Self Catering Holidays in the Scottish Borders and Edinburgh

Floors Castle, Scottish Borders
Floors Castle, Scottish Borders

Scottish Borders

What's On in the Scottish Borders

The Scottish Borders is an events and festivals destination for all seasons and tastes.

Experience the warmest of welcomes and outstanding hospitality as you witness proud traditions being upheld, culture and creativity celebrated, and action-packed events that will keep you entertained all year-round.

Enjoy amazing scenery from quiet country roads at the week-long festival of bike riding, Tweedlove, or listen to world-renowned authors at the Borders Book Festival.

Discover the colourful history of the Scottish Borders at the Return to the Ridings or put on your walking boots and head to the annual Scottish Borders Walking Festival.

Take a look through the information listings and plan your trip to an event or festival in the Scottish Borders.

Described by Sir Walter Scott as ‘The most beautiful, if not the most romantic village in Scotland’, Kelso is a market town which lies at the junction of two rivers – the Tweed and the Teviot. In  1128 David I, granted the monks permission to build an abbey across the water from his castle, and from this the town of Kelso grew.

Close to Kelso Abbey is Kelso’s elegant Georgian cobbled Market Square – claimed to be the largest in Scotland, and a grand stage to the St James’ Fair, and scenes of Kelso Civic Week.  Kelso’s sheer number of independent shops is overwhelming, and Kelso’s magnificant Floors Castle is Scotlands largest inhabited castle, and home to the Duke of Roxburghe, with open gardens and coffee shop.

Kelso’s bridge spanning the Tweed was the first designed by John Rennie, and was the prototype for London’s Waterloo Bridge.  Underneath the bridge lies the holy grail of salmon fishing, the Junction pool where the two rivers meet, and Salmon rest before their journey upstream.

Kelso also plays host to Kelso race course which has the reputation of being the friendliest racecourse in the Britain. Check out the Border Union Showground, the host of many events throughout each year

June 2023

Dino-Floors, discover a prehistoric world at Floors Castle Kelso.
10 The Proclaimers at The Borders Events Centre, Kelso
17 Border Union Championship Dog Show

July 2023

August 2023

September 2023

2-9 Scottish Borders Walking Festival – based round Kelso
Border Union Tup Sales
12 Kelso Races. Evening Race meeting Online Tickets | Kelso Races Kelso Racecourse (kelso-races.co.uk)
20 Kelso Races – Evening Race meeting

October 2023

Kelso Races, Family Race Day
28 Kelso Races Edinburgh Gin Chase Day
29 Halloween Spooktacular at Paxton House

November 2023

11 Kelso Races, Wishing Well Chase Day
18-19 The Crafters Art and Design Fair in The Borders Events Centre, Kelso
29 Kelso Races, Afternoon Racing

December 2023

2-3 Christmas Cracker Weekend at Paxton House 
10 Kelso Races The Scottish Borders National
29 Kelso Races, Festive Fling Raceday

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