South of Edinburgh

Most visitors to Scotland travel north to see the Scottish Highlands.  I will be taking a 5-day tour north next week to places like the Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Glencoe, Inverness, etc.  I will be seeing the Doune Castle, Clan Donald Skye, Urquhart Castle, the Jacobite Steam Train that was featured in Harry Potter movies, and many other sites.

Not many visitors venture south of Edinburgh but the scenery is probably just as beautiful.  Two hours south of Edinburgh is the border with England.  The land is filled with rolling hills and farmlands.  Even with the late weather, the meadows are all very green.  You see sheep grazing everywhere.  It's a beautiful drive through a spectacular countryside dotted by small Scottish towns.

Sir Walter Scott is a literary legend in Scotland.  You see his name everywhere and there are all kinds of memorials built to honor him.  At one time he lived in a small town called Abbotsford, an hour south of Edinburgh.  His house here has been preserved and restored and is a popular tourist stop for tourists who want to know more about Sir Walter Scott.  Unfortunately, he spent so much money buying the house and land that he got into severe financial difficulties.  These were resolved only after his death.

Another important landmark in this area is the 12th century Abbey at Melrose.  Many Scottish kings and nobles were buried in the abbey.  Wealthy families are also buried here.  The Gothic-style abbey is known for its many stone carvings and intricate details.

The Black Barony Castle, now a French-owned hotel

Information of Sir Walter Scott's house

Quote by Sir Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott's house at Abbotsford

Melrose Abbey ruins

The Abbey was built in 1136

The Abbey and the surrounding countryside

Beautiful farmlands around the Abbey

Marvelous stone carvings at the Abbey

Beautiful stone pillars

More examples of stone carvings

Effigy of a person buried here

Family burial plot