Scottish Borders: abbeys along the Tweed
Rosslyn’s carved chapel, the old house at Traquair, the great ruined abbeys of Melrose and Jedburgh and Walter Scott’s favourite view.
- Distance
- 123 km (76 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 42 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- United Kingdom
- Updated
- June 27, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 123 km (76 mi) with 8 stops, from Edinburgh to Jedburgh Abbey. About 1 h 42 min of driving in total.
More road trips in United Kingdom · More road trips from Edinburgh
Route description
Just south of Edinburgh, Rosslyn Chapel is famous for the intricate carvings that cover its interior. Then take the A703 over the moors to Peebles, a pleasant town on the Tweed with a good choice of places to eat.
Follow the A72 down the Tweed valley to Traquair House, lived in for centuries, and on through Innerleithen and Galashiels. Near Melrose, Abbotsford was Walter Scott’s home; in the town, the ruins of Melrose Abbey are decorated with carved saints and gargoyles.
Take the B6356 via Dryburgh, where Scott is buried in the abbey ruins, to Scott’s View, looking across a bend of the Tweed to the Eildon Hills. Continue east to Kelso, with its wide cobbled square, a ruined abbey and the grand Floors Castle beside the river.
Finish at Jedburgh, where the abbey church still stands almost complete but roofless in the town centre. From here the A68 climbs to the English border at Carter Bar, so the route pairs well with a trip to Hadrian’s Wall or the Northumberland coast.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Edinburgh
United Kingdom - 214 km
Rosslyn Chapel
HistoryRoslin, United KingdomA 15th-century chapel covered inside with elaborate stone carvings, just south of Edinburgh. Tickets are timed in busy months.
- 328 km
Peebles
United Kingdom - 411 km
Traquair House
HistoryInnerleithen, United KingdomA fortified country house often described as the oldest inhabited house in Scotland, with a maze in the grounds.
- 527 km
Melrose Abbey
HistoryMelrose, United KingdomThe richly carved ruins of a Cistercian abbey where the heart of Robert the Bruce is said to be buried.
- 65 km
Scott’s View
ViewsBemersyde, United KingdomSir Walter Scott’s favourite view, over a loop of the Tweed to the three summits of the Eildon Hills. There is a small layby on the B6356.
- 717 km
Kelso
United Kingdom - 819 km
Jedburgh Abbey
HistoryJedburgh, United KingdomThe roofless but nearly complete church of a 12th-century abbey in the centre of Jedburgh, on the A68 towards England.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Edinburgh → Peebles · 42 km · 0 h 35 minOn the way: Rosslyn Chapel.Overnight nearby, for example: Glentress Forest Lodges (3 km); Crossburn Caravan Park (1 km).
- Day 2: Peebles → Melrose Abbey · 39 km · 0 h 32 minOn the way: Traquair House.Overnight nearby, for example: Victoria Park Campsite (10 km); Gibson Park Caravan Club Site (< 1 km).
- Day 3: Melrose Abbey → Jedburgh Abbey · 42 km · 0 h 35 minOn the way: Scott’s View, Kelso.Overnight nearby, for example: Jedburgh Camping & Caravan Club site (1 km); Jedwater Caravan Park (5 km).
Best time to go
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. Cold, short days in January. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- United Kingdom: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Drive on the left. Some bridges and tunnels charge tolls.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Scottish Borders: abbeys along the Tweed?
3-day road trip of about 123 km (76 mi) with 8 stops, from Edinburgh to Jedburgh Abbey. About 1 h 42 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Scottish Borders: abbeys along the Tweed?
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 42 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Scottish Borders: abbeys along the Tweed start and end?
It starts in Edinburgh and ends in Jedburgh Abbey.
Which countries does Scottish Borders: abbeys along the Tweed pass through?
United Kingdom.
Where can you camp along Scottish Borders: abbeys along the Tweed?
OpenStreetMap lists 45 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Mortonhall Caravan and Camping Park, Glentress Forest Lodges and Victoria Park Campsite.
When is the best time for Scottish Borders: abbeys along the Tweed?
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually May–September. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
