Abbotsford The Home Of Sir Walter Scott

A quick look back at our beautiful gardens on Scott's birthday last week.
In typical Scottish fashion, we had all seasons in a day - there was rain, there was a storm and then there was sunshine 🌦️

Planning your next getaway now that the holidays are coming to an end?
We have short notice availability for our luxury self-catering accommodation, the Hope Scott Wing, in autumn. 🍂🍃 Bring your friends and family and enjoy an incredible 30% off if you book for the 15th to 21st September or the 6th to 13th of October.
... Full info on our website at bit.ly/HopeScottWing
See More

Escape the festival and step into Scotland's rich history!
The Big Houses in the Scottish Borders have been featured in this wonderful article to help you plan your perfect day out in the area. When will you visit?

It's been an eventful week at Abbotsford, so where better to spend a quiet day than the library? Take a look around, what book would you want to read here? 📚

What's a birthday without baby pictures? 👶
For today's celebration, Collections Manager Kirsty shares a new addition to our exhibition that Scott would probably prefer to keep private. Read all about it on our blog - bit.ly/BabyWScott

Every birthday party needs a cake and Ochiltree's Dining, Abbotsford have prepared this beautiful cake for Scott's 247th - Make sure to stop today by to grab a slice!

Happy 247th Walter! 🎉
We'll be celebrating this afternoon from 1pm with free garden tours, balloons and freebies for the kids, birthday cake in the café and 10% off in the shop. Make sure to stop by - bit.ly/Scotts247th

Colour blocking in the walled garden - these last few weeks have seen a gorgeous mix of purple and orange hues emerge among the greenery.

What a view from our orangery! With the changeable weather this week, it's the best spot to relax and take in the view of the gardens 🌸🏵️

🎉 Celebrate Scott's birthday with us! 🎉
On the 15th of August, we're saying 'Happy 247th Walter!' with free entry to the gardens, 10% off in the shop and more from 1pm

Despite the changeable weather, our roses are looking gorgeous. Have you stopped by to see them for yourself yet?

Access to Abbotsford is changing (slightly) 👇
Due to essential maintenance work at Galafoot Bridge, access from Galashiels to Abbotsford is changing from Sunday, 5th August. Find out more about the diversions and plan your visit below

Have you met the ladies? As descendants of Sir Walter Scott, Dame Jean and Mrs Patricia held the Lairdship of Abbotsford for almost 5 decades.
In today's blog, Edinburgher-turned-Borderer Ian recalls his first visit - bit.ly/AbbMemories

Lush greens and pops of colour in the South Court; our gardens look beautiful despite the grey and changeable weather.

It's been busy in the gardens these past few days, with our team deadheading, weeding and putting in new plants.
Luckily, the view makes the hard work a lot easier.

It's a lovely day in the Borders but what's the yellow strip on our lawn? 🤔
The recent dry weather has unearthed a lost garden path! You can find out all about the lost and hidden features of our Regency gardens in our new free garden tours - bit.ly/RegGardenTour

It's our birthday this month 🎉
Today, we're looking back on 5 years of being open to the public since the refurbishment and have picked our top 5 highlights over on the blog.
Have a read and tell us your personal highlights - bit.ly/Abb-5Years

Are you joining us for The Three Inch Fools performance tonight? The weather forecast looks very grim, so we're moving the performance inside to keep everyone dry.💧
Please be aware that tickets are completely sold out and so none will be available on the door.

The sun is hiding behind grey clouds today. Just last week, our delphiniums' bright blue colour matched the sky

Without a doubt my favourite of any historic houses I have visited. The visitor centre and café restaurant are superb, the house and garden are beautiful, the setting is amazing, and as others have said the audio guides are brilliant and the staff and volunteers are probably the friendliest and most enthusiastic I have come across. Well done all!



As I live all of about 80 minutes drive away I took up the offer of "pay once, visit for a year" and I can't wait to go back and explore more. I know there's loads to keep me busy for hours to come!

