Philiphaugh, Selkirk, TD7 5LX
Helping The Borders To Flourish
Every great house in Scotland once had a walled garden and while some have been left to gently disintegrate with the passing of time, others have been turned from private enclaves into gloriously productive spaces where the public is warmly welcomed.
Philiphaugh in the Borders has taken the latter route and ground that has been cultivated for centuries is now home to a series of polytunnels and greenhouses containing fruit trees, perennials, shrubs and bedding plants that visitors can buy and take home to their own gardens.
The nursery at Philiphaugh is a great source of exciting finds for the garden, but high quality plants grown by experts is only one reason to visit this historic estate which is bordered by both the river Ettrick and Yarrow. The grounds are home to hundreds of acres of beautiful woodland that this month is taking on its autumn colours, and there is space to walk or cycle the many paths and trails that meander through the trees in order to absorb the sights and sounds of the season.
Evidence has been found across the estate of Roman occupation from when this part of Scotland was the northernmost frontier of a mighty empire, with Trimontium, near Melrose the site of a major encampment, and visitors to Philiphaugh can also walk the battlefield where in 1645 the army of the Marquis of Montrose was defeated in a surprise attack by Sir David Leslie’s Covenanters.
Today the Borders are a much more peaceful place and their tranquil beauty is being nurtured by a range of environmental projects that aim to preserve the natural character of the area. Conservation is central to activities at Philiphaugh and the Golden Eagle Information Centre contains details of the successful ongoing efforts to reintroduce these magnificent birds into the south of Scotland.
The estate’s Hydro Station on the River Ettrick is the first of its kind in the Borders and generates enough energy to power an equivalent of 225 houses, while Philiphaugh is also engaged in peat restoration work aimed at supporting the fragile ecosystem of the River Tweed catchment area.
Philiphaugh is a working estate, with forestry, cattle, sheep and grouse moors and some of the botanicals that grow here, as well as in the gardens, help to flavour the gin which, since 2019, has been produced by the Selkirk Distillery located in a former joinery workshop with the grounds.
The estate also has a farm shop and the Waterwheel Cafe, which serves apple juice made from fruits collected from the Philiphaugh orchard, is open all year round.
Meeting Of The Waters From amongst Philiphaugh’s meadows there’s a good view of the place where the Rivers Ettrick and Yarrow meet. The Ettrick is one of Scotland’s great salmon rivers and wildlife including otters abound along its banks.
The estate’s salmon viewing centre provides a fascinating glimpse of the fish, eels and other creatures that swim beneath the surface of its waters.
Alongside the successful reintroduction of Golden Eagles, ospreys are also summer visitors to the area and red squirrel numbers have also recovered. Autumn is a good time to spot these amongst Philiphaugh’s trees, which are also home to woodpeckers, siskins and treecreepers.
Details: There is free access to the estate throughout the year. The Waterwheel Cafe is open daily, 10am - 4pm and the Nursery is open from Monday to Friday, 8am - 4pm. Tel: 01750 21766 info@philiphaugh.com www.philiphaughestate.com Philiphaugh Estate sits on the A708, two miles west of Selkirk.
In association with Discover Scottish Gardens www.discoverscottishgardens.org
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