8 Best Things To Do In Melrose – A Complete Guide

If you’re heading to the Scottish Borders, there’s a good chance that you’ll be visiting Melrose at some point. Tucked in the shadow of the Eildon Hill and packed with both history and folklore, it’s somewhere I spend a lot of time in every year. It might well be my favourite of all the Borders towns!

Whether you’re here for a quiet wander or a big day out, there are plenty of things to do in Melrose. The medieval abbey is the obvious star, but there’s loads of wee shops, big walks and fascinating folklore to give you a reason to head south. Time to follow in the footsteps of Romans, Kings and sporting legends!

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Short History Of Melrose

Long before it was a picturesque market town, Melrose was making history. The Romans set up an important fort near here around 1900 years ago, but it really made its name as a religious site. St Aidan set up a monastery in the 6th century, but that was a few miles away at “Old Melrose”.

By the early 1100s, abbeys were taking over from these old monastic settlements and King David I went on a building spree. Melrose Abbey was founded in 1136, along with three others in the Scottish Borders. If you have more than a day in Melrose, it’s well worth visiting all four Borders Abbeys!

Royals and nobles favoured the abbey, making this one of the wealthiest in Scotland. It fell into ruin after the Scottish Reformation, but life went on at Melrose. A community grew from the ruins, shifting from monastic centre to market town. By the 18th and 19th centuries, it was known for its natural beauty, attracting artists, writers and tourists, just like today!

Explore Melrose Abbey

Smack bang in the middle of town, it’s no wonder that the Abbey is the most popular thing to do in Melrose. Not only is it a masterpiece of medieval architecture, but every corner is crammed with stories! Originally built in 1136, King Alexander II is buried here, as is the famous wizard Michael Scott. The stonework is full of surprises. You’ll find angels, saints, and even a bagpipe-playing pig!

However, the most important reason most people visit Melrose Abbey is Robert the Bruce’s heart! In 1330, James Douglas took the Warrior King’s heart on crusade to southern Spain. It was returned to Scotland after the Battle of Teba and buried here, but the location was lost.

Then in 1996, a mysterious lead casket was dug up. After a bit of investigating, it was proved that it did contain a recognisable heart, dating from around the right time and that was all the proof needed. Robert the Bruce’s heart was reburied in 1998 under a memorial stone!

Unfortunately, Melrose Abbey is undergoing major conservation works, so the main body is covered in scaffolding. It’s still worth wandering around the ruins though and the entrance fee is currently reduced. Make sure you don’t miss the museum across the road in the old Commendator’s House!

Stroll Through Harmony and Priorwood Gardens

As you leave the abbey, the next logical thing to do in Melrose is right in front of you! There are two gardens to visit in the town, the first being Priorwood Garden – surrounded by high walls and managed by the NTS. Free to enter and surprisingly spacious, it’s well known for its orchard and flower drying!

A little further away, Harmony Garden is also cared for by the NTS with even more space to wander! It’s peaceful, with bright borders and particularly impressive to visit in spring. If it sounds like you’re kind of place, then you can even spend a few nights staying in Harmony House!

Marvel In Trimontium Museum

A lot of people don’t appreciate how big an impact the Roman Empire had on Scotland – they got much further than Hadrian’s Wall! For those interested in early history, any Melrose trip should include a visit to Trimontium Musem. Tickets last for a whole year and I guarantee you’ll want to come back many times!

Named after the enormous Roman fort that took its own name from the three peaks of the Eildon Hill, the museum brings this fascinating period to life. It’s full of information and artefacts, not just about Roman weaponry but also how they lived. There’s even a VR experience taking you back 1900 years to the height of Trimontium Fort!

Climb the Eildon Hill

It’s impossible to miss the Eildon Hill when visiting Melrose, these three peaks dominate the town! For those of you with plenty of energy, a hike up to the top offers views for miles in every direction. It should take around 4 hours following these directions and the paths are easy to follow. Enjoy one of the best views in the Scottish Borders!

For those without the time or energy to dedicate to the hike, the view in the above picture is a good alternative option. It’s a short drive from Melrose, along narrow roads, and you’ll find it marked as Scott’s View. This was a favourite spot of the famous writer Walter Scott and it’s said that his horses were so used to stopping here, they even paused during his funeral procession to give one last glimpse to their owner!