Well worth a visit. The best audio guide I have ever experienced, as if the man himself invited me in. A fascinating place.

Well worth a visit to this wonderful house that is Abbotsford. The home of Sir Walter Scott. Adventurer and fantasist with great imagination in his writings. Such beautiful gardens and alongside runs the river Tweed. The restaurant and visitor centre are worth a visit also.

We visited on July 2. It was all I knew it would be and more. From his impressive study and library to the gardens to the Tweed itself--perfection. We came up on the train from Edinburgh, walked through the Tweed Bank park to Abbotsford and back again to the station. "Return" is no longer just a toast. --Karen Lentz Madison and Robert D. Madison, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

We regularly visit Abbotsford house, be it to leisurely walk around the house and grounds, including the small chapel next to the house.

Fabulous ladies to help with the onset of the tour.... or just for my grandchildren, who love the play area, which is very nicely kept and in keeping with the surrounding wooded area...

Ochiltree dining is also to be recommended and have had several visits. Enjoying the fish, and also cream teas, the scones were to die for....I only hope the new chef is as good as the previous one...

Lovely afternoon out for old, young and in between too.....

We really enjoyed all aspects of our visit experience. The sun was shining which made our leisurely walk around the garden grounds really pleasant. The electronic guides are the best I have come across and we enjoyed listening to the more personalised narration in the voice of 'Walter Scott'. The exhibition is very clear about Scott's life and we enjoyed going through it. Lunch was fab and felt like a real treat with lovely, friendly staff looking after us. The admissions staff were very friendly and helpful taking time to make sure we had all the info we needed. Well done to all involved in running this super visitor attraction. We felt like guests not visitors. �

Visited with my husband who has long wanted to see Abbotsford. He was not disappointed, it's a beautiful house with lovely grounds to walk around. The visitor centre is also very nice and very informative.

Visited the gardens on Thur 13 July and the house on Fri 14th. This was the third year we have been to Abbotsford and was just as good as the first! Each time we visit the house we always seem to notice something we haven't seen before! The gardens are stunning at this time of year as previous visits have been in October and May when there wasn't so much in bloom. The walk along the Tweed is also lovely. All the staff are very friendly and helpful too. Looking forward to when we return again next year!

Visited on the 7th June with a friend (both students from Edinburgh). We had I think the sole day of good weather this week. We arrived on the new Borders Railway and took a half hour walk to the house along the banks of the (very swollen) Tweed. You need to be fairly able-bodied for that, however, so for many people it might be best taking the car.



The house itself is a good early example of the Scots Baronial style and has been kept much as it was when Scott was alive, with some minor adjustments made by his relatives. His library - presented back to him by his creditors - is still in situ, next door to the study where many of his later novels were written. You can also see the dining room where Scott died, later painted over in white and bleached in a bid to combat the darkness that often plagues Scots Baronial as a style.



Be aware that only a handful of the reception rooms on the ground floor are open to the public. I understand that the family's original bedrooms have been lost for many years and part of the building has now been converted into self-catered accommodation. What remains, however, still bears the stamp of the family's personality and interests - the armoury(!) has been kept in the same arrangement since Scott's death and you can immediately feel the presence of Lady Scott in the drawing room.



Aside from the house, there is also a new visitor centre with an exhibition on Scott's life and work, which does a good job of bringing out how brilliant and paradoxical Scott really was.



A father of the romantic Victorian image of Scotland who also tacitly celebrated the Union with England; a conservative who nevertheless embraced new technology and social change (Abbotsford was among the first private houses to install gas); a sheriff-depute who often sympathised for outlaws. A man who believed that fiction could be used to make peace with a violent past and open the way to progress.



The visitor centre also includes a gift shop and a cafe on the top floor, which were both very nice if clearly targeted at deep-pocketed tourists rather than students. There is also a small garden, part of which is walled and originally meant for vegetables. It apparently once had its own flue system run by a furnace - another new technology that Scott incorporated - but we didn't see any evidence of it.



