GO APE
Go Ape is a tree top adventure course and zip wire located at Glentress Forest near Peebles which is around 45 minutes drive from the Eildon Melrose. A great fun day out for adventurous adults and children (minimum age 10 and minimum height 1.4m). The longest zip wire is 325m long and the highest in Scotland which is sure to give you a memorable and exciting ride! The drive to Glentress Forest is memorable too with the scenic road following the river Tweed up the valley giving wonderful views of the surrounding countryside on the way. Also at Glentress has a superb mountain biking centre (bike hire available) and café / restaurant. https://goape.co.uk/locations/glentress-forest
MOUNTAIN BIKING & LEISURE CYCLING
Mountain bikers are very well catered for in the Scottish Borders with some of the best trail centres in the UK in our area. Glentress and Innerleithen downhill and cross country centres are both superb and are located 18-20 miles away at the top of the Tweed valley. There are a variety of graded routes to choose from (green is easiest, black is the most difficult) as well as a skills area with jumps and other obstacles. At the base of Glentress there is a great cafe (where it is acceptable to stroll in covered in wet mud!) and a bike shop where you can hire bikes.
Information on both centres can be found here http://www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/glentress—innerleithen
If you are looking for a gentler form of cycling, touring or simply sight seeing from the saddle then there are quite literally endless possibilities for different routes and trails. There is a useful guide in our welcome folders to routes around Melrose and popular routes take in Melrose Abbey, where the heart of Robert the Bruce is buried and Abbotsford House, the former home of Sir Walter Scot, Scott’s View, Trimontium Roman Fort, Leaderfoot Viaduct, the William Wallace Statue and the Eildon Hills to name a few.
Bikes can be hired in Melrose from Hardies bikes https://www.hardiesbikes.com/
Whatever type of cycling you are into The Borders has it all!
Scottish Borders Mountain Bike Guide
Kev Welsh – Rubber Side Down Mountain Biking – 07919 285887
ELECTRIC BIKE HIRE is available in Melrose from Tweed E-Bike Hire, visit https://www.tweedebikehire.co.uk/
BORDERS DISTILLERY, HAWICK
Award winning whisky, gin and vodka distillery opened recently in 2018. The distillery is housed in the refurbished former electrical works building next to the river Teviot in Hawick. It’s a stunning building and the regular distillery tours are highly recommended, book via their website.
MELROSE RUGBY CLUB
Historic club where rugby sevens was invented. Home to the Southern Knights semi professional team. Visit their website for details of upcoming fixtures.
CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING – There is an excellent clay pigeon shooting ground at Braidwood (01835 870280), roughly 15 mins drive from Eildon Holiday Cottages. Instruction and gun hire available for all levels.
SWIMMING POOLS – Hawick swimming pool (Teviotdale Leisure Centre) has an excellent flume. Peebles Hydro has a good swimming pool plus sauna, steam room and hot tub. Various spa treatments also available. Galashiels swimming pool is the closest to Melrose and can be booked via the Live Borders website (various different sessions including fun sessions at weekends for children with inflatable assault course).
WILD SWIMMING – Lindean Loch and Cauldshiels Loch are within 10-15 minutes drive from Eildon Melrose and are wonderful places to swim in beautiful surroundings. The water is warm enough in the summer months to swim with or without wetsuits. St Mary’s Loch and Loch of the Lowes are also great places to swim around 35 minutes drive away in the remote and beautiful Yarrow valley.
SPEED BOAT TRIPS – Eyemouth Rib Trips – 07941 441995 https://www.eyemouthribtrips.co.uk/ Brilliant speedboat trips around the St Abbs Marine Reserve. Last time we went out we saw lots of dolphins, seals and thousands of sea-birds. Possible to see whales at certain times of the year too! There is another speed boat operating from St Abbs called Riptide RIB Rides offering similar tours https://www.ribridesstabbs.co.uk/
KAYAKING – River or sea kayaking with instructor guide Ollie Jay. Call him on 07941 450064 and he’ll tailor a superb fun day based on your ability and what you would like to do. This is a great way to see some really beautiful parts of the area. Ollie has kayaks that you can use or bring your own.
FISHING
Eildon Melrose is ideally located for fishing the River Tweed which is one of the world’s most famous Salmon fishing rivers. More Salmon are caught on fly in the Tweed than in any other river in Scotland. At our holiday cottages on the River Tweed we have a large chest freezer ready for all the Salmon you catch during your stay with us!
The salmon fishing season commences on 1st February and finishes on 31st November. Salmon can be caught throughout the season but peak time on the river is September and October.
Trout and grayling fishing on the Tweed can also be very good and is much less expensive than salmon fishing.
There are also some course fisheries and stocked trout lochs in the area.
Please have a look at the Fishing page in the Local Area section of our website for more information and if you require details of local fishing guides who can take you on fishing trips on the Tweed and its tributaries.
BOWHILL HOUSE AND COUNTRY ESTATE
Large adventure playground and soft play plus lots of forest trails for mountain biking or walking.
THE HAINING, SELKIRK – great place to walk around an old stately home, loch and beautiful mature woodlands with some huge specimen trees. Great for adults, children and dogs.
HORSE RIDING LESSONS AND HACKS
Broomhill Riding Centre, Selkirk – 01750 20320
Ian Stark Equestrian Centre, Selkirk – 01750 20202
Stable Life, Ashkirk – 01750 32277
Nenthorn Equestrian, Nenthorn – 01573 224073
ICE SKATING – Border Ice Rink, Kelso (seasonal) – 01573 224774 & Born in Scotland (seasonal) Lanton Mill, Jedburgh, TD8 6ST
SALMON VIEWING CENTRE
Riverside tarmac path, ideal for skates / bikes / scooters / wheelchairs. There is a small but interesting museum room with information displays about the life cycle of the Atlantic Salmon and live video camera showing salmon travelling over the cauld (weir) on the River Ettrick. The tarmac path leads up to the cauld where you can also see salmon jumping, usually between September-November in high water. There is also a large Archimedes screw hydro electric turbine in the river here which is interesting to see. The Waterwheel café is a good place for lunch or refreshments and is also wheelchair accessible.
GOLF
The Scottish Borders are a golfers paradise and we have many golfing parties returning year after year to stay in our holiday cottages which are centrally located giving great access to all the area’s best courses. Our holiday cottages are right next to the Melrose Golf Course which is a lovely 9 hole course surrounded by stunning scenery at the foot of the Eildon Hills (50% off green fees at Melrose Golf Course when you stay at Eildon Holiday Cottages. Our guests can now enjoy 18 holes of golf for just £12.50 and you can also hire golf clubs for £2.50 – ask Rob for more details)
There are many other superb courses in the area including two Championship courses at The Roxburghe and Cardrona. Other favourite courses include, Minto, The Woll, Torwoodlee and Eyemouth.
Best golf driving range locally is at Synton Mains, Ashkirk, TD7 4PA.
STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING
Live, Love, Paddle Board – SUP Hire, Scottish Borders – Search on Facebook or call Elaine to book on 07827 159336. £30 per board or £50 for two, life jackets included.
Kayak and SUP hire Scottish Borders – Search on Facebook or call Audrey to book on 07974 344063. Full day hire £15 per board, sit on top kayaks £25, £5 per life jacket
SNORKELLING IN THE ST ABBS MARINE RESERVE
https://www.berwickshiremarinereserve.uk/home/discover-the-marine-reserve/snorkelling/
For guided snorkelling trips search Snorkel Wild on facebook, call 07762 774900 or e-mail info@snorkelwild.com