#thefiveturrets

Feb 8

Famously Hawick | Textile trail

Visit the producers who helped make this Scottish Borders town "the home of Tweed". What we like: Hawick bills itself as the cashmere, tweed and whisky town and Famously Hawick helps bring that heritage together, with tours of five of the main producers, all located between Hawick's four bridges. It's a must-see for anyone with an interest in textiles - especially when combined with a visit to the Borders Textile Towerhouse museum, which brings to life 200 years of knitwear a

67 views

Feb 7

Scottish Food and Drink Trails | Borders

Tea, whisky, fine food and blether - and all in the best possible taste. What we like: A fantastic range of foodie tours with the always-engaging Isobel, including a romp around the Borders tantalising the taste buds and taking in a three course lunch and a beer tasting at a local brewery. There's a tea tour featuring the history of tea smuggling and a chance to blend your own breakfast brew. And a wild picnic with a hamper of treats including Scottish langoustines and gin co

62 views

Feb 3, 2021

Border E-bike Hire | Kelso

Let the battery take the strain as you cycle the highways and byways of the Scottish Borders. What we like: The Scottish Borders offer some of the finest cycling routes in the UK - but there's no getting past the fact that the Southern Uplands do feature rather a lot of hills. Enter the E-bike - all the normal features of a conventional bicycle but with the added benefit of a battery powered motor to help you on your way. With a range of between 40 and 90 miles - depending on

283 views

Feb 1, 2021

Kayak and paddleboard | Midlem

One of the best ways to experience the Scottish Borders is from the water so why not hire a paddleboard or a kayak and get started?

776 views

Jan 22, 2021

Come See Scotland | Selkirk

Blue badge guides know what they're talking about - let Ann show you the very best of the Scottish Borders. What we like: Ann has spent years showing guests around the highlights of Scotland but she has made her home in the Scottish Borders for good reason. As a qualified blue badge guide, trained by the Scottish Tour Guides Association, guests can be assured of a top quality day out packed with fabulous insights and storytelling. The former geography teacher is a true Scot

77 views

Jan 1, 2021

Bicycle hire | Diamond Cycle Centre

Rent a bike from the Diamond Cycle Centre for your stay at The Five Turrets

162 views

Oct 8, 2019

Traquair House | Maze

Scotland's largest hedge maze. It's amazing...

493 views

Oct 8, 2019

Dynamic Earth | Edinburgh

Experience the Big Bang, volcanoes and earthquakes and the rainforest. And it's got a little iceberg.

173 views

Oct 8, 2019

The Wild Outdoors

Drop the kids off at one of their all day camps: they'll climb trees and have an adventure.

222 views

Oct 7, 2019

Eyemouth Rib Trips

Nautical but nice. The half hour fast blast is popular but take a look at the Coastal Exploration trip.

119 views

Oct 6, 2019

Wild Tree Adventures

Extraordinary adventures climbing magnificent trees, all with the safety of ropes and helmets and expert supervision.

203 views

Oct 5, 2019

Cocoa Black | Peebles

There's a divine chocolate shop and cafe, but what makes this really stand out from the crowd is the chocolate and pastry school.

71 views

Oct 5, 2019

Rock UK | Whithaugh Park

Outdoor adventures for all the family.

294 views

Aug 28, 2019

Fly Fishing | Selkirk

Book fly fishing on the Tweed with our expert and we'll arrange instruction, equipment and permits. Salmon, sea trout, trout, grayling.

256 views

Jun 16, 2019

Yair Circular Cycle Route

A leisurely 15 km loop out from Selkirk, crossing the Ettrick Water and River Tweed. With added bees. Grade: Leisurely Distance: 15 km Total

104 views

Jun 15, 2019

Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours

Serenity Farne Island boat tours: seals, puffins, whales and a crew who really do know their stuff.

162 views

Mar 11, 2019

The Guardian of Scotland

For centuries the place where William Wallace was proclaimed Guardian of Scotland remained a mystery. But it's a mystery no more. In 1297 a Scottish hero arose: William Wallace. Wallace had won a famous victory over an English army at Stirling Bridge. The following year he was proclaimed Guardian of Scotland. His heroics were celebrated in the movie Braveheart. We know the ceremony took place at the Kirk o' the Forest. For centuries the location was lost. But in 2016 archaeol

76 views

Mar 5, 2019

Roman in the gloamin

The Romans never conquered Scotland. But that doesn't mean they were strangers to the land north of Hadrian's Wall, as a visit to the site of the fort they built in the Scottish Borders reveals. I swear that we were taught at school that the Romans never reached Scotland. Hadrian’s Wall was the limit of the empire and beyond that was a savage wasteland inhabited by blue-painted maniacs in kilts. I don’t know whether this was because history teachers in the 1970s weren’t very

185 views

Mar 2, 2019

Pssst! Can you keep a secret?

Our new video showcases the unsung Scottish Borders. For many tourists, Scotland is simply the Highlands and Edinburgh. But they're missing out. The Scottish Borders is just an hour south of Edinburgh and less than two hours north of Newcastle. It's where discerning walkers come to head into the hills and cyclists put in the hard miles on world class mountain biking trails. There's history, there's wildlife (golden eagles and ospreys among the highlights) and a wealth of outd

15 views

Feb 16, 2019

The Eildon Hills: in the land of the elves.

A short but bracing walk taking in all three Eildon Hills and including the Roman signalling station on Eildon Hill North. It's also the largest Celtic hill fort in Scotland. And, legend has it, the entrance to the land of the elves. Which you don't find on most walks. 4.2 miles. 2 hours. To find the start take the A6091 east past Melrose and turn off onto a minor road to the right at a sign for the Rhymer’s Stone. The path starts on the right of the road near an information

176 views