And of course you can go for walks by the Tweed, which is the whole reason that Scott bought Abbotsford to begin with (though the walks would benefit from slightly clearer signposting). The whole place is a fantasy made real - well worth visiting if you (like us) pass under Scott's gaze all the time on Princes Street and fancy getting to know him better.

Very friendly welcome both in the restaurant and house. Excellent headphone guide, even one especially designed for children which our six year old loved. Narrated by Scotts pets kept Ollie absorbed while the adults could enjoy their tour. The National Trust might benefit from a visit to improve their customer service. After spending days out at NT properties one feels they are resting on their laurels a bit. We thought the restaurant looked too posh for a family but the service, quality of food and prices made us feel relaxed. Top marks. You had everything right.

Sir Walter Scott was a litery giant of his day but to many like me growing up, I was ignorant of his influence in Scottish society and abroad. His beautiful home overlooking the river Tweed on the southern side, with its extensive grounds and wonderful library, is a treasure that nearby Melrose and Galashiels areas can be rightly proud of.



There is a first class restaurant and visitor experience in a separate build which is a far cry from the small cafe / tearoom that preceded it and is worthy of its own awards and distinction being a modern and contemporary space on two levels.



I have photographed events there and also visited casually on many occasions and can thoroughly recommend visitors to go see for themselves.

My Dad was born on this estate in the small lodge and lived here up to the age of around 25! His father and his father before him, both Martin Flynn's as is my Dad's name, were caretakers for the estate. My Grandmother was a French pastry chef who used to cook for Jean and Patricia Maxwell Scott. His parents also ran the gift shop at the time. I have been lucky to visit here as we live in Perth, Western Australia. He has very fond memories of living here and often reminisces.

Lovely gardens and walks, took the dog and the staff made him so welcome, even provided his own water bowl at the table in the cafe. Definately will be back, lots still to explore and we didn't even step in the house!

I would really like to thank everyone in Digital Marketing who made my daughter Amy's work experience placement so rewarding & positive. She had a fantastic week & enjoyed all the work as well as her guided tour with some lovely American guests! She remains enthusiastic about everything Abbotsford House has to offer, from the history to the gardens,grounds and the events.

Thank you so much. It is appreciated

Caroline

I love this place. I love the borders, it's a magic place and Abbotsford is a journey of discovery and delight!! It has everything you could wish for in a day out. Wonderful.

I first visited Abbotsford 6 years ago, and although I loved the gardens, I found the house too gloomy and stuffed with ornamentation. However, my visit yesterday changed my view of the house and the whole visitor experience. The audio guides are brilliant -I'm not usually a fan of them- but here, they bring the house to life. Also, the new visitor centre with shop, exhibition area and upmarket cafe is excellent. Friendly guides and a great atmosphere.

Had a wonderful day. House, although you only have access to the ground floors, they have made the most of it. Excellent interactive talk with sir Walter Scott talking you around the rooms. Kids had a talk with the dog and cat, he loved finding the different signs to zap.



Excellent adventure park with a great climbing frame, both my 6 and 13 year old loved it. Staff in restaurant are so amazing and it was immaculate, decent prices and quite upmarket, but they also haven't forgot that kids love chips with tomato sauce.



A real surprise of a day and would definitely be back.

From the minute we arrived we were so impressed by the friendly, helpful welcome. The lady at the entrance to the house was absolutely amazing! Nothing too much bother. The cafe was excellent and the food fabulous!! A real gem of a place!!

Excellent venue .However, the bus service from the station to the house is nor reliable . Then uses are too small and the driver refused to take 3 of us on to the bus as there weren't seats left. Ended up walking for 25 minutes to get there ! Not bus was in over an hour's time.Sorry butthisisnor good enough for a touristic location

Without a doubt my favourite of any historic houses I have visited. The visitor centre and café restaurant are superb, the house and garden are beautiful, the setting is amazing, and as others have said the audio guides are brilliant and the staff and volunteers are probably the friendliest and most enthusiastic I have come across. Well done all!



