Mary Queen of Scots' Visitor Centre, Queen Street, Jedburgh, TD8 6EN. Tel. 01835 863331. (see Scottish Borders Council Museums section for more details).

Woollen Mills Jedburgh Scotland Shopping

Around both Jedburgh and Hawick there's a good choice of Scottish Borders woollen mills. Conveniently situated right on the A68 Edinburgh Road there's two woollen mill outlets here in Jedburgh - Jedburgh Woollen Mill and Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

Both offer a choice of knitwear, cashmere, Harris Tweed, Scottish food and gifts, plus there's golf clothing, Highland dress and tartan accessories and more all available at good value outlet prices. Cashmere jumpers and clothing particularly can often be bought here at excellent budget prices.

Jedburgh Woollen Mill, Bankend North, Edinburgh Road, Jedburgh, TD8 6EB. Tel. 01835 863585.

The Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Bankend North, Edinburgh Road. Jedburgh. Tel. 01835 863773.

Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre Jedburgh

Just to the north of Jedburgh (4 miles off the A68) sits Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre which is right on the route of the 100km/62.5m St Cuthbert's Way which meanders down from Melrose to Lindisfarne. St Cuthbert is thought to have started his ministry in Melrose (see weblink right for full details, and information on the section of the walk from Harestanes to Kirk Yetholm). Along the full route important historical sites such as Melrose Abbey and Lindisfarne Priory are incorporated.

You can hook into a section of St Cuthbert's Way from the Harestanes Visitor Centre, and there's a cafe, gift shop and kids play park on-site. Events are organised within the park throughout the year.

Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre, Ancrum, Jedburgh, TD8 6UQ. Tel. 01835 830306. Free Admission.

Jedburgh Golf Club

Jedburgh golf course has seen some big golf names playing the course here, including Colin Montgomerie who played here on the Club's centenary. Dating from 1893, Jeburgh Golf club has a long history. The course is an 18 hole parkland course, with bar and restaurant on-site. All visitors are welcome. See the Jedburgh Golf Club website right for details on available golf packages. Follow the signs for Jeburgh Golf Club from Jeburgh town centre.

Jedburgh Golf Club, Dunion Road, Jedburgh, Scotland TD8 6TA. Tel. 01835 863587. (weblink right).