Wonderful little wildlife reserve with great chances of seeing red squirrels. What we like: Everything. The squirrels, obviously. Everyone loves red squirrels. And the birds. And the fact that it is run by people who really care about wildlife. Oh, and the woodland walks. Just everything. In their own words: "Eskrigg Reserve is on the site of an old curling pond. It occupies seven acres and contains a mixture of habitats including mixed woodland, grassland, heathland, willow

Family-friendly zoo on the west of Edinburgh. What we like: The pandas are the star attraction, but the penguins are great fun and there can't be many other places in the world where you can stand in a glass tunnel underneath a tiger. In their own words: "Set in over 82 acres of wooded hillside, RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is home to over 1,000 rare and endangered animals. RZSS Edinburgh Zoo is home to the only giant pandas in the UK. The female is called Tian Tian (Sweetie) and the m

Alpaca trekking in the Cheviot Hills. What we like: It's just a lot of fun. You lead an alpaca round the hillside. There's scenery. There's alpacas. It's somehow quite relaxing. They'll bring the alpacas to The Five Turrets if you want a tailored trekking experience for a group. In their own words: "A family owned smallholding located in the stunning Cheviot Hills, close to St Cuthbert’s Way. Beirhope truly is a hidden gem and we would love to share it with you on one of our

Owls, eagles, hawks, falcons and vultures. What we like: This is a great day out. The staff take a genuine interest in their work and allow visitors to take part in flying the birds on the regular displays. It's great for children. In their own words: "The Birds Of Prey Centre is located within the magnificent lakeside surroundings of Kielder Water at Leaplish Waterside Park, Northumberland. The Centre contains one of the largest & most fascinating collections of Birds Of Pre

From simple pub food to a full tasting menu with paired wines. What we like: Want to dine in style but don't want to cook? We can arrange for a personal chef to whip up a special dinner for your party. We've teamed up with one of the best chefs in the country - Trevor Ward, former head chef in the fine dining restaurant at The Old Course Hotel in St Andrews and now working his magic round the corner at the Fleece Bar and Kitchen. In their own words: "Between them, Tracey and

Gin tasting with one of Scotland's newest distilleries. What we like: It's a great new business run by two Selkirk couples. Their wonderful Reiver's Gin is flavoured with handpicked whin flowers that grow around the town and the Bannock Gin is based on the famous Selkirk Bannock fruit cake. In their own words: "Selkirk Distillers produced their first gin in September 2017. It’s architects, two couples from Selkirk (Jane and Allan Walker and Dave and Susan Myatt), believed th

Golden eagles, hen harriers, red squirrels. What we like: This charity run by wildlife experts offers full and half day wildlife safaris in the Scottish Borders to see birds including hen harriers and possibly golden eagle, plus red squirrels, hare and deer. In their own words: "We will visit Langholm Moor, where we will be searching for birds of prey such as Hen Harriers, Short Eared Owls, Merlin, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon and maybe even a Golden Eagle. Other highlights on t

Intimidating, brooding and forbidding: "Discover a history filled with intrigue, murder, torture and treason." What we like: This lonely and forbidding castle has a gory past reflected by references to it as “the guardhouse of the bloodiest valley in Britain”. It inevitably played a pivotal role in the story of the Reivers, serving as a home and a prison for some of the major players. Mary Queen of Scots paid a visit that nearly killed her when, returning from visiting the ma

Independent bookseller What we like: Excellent independent book store with an intelligent selection of books, including a good range of local history. The Guardian said of it: "The shelves are heavy with books on art, the environment and beautiful modern editions of literary titles, alongside a good selection of classics, cookery books, gardening titles, Scottish interest, poetry, children's books and craft." The window display's always very tempting too. In their own words:

Dramatic 14th century peel tower near Kelso. What we like: The Pringle family weren't taking any chances when they built a tower house to keep out the notorious Border Reivers: it's got 2.5m thick walls. It worked up to a point, but the Reivers still made off with 700 cattle and 100 horses. The location is atmospheric and Sir Walter Scott found it a source of inspiration. In their own words: "Sited high on a rocky outcrop, Smailholm is a small rectangular tower set within a

