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

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?

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

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

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

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

A great day out for all the family. Brewery, distillery, restaurant, grass sledging, rollerskating - there's a lot going on.

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

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

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

Family-friendly tree top adventures for those with heads for heights. What we like: A great way to spend two or three hours in a sensational setting on a high ropes course through the treetops. There's a 50 metre high zip wire that runs for 325 metres. In their own words: "In a nutshell, our tree climbing experiences empower kids of 6 years and upwards – we have no upper age limit! – to see the world from a new perspective and get an eagle eye’s view of the world, and all thi