Travel Tour Scotland
All About Scotland
Golf Transport + Airport Transfer Service
Melrose and Dryburgh
Scottish Borders Attractions
The town of Melrose is in the heart of the Scottish Borders.
Melrose is where the Abbey where the Heart of Robert the Bruce is buried.
It is also where at Newstead the Romans built first and main camp in the north.
Trimontium was the Roman Camp built in 79 A.D. (the size of a town).
This is as most Sottish Borders towns is a rugby town with the main exception that it is where the game of 7's rugby began.
Melrose Rugby Club
Melrose Rugby Football Club was founded in 1877 and is one of the world’s oldest Rugby Football Clubs. Melrose Rugby Club is where
7 a side rugby was thought up by Ned Haig and first played in 1883.
The world comes to Melrose in April for the 7s Rugby Tournament.
Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey founded in 1136 by King David I.
This was the first Cistercian monastery in Scotland.
The stone plaque shows where Robert the Bruce’s heart is buried.
Look up to the top of the walls of Melrose Abbey to see a
Pig playing Bagpipes
Look up to the top of the walls of Melrose Abbey to see a
Pig playing Bagpipes
Thomas The Rhymer
Thomas the Rhymer
Thomas was a poet and someone that could predict the future. His home was in Earlston in the Scottish Borders. The legend tells that Thomas fell asleep beneath a tree at the foot of the Eildon Hills. When he woke he saw the vision of a shining Lady on a Grey horse, this was the Queen of the Fairies and she entranced him and took him away to Fairyland. He remained there for what he thought had been three days, but was actually 7 years. When he left, the Queen gave him the gift of speaking the truth and told him many prophecies of great events in Scottish history.
Thomas the Rhymer Stone
Thomas the Rhymer Stone Eildon Hills
Bridge Over the Tweed
One of the events he prophesied that there would be a bridge over the River Tweed which would be visible from the Eildon Tree. The Fairy Queen also told Thomas that she would return one day, so if you feel weary rest under the tree and you never can tell what will happen next. Thomas was a real person and lived in the 1200s and his rhymes have been popular for hundreds of years. His rhymers are the earliest examples of Scottish Poetry. Look in the Poetry Library of the Royal Mile for some examples. Stand by the stone and look for the Bridge or take a nap and see what happens.
Dryburgh Attractions
Scottish Borders
In 1150 Hugo de Morville, owner of large area of southern Scotland granted by King David I, established the first community of White Canons of the Premonstratensian Order at Dryburgh.
Edward II of England in 1322 and burnt the Abbey and Robert the Bruce had it rebuilt, it was again attacked in 1385 and has been attacked on other occasions, but parts still stand after 850 years.
Dryburgh is a small hamlet with an Abbey of great significance. There are many things to see in and around the Abbey with Walter Scott's famous view of the Eildon Hills, and his family grave in the graveyard of the Abbey. A 30 foot statue of William (Braveheart) Wallace and the Temple of the Muse close to the River Tweed. Dryburgh Abbey has many attractions that include the grave of Earl Haig and an obelisk in memorial to King James I, king James II and Hugh de Moreville.
Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott died in 1832 and is buried in Dryburgh Abbey burial grounds. Also in the tomb are some of his family. His wife who died in 1816. His son also Walter, died 1847 and his wife.
John Gibson Lockhart
Walter Scott's son-in-law, who wrote Walter Scott’s biography died 1854. Interned next to Sir Walter Scott.
Earl Douglas Haig of Bemersyde
Field Marshal Douglas Haig was Commander in Chief of the
British forces in the First World War.
The Haig family have been part of the area since the building of the Abbey circa 1100.
Memorial Obelisk Dryburgh Abbey
The Obelisk at Dryburgh Abbey is engraved with figures of three great men.
King James I, king James II and Hugh de Moreville who was born in Cumbria circa 1100 was Lord High Constable of Scotland and owned a large part of Scotland. Founder of Dryburgh Abbey circa 1150 and died circa 1160 in Dryburgh in the Scottish Borders.
James Ye I of Scots
Hugh de Moreville
Founder of the Abbey circa 1150
Holding the Kings Banner
James Ye II of Scots
Temple of Nature
William (Braveheart) Wallace
In Dryburgh a statue of William Wallace stands looking out over the Eildon Hills 30 ft (9.1 mtrs) in height across from it stands an Urn with an Poetic inscription.
The Temple of Nature (Temple Muse) is down the hill from the Wallace statue.
Scott's View
Eildon Hills Dryburgh Scottish Borders
Distance Marker at Scott's View Eildon Hills Dryburgh Scottish Borders
