Whether you are a keen gardener or just love looking out on a beautiful garden you’ll love staying in a self-catering cottage at Burnbrae, where whatever the season guests can look out over the gardens from their conservatory and enjoy the flowers and shrubs which are in bloom. Guests can also admire the magnificent view from their patio and take in the gardens and the stunning countryside with rural views across the Eden Water to the Cheviot hills.

There is a wealth of beautiful gardens in the Scottish Borders which can be visited easily from Burnbrae. Most of these gardens are accessible by wheelchair and some of them offer the loan of a wheelchair.

We ought to mention that, owing to the special nature of some of the following historical gardens some are not open all year round, so it’s worth checking the garden’s own website to find out more information and to confirm opening hours.

I list below a few gardens or the many gardens in the local area, which I hope will be of interest to you. I will be happy to provide more information about these and other gardens in the Scottish Borders. Please ask.

Abbotsford Garden

Abbotsford was the home of Sir Walter Scott; beautiful Regency formal gardens, complemented by a peaceful scenic woodland walk partly along the banks of the River Tweed. A delightful venue, with an excellent visitor centre and cafe.

Abbotsford grounds and gardens are open year-round. Please book your tickets online prior to visiting.

Dawick is a part of the Royal Botanic Gardens in the Scottish Borders and is one of the world’s finest arboreta. It has a magic all of its own. Set in the scenic Borders landscape, three lovely features are the Azalea Terrace; the amazing Himalayan blue poppies, and the Beech Walk (very special in both the spring and the autumn) but this woodland garden is a delight all year round. Dawyck Gardens has a really nice cafe! The facilities are all wheelchair friendly and wheelchairs are available for loan. However, the terrain of the garden itself is more challenging to push wheelchairs.

Floors castle gardens

The walled garden at Floors Castle has a spectacular display of flowers and includes one of the finest kitchen gardens in Scotland. Also well worth exploring are the Millennium Parterre designed in the traditional French style, and The Star Plantation linking the Walled Garden to the rest of the grounds and riverside along the banks of the river Tweed affording delightfully serene views toward Kelso. There are a variety of walks and a cycle path. (Only 2 miles from Burnbrae).

The Castle Grounds and riverside walks are closed until 11th May 2023

For a little peace and quiet, you will enjoy the ‘private’ gardens of the early-19th century Harmony House in Melrose which is now owned by the National Trust. It is both walled and screened by trees, and, in spring, has a rich display of flowering bulbs offering a unique sense of peace and tranquillity. The views across Melrose Abbey and Eildon Hills are magnificent.

Mellerstain House & gardens

Mellerstain House & Gardens 3 miles from Burnbrae. Mellerstain Garden is the home to the Borders Sculpture trail, a different artist each year.

Open Easter until the end of September each year. 11 am -4 pm. Lovely gardens to wander around. New cafe opening for 2023.

waterfountain at Mertourn Garden


Mertourn Gardens
 near St Boswells was designed by Sir William Bruce in 1703-1705. Includes a walled garden and an arboretum. Open from 1st April to 30th September, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, 2pm to 6pm, or by appointment. Last entry 5.30pm.

Kailzie gardens include a formal garden; a wild garden; woodland walks; fly-fishing; and osprey watching: this garden has plenty to keep all members of the family amused for hours. Open daily April until October.

If you like the vast pomp of Victorian parks, then head to Hawick, about 40 minutes’ drive from your holiday cottage, where you could spend a day in the 107 acres of Wilton Lodge Park. Bisected by the River Teviot, it offers riverside walks, with their different areas for both amenity and recreation, and distinctive planting, formal gardens, a museum, and even a waterfall. As well as sports pitches there are informal recreation areas such as crazy golf, tennis and croquet. An orienteering map is available from the museum, which houses displays on local history, militaria, art and the natural sciences. Sunday recitals are held at the new bandstand. Local motorcycle legends Jimmy Guthrie and Steve Hislop are commemorated here. The park has had a £3.7m refurbishment.

Burnbrae holidays garden

Then there are the gardens on your conservatory doorstep at Burnbrae. We use some flowers from the garden to decorate our home.