Abbotsford
Melrose
Roxburghshire TD6 9BQ
It is Sir Walter Scott who is credited with launching the Scottish tourism industry. HIs books and other writings on the country’s legends and landscapes opened the eyes of the world to what lay north of Hadrian’s Wall.
But however much he cherished the entire country, it was the Scottish Borders where Scott made his home, creating the baronial-style Abbotsford mansion on the banks of the River Tweed.
Today the spirit of the author still inhabits the house and the series of romantic gardens that he had laid out around it. It was here that his passionate nature took full flight in the shape of the Juliette balcony beneath his bedroom window, the ‘Rapunzel’ tower that overlooks the river and his prized greenhouse, shaped like a medieval jousting tent.
Scott commissioned leading architects and designers to help create his series of garden rooms and he raised all kinds of plants beneath the shelter of their high walls. The first of these is the South Court, which creates a formal entrance to the house. The subsequent Morris Garden is a sunken space, filled in summer with old roses and with a gothic staircase that leads out to the meadow beyond, while the final of the three gardens is the one-acre walled garden which would have once been used to raise food for the constant stream of visitors who Scott invited to Abbotsford and which, today, provides seasonal produce for the estate’s Ochiltree cafe.
Aside from nurturing people, the garden today is also planted with a large selection of nectar and pollen plants by the gardeners, who are actively engaged in supporting insect numbers, and in particular Red Admiral butterflies, which usually fill the garden but which have been decimated by recent climate events.
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Scott was famous for his energy and when he wasn’t writing, entertaining, or collecting the many thousands of books that continue to draw archivists and historians to the Abbotsford library today, he was improving the wider estate.
When Scott built Abbotsford, the land was undeveloped and so he set about planting thousands of trees, many of them with his own hands.
Today Walter’s Wood is a haven for wildlife and for visitors who want to immerse themselves in nature. It runs alongside the River Tweed and is home to owls, otters and Red Squirrels. Paths throughout the wood have recently been upgraded and the estate is open to the public all year round.
Festive Fun
Wild Corner is a supernatural sculpture trail for all ages, based on many of the stories that Scott recorded in his novels. For Christmas this popular attraction has been given an added touch of sparkle, with new, seasonal elements.
Other festive activities at Abbotsford include Santa sessions, storytelling with Mrs Claus and visits to the house in all its Christmas finery.
Details
Abbotsford is off the B6360, one mile south of Tweedbank and is open daily, 10am - 4pm. Tickets: £7.50/£7(students)/£4(children)/free(under 5s). Other charges apply for the house and for Wild Corner.
Tel: 01896 752043
enquiries@scottsabbotsford.co.uk
www.scottsabbotsford.com
In association with Discover Scottish Gardens www.discoverscottishgardens.org
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