As I live all of about 80 minutes drive away I took up the offer of "pay once, visit for a year" and I can't wait to go back and explore more. I know there's loads to keep me busy for hours to come!

Well worth a visit. The best audio guide I have ever experienced, as if the man himself invited me in. A fascinating place.

Well worth a visit to this wonderful house that is Abbotsford. The home of Sir Walter Scott. Adventurer and fantasist with great imagination in his writings. Such beautiful gardens and alongside runs the river Tweed. The restaurant and visitor centre are worth a visit also.

We visited on July 2. It was all I knew it would be and more. From his impressive study and library to the gardens to the Tweed itself--perfection. We came up on the train from Edinburgh, walked through the Tweed Bank park to Abbotsford and back again to the station. "Return" is no longer just a toast. --Karen Lentz Madison and Robert D. Madison, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

We regularly visit Abbotsford house, be it to leisurely walk around the house and grounds, including the small chapel next to the house.

Fabulous ladies to help with the onset of the tour.... or just for my grandchildren, who love the play area, which is very nicely kept and in keeping with the surrounding wooded area...

Ochiltree dining is also to be recommended and have had several visits. Enjoying the fish, and also cream teas, the scones were to die for....I only hope the new chef is as good as the previous one...

Lovely afternoon out for old, young and in between too.....

We really enjoyed all aspects of our visit experience. The sun was shining which made our leisurely walk around the garden grounds really pleasant. The electronic guides are the best I have come across and we enjoyed listening to the more personalised narration in the voice of 'Walter Scott'. The exhibition is very clear about Scott's life and we enjoyed going through it. Lunch was fab and felt like a real treat with lovely, friendly staff looking after us. The admissions staff were very friendly and helpful taking time to make sure we had all the info we needed. Well done to all involved in running this super visitor attraction. We felt like guests not visitors. �

Visited with my husband who has long wanted to see Abbotsford. He was not disappointed, it's a beautiful house with lovely grounds to walk around. The visitor centre is also very nice and very informative.

Visited the gardens on Thur 13 July and the house on Fri 14th. This was the third year we have been to Abbotsford and was just as good as the first! Each time we visit the house we always seem to notice something we haven't seen before! The gardens are stunning at this time of year as previous visits have been in October and May when there wasn't so much in bloom. The walk along the Tweed is also lovely. All the staff are very friendly and helpful too. Looking forward to when we return again next year!

Visited on the 7th June with a friend (both students from Edinburgh). We had I think the sole day of good weather this week. We arrived on the new Borders Railway and took a half hour walk to the house along the banks of the (very swollen) Tweed. You need to be fairly able-bodied for that, however, so for many people it might be best taking the car.



The house itself is a good early example of the Scots Baronial style and has been kept much as it was when Scott was alive, with some minor adjustments made by his relatives. His library - presented back to him by his creditors - is still in situ, next door to the study where many of his later novels were written. You can also see the dining room where Scott died, later painted over in white and bleached in a bid to combat the darkness that often plagues Scots Baronial as a style.



Be aware that only a handful of the reception rooms on the ground floor are open to the public. I understand that the family's original bedrooms have been lost for many years and part of the building has now been converted into self-catered accommodation. What remains, however, still bears the stamp of the family's personality and interests - the armoury(!) has been kept in the same arrangement since Scott's death and you can immediately feel the presence of Lady Scott in the drawing room.



Aside from the house, there is also a new visitor centre with an exhibition on Scott's life and work, which does a good job of bringing out how brilliant and paradoxical Scott really was.



A father of the romantic Victorian image of Scotland who also tacitly celebrated the Union with England; a conservative who nevertheless embraced new technology and social change (Abbotsford was among the first private houses to install gas); a sheriff-depute who often sympathised for outlaws. A man who believed that fiction could be used to make peace with a violent past and open the way to progress.