Visit Rhymer’s Stone

Hidden not far from Melrose is a simple stone with a legendary connection. Rhymer’s Stone marks the spot of the old Eildon Tree, where Thomas the Rhymer met with the Queen of the Fairies. Legend says that this ordinary man awoke to a beautiful woman looking down at him from a horse. She swept him off his feet, galloping off into the fairy realm to a new life of servitude.

On the way, he was given a fruit unlike any he had ever seen. It was a gift and upon biting into the fruit, Thomas was blessed with the power to never tell a lie. That doesn’t seem like much of a positive, until you realise that means everything he said came true!

After seven years in the fairy kingdom, Thomas was released and became known for his rhyming prophecies. He predicted the death of Alexander III leading to the Wars of Independence, as well as James VI ruling all of Britain. There’s one much closer to home too and you can see it written on the slabs near the stone.

“At Eildon Tree, If yon shall be, A brig ower the Tweed, yon there shall see”

It was thought an impossible prophecy since the River Tweed runs through a deep channel, well out of sight of the the tree. However, if you’ve got good eyes then you can make out the soaring Leaderfoot Viaduct that finally fulfilled Thomas’ words hundreds of years later!

Take In The Leaderfoot Viaduct

That brings us nicely to the next thing to do in Melrose! A short walk from the car park will take you to the spectacular sight of the Leaderfoot Viaduct. Rising above the River Tweed, this impressive 19th-century railway bridge is made up of 19 stone arches, stretching across the gap.

Built in the 1860s as part of the Berwickshire Railway Line, the viaduct is no longer in use. Well, not in use by trains, but fans of Indiana Jones might have noticed it appearing in the new Dial of Destiny film! It probably won’t reach the same height of fame as the Glenfinnan Viaduct did after Harry Potter, but I’m secretly pleased about that!

Enjoy A Game Of Rugby!

Melrose isn’t only defined by ancient history and legend, it also played a key role in the development of modern sport. The town is recognised as the birthplace of Rugby Sevens, a faster, shorter version of traditional rugby that is now played and celebrated around the world. The local tournament is a huge deal, with the Melrose Sevens taking place on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

In 1883, a local butcher named Ned Haig came up with the idea of a condensed version of the game as a way to raise funds for the Melrose Rugby Club. It would be seven players each, with seven minute matches and several games taking place throughout the day. What began as a local experiment quickly grew across Scotland and the world, now even represented in the Olympic Games.

If you have a chance to visit Melrose during the Sevens weekend, you’ll find the place full of life. Don’t worry if you know nothing about the sport, it’s still a lot of fun. It’s a real party atmosphere and one that, as a rugby player, I highly recommend!

Head To Abbotsford House

Close enough to the town that I think it deserves to be included in a guide to Melrose – Abbotsford House the home of Walter Scott. It’s not just a historic home, but a treasure trove of Scottish history and insight to the mind of our greatest writer. Built in the early 19th century, at the height of his fame, turrets and towers were designed to make it look older than it really is!

Scott packed it full of items tied to his stories, so walking through Abbotsford is like moving through history. You’ll find a chair made from the barn where William Wallace was captured. Carvings in the library copied from Rosslyn Chapel. There’s Rob Roy’s sporran, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Hair, Mary Queen of Scots’ death mask and plenty more!

If the armour, swords and history are a little too overwhelming, you can always step out into the garden. It’s a calming, peaceful place, packed with many more plants than I can name! There’s also usually a great food truck in the trees near the entrance to keep you going!

Where To Eat In Melrose

Eden Coffee House – This is where I usually grab a spot for lunch, with great sandwiches and plenty more on the menu.

Ship Inn – This place is a proper local pub with good, hearty food!

Provender – For something a wee bit fancier if you’re looking to treat yourself!

Where To Stay In Melrose

The Townhouse Hotel – A good local hotel right in the middle of town with very affordable rates that I’ve tried and tested.

The Tay – If you’d rather a self-catering apartment, this 1 bed option is perfect!

The Tweed – An option for larger groups sleeping 5 (no fighting over the bunkbeds…

Burt’s Hotel – Another great hotel option with plenty of rooms in the centre of Melrose

If you’d like to visit Melrose, then how about going on a Scotland’s Stories Tour?

Just click this link to make an enquiry and book your private driving tour today!