Historic route for cyclists, walkers and horse riders. What we like: The route passes over the Minch Moor. You can join this long-distance trail at nearby Bowhill. Good to know: It's part of a network of off-road cycle trails stretching from John o'Groats down to Land's End (and with connections to the North Downs Way and South Downs Way). Where it is: Pick up the trail at Bowhill, 4 miles outside Selkirk. More details: Cross Borders Drove Road #travel #thefiveturrets #touris

Moderate and difficult routes amid great scenery. What we like: The blue route is billed as "a gentle introduction to mountain biking complete with stunning views, forest paths and some fun descents". In their on words: "The 7stanes are world-class mountain biking centres that span the south of Scotland. Their award-winning trails offer some of the best mountain biking in the country and attract riders from all over the UK and beyond. You don’t have to be an experienced mount

Red, extreme and black routes for experienced cyclists. What we like: Not for the faint hearted, but the red route up through the forest and onto the summit of the Minch Moor is worth the effort for the sensational views. More details: Innerleithen Where it is: #travel #thefiveturrets #tourism #scottishborders #scotland #experiences #cycling #riding #mountainbiking #activities

Climbing and bouldering for all ages at Europe's largest indoor climbing arena. What we like: The Clip 'n Climb for children is fantastic fun, with a great range of challenges. There's plenty for older and more experienced climbers too and there's a three hour beginners course for £50. In their own words: "Thrilling fun for everyone with cleverly designed climbing challenges at Europe’s largest indoor climbing arena just outside Edinburgh. Reaching new heights never looked so

Drive and discover the stories of the Borderlands. What we like: Five excellent self-drive audio storytelling tours, all easily accessible from The Five Turrets, with a discount for our guests. Learn about the bloodthirsty Border Reivers, sorcerers, witches, stone circles, giants, kings and queens. In their own words: "Join us on our innovative storytelling trails across The Borders! Along the six trails you will be introduced to witches and wizards, kings and queens, villain

See salmon leaping up the cauld just west of Selkirk What we like: There's a viewing centre of a certain vintage with an underwater camera that sometimes shows a passing fish. Look out for kingfishers too. The Waterwheel cafe is well worth a visit. In their own words: "Learn all about the life cycle of the King of the fishes from the Salmon Wall display. Then see what dangers lie in the river and how many survive after the female salmon has laid 5,000 eggs. Then watch the Sa

Wildlife safaris around the Kielder Forest and the Northumberland coast What we like: There's a selection of safaris taking in the wildlife of Northumberland, but look out for their signature otter safaris. In their own words: "With spectacular wildlife including Black Grouse, Peregrine, Goshawk, Osprey, Roseate Tern, Grey Seal, Otter, Red Squirrel, Wild Goat, Roe Deer, Minke Whale and White-beaked Dolphin, Northumberland has something for everyone. Whether you are young or o

The best place to learn about the notorious Border Reivers. What we like: There's a permanent gallery dedicated to the history of the Border Reivers, the ruthless raiders who held the Borders in their grip for more than 300 years. See a peel tower under attack, dress up as a Reiver and find out if your family is related to the Border clans. In their own words: "A fusion of old and new awaits you, from the beautiful Old Tullie House, a classical Grade One Listed Jacobean build

Unique, quirky and fun cakes and sweet treats What we like: Cake artist Nicola Moffat's masterclass in cake decoration at The Five Turrets will boost your chances of making it onto Bake Off and receiving that Paul Hollywood handshake. In their own words: "Based in the Scottish Borders, 'Ruby and Pearl Cake Art' creates cakes and sweet treats that are unique, quirky and fun. Cake Artist - Nicola Moffat, began her cake journey in March 2014 with a Marc Jacobs 'DAISY' perfume bo

Country house with lake and woodland walks. What we like: Outdoor activities, family days out, house tours full of history and art, weddings, private events and field sports. The adventure playground is excellent, there's a great cafe and the Land Rover tours up to the moor are a special treat. There's fishing on the loch, bookable through the estate office. In their own words: "This majestic House and its grounds have been the centre of life in this rural oasis for more than