The visitor centre also includes a gift shop and a cafe on the top floor, which were both very nice if clearly targeted at deep-pocketed tourists rather than students. There is also a small garden, part of which is walled and originally meant for vegetables. It apparently once had its own flue system run by a furnace - another new technology that Scott incorporated - but we didn't see any evidence of it.



And of course you can go for walks by the Tweed, which is the whole reason that Scott bought Abbotsford to begin with (though the walks would benefit from slightly clearer signposting). The whole place is a fantasy made real - well worth visiting if you (like us) pass under Scott's gaze all the time on Princes Street and fancy getting to know him better.

Very friendly welcome both in the restaurant and house. Excellent headphone guide, even one especially designed for children which our six year old loved. Narrated by Scotts pets kept Ollie absorbed while the adults could enjoy their tour. The National Trust might benefit from a visit to improve their customer service. After spending days out at NT properties one feels they are resting on their laurels a bit. We thought the restaurant looked too posh for a family but the service, quality of food and prices made us feel relaxed. Top marks. You had everything right.

Sir Walter Scott was a litery giant of his day but to many like me growing up, I was ignorant of his influence in Scottish society and abroad. His beautiful home overlooking the river Tweed on the southern side, with its extensive grounds and wonderful library, is a treasure that nearby Melrose and Galashiels areas can be rightly proud of.



There is a first class restaurant and visitor experience in a separate build which is a far cry from the small cafe / tearoom that preceded it and is worthy of its own awards and distinction being a modern and contemporary space on two levels.



I have photographed events there and also visited casually on many occasions and can thoroughly recommend visitors to go see for themselves.

My Dad was born on this estate in the small lodge and lived here up to the age of around 25! His father and his father before him, both Martin Flynn's as is my Dad's name, were caretakers for the estate. My Grandmother was a French pastry chef who used to cook for Jean and Patricia Maxwell Scott. His parents also ran the gift shop at the time. I have been lucky to visit here as we live in Perth, Western Australia. He has very fond memories of living here and often reminisces.

Lovely gardens and walks, took the dog and the staff made him so welcome, even provided his own water bowl at the table in the cafe. Definately will be back, lots still to explore and we didn't even step in the house!

I would really like to thank everyone in Digital Marketing who made my daughter Amy's work experience placement so rewarding & positive. She had a fantastic week & enjoyed all the work as well as her guided tour with some lovely American guests! She remains enthusiastic about everything Abbotsford House has to offer, from the history to the gardens,grounds and the events.

Thank you so much. It is appreciated

Caroline

I love this place. I love the borders, it's a magic place and Abbotsford is a journey of discovery and delight!! It has everything you could wish for in a day out. Wonderful.

I first visited Abbotsford 6 years ago, and although I loved the gardens, I found the house too gloomy and stuffed with ornamentation. However, my visit yesterday changed my view of the house and the whole visitor experience. The audio guides are brilliant -I'm not usually a fan of them- but here, they bring the house to life. Also, the new visitor centre with shop, exhibition area and upmarket cafe is excellent. Friendly guides and a great atmosphere.

Had a wonderful day. House, although you only have access to the ground floors, they have made the most of it. Excellent interactive talk with sir Walter Scott talking you around the rooms. Kids had a talk with the dog and cat, he loved finding the different signs to zap.



Excellent adventure park with a great climbing frame, both my 6 and 13 year old loved it. Staff in restaurant are so amazing and it was immaculate, decent prices and quite upmarket, but they also haven't forgot that kids love chips with tomato sauce.



A real surprise of a day and would definitely be back.

From the minute we arrived we were so impressed by the friendly, helpful welcome. The lady at the entrance to the house was absolutely amazing! Nothing too much bother. The cafe was excellent and the food fabulous!! A real gem of a place!!

Excellent venue .However, the bus service from the station to the house is nor reliable . Then uses are too small and the driver refused to take 3 of us on to the bus as there weren't seats left. Ended up walking for 25 minutes to get there ! Not bus was in over an hour's time.Sorry butthisisnor good enough for a touristic location