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The Scottish Borders A wonderful place to live What’s not to love about a region that offers spectacular landscapes, rivers that provide world-class fishing, miles of coastline edged by rugged cliffs and beautiful beaches? A region that has thriving towns, quiet hamlets and picturesque villages, outstanding schools, healthcare, and a housing market that offers more house for the money than anything comparable in the city suburbs; a region steeped in history and traditions that unite its communities and where sport and leisure opportunities are not only legendary, many are also free and there for the taking. These are what define the unique quality of life in the Scottish Borders, a region that has its roots in the past and its focus firmly fixed on the future.
There are 20 BSPC member firms located throughout the Borders, which means there is one near you! Established in 2001, Borders Solicitors Property Centre (BSPC for short) is the largest local network of property agents, with 20 independent member firms operating from 33 offices conveniently located throughout the region. Each office is run by an experienced team of property professionals and headed by a qualified solicitor who, in turn, is governed by a strict professional code of conduct laid down by the Law Society of Scotland.
Selling a house usually calls for the services of an estate agent and a solicitor - but why deal with two separate companies when you can have just one? BSPC firms provide both services under one roof, making it by far the easiest, fastest and most financially cost-effective way to market and sell a home in the Borders region. BSPC offices are staffed by locals who live and work in the area and have in-depth knowledge of localised property markets.
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WHEN YOU’RE BUYING OR SELLING PROPERT Y . . . IT HAS TO BE BSPC
The largest town in the Borders is Galashiels, historically the centre of the tweed industry. Close proximity to the A7, one of the main routes linking Edinburgh with Carlisle, makes Galashiels and the smaller nearby towns and villages such as Melrose, Stow, Lauder, Earlston, Clovenfords, St Boswells and Newtown St Boswells highly accessible for commuting in all directions. And this area’s commuter edge will be boosted further later this year when the Borders Railway becomes a reality, resulting in stations in Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank, the last station on the line. This area of the Borders is steeped in history and tradition. Galashiels means ‘dwellings by the Gala Water’ and the first recorded reference to the town was in 1124, during the reign of David 1st. The town’s oldest building, Old Gala House, home of the Lairds of Gala for five centuries, is now an art gallery and local museum charting the story of the house, its inhabitants and the early development of the town. A newer monument but equally impressive is the war memorial with its massive Border Reiver horseman, the work of local sculptor Thomas Clapperton.
Galashiels
Galashiels made its name as a centre of excellence for textile manufacturing. More recently, the gradual decline of the industry saw once productive mills become tombstones to a bygone era. Today, thanks to major investment, the mill sites have been reborn in a different guise, with the largest now home to Gala Water Retail Park, where 24-hour supermarkets are joined by top high street chain stores, while links with Galashiels’ textile industry are maintained by the School of Textiles and Design, now part of Heriot-Watt University. There’s never a shortage of things to do in Galashiels, where leisure activities include swimming, golf (two courses), athletics, cycling, canoeing on the Gala Water and River Tweed, walking, football and rugby. The town also has an outdoor sports complex, children’s indoor adventure playground and a four-screen cinema complex. Living in the Central Borders gives house buyers a far wider choice than in the city and Galashiels has property styles to suit all tastes and budgets, from starter flats and ex local authority houses to substantial stone-built semi and detached period and one-off properties at the other. Further afield, the surrounding area has everything from picturesque country cottages and farm conversions to modern family estates and individually designed houses.
Melrose A few miles east of Galashiels is Melrose, a genteel town at the foot of the landmark Eildon Hills with a tranquil vibe. The jewel in this picturesque town is the magnificent rose-red ruins of the 12th century abbey, its architecture reputed to be the best monastic example in Great Britain. Melrose Abbey, which is in the care of Historic Scotland, is also believed to be the final resting place of a casket containing the heart of Robert the Bruce – the casket, discovered, but not opened, by high school students during an excavation dig, was placed in a sealed lead cylinder and then re-buried in the abbey. The abbey is also the starting point for St Cuthbert’s Way, a 62-mile cross border walk that ends in Holy Island, off the northwest coast of Northumberland. It’s one of the many leisure activities that bring people to the town. For a small place, Melrose has a surprising number of annual events, including the Melrose Festival, which takes place every year in June and combines all of the typical elements of the traditional Border summer celebrations, with a Common Riding, Festival Queen, sports and fancy dress. This year’s festival dates are 14-20 June and the Festival Queen will be crowned at the Abbey.
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Another highly acclaimed annual event in Melrose is the Borders Book Festival, which is held at the National Trust for Scotland’s Harmony Garden, a tranquil setting surrounded by walls and screened by trees from which to hear thought-provoking words from many esteemed writers and performers who take part in this event. This years Book Festival takes place from 11-14th June. Melrose is known throughout the world as the birthplace of Rugby Sevens, an abbreviated game of rugby invented circa 1883 by Ned Haig, a local butcher. The Melrose Sevens remains the most popular Scottish Sevens tournament, regularly attracting audiences of more than 10,000 people. Like other Border towns it also has a rugby union team and Melrose Rugby Football Club is one of the oldest in the world, founded in 1877. For the sports minded, Melrose also hosts the annual Eildon Two Hill Race – the trio of hills is a well-known landmark visible for miles around the town. Walkers head to the Eildons to follow in the footsteps of Sir Walter Scott and admire his favourite view of the Borders, aptly known as Scott’s view. Good to visit, Melrose is an even better place to live. Although best known for its traditional stone-built houses, new build development in recent years means buyers now have the opportunity to choose both ends of the spectrum; a traditional setting with Victorian architecture and modern new build properties.
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Stow • Earlston • Lauder Closer to Edinburgh, towns and villages like Earlston, Lauder and Stow are similarly expanding to meet increased demand from commuters – especially the latter, which is scheduled to have a railway station on the Borders Railway. Just 28 miles from Edinburgh and just seven miles from Galashiels, the village of Stow has many buildings of character and interest, including the ruined Old Kirk and Town Hall, while recent expansion has added new build detached properties to the local housing market. Earlston’s desirability is enhanced by a new state -of-the-art high school, good range of local amenities, and house styles that range from traditional through to modern.
Lauder’s proximity to the A68 – the oldest established route between Edinburgh and England - gives the town added commuter appeal. Lauder is also unique in having retained the layout of an ancient Scottish Royal Burgh, whereby the facilities of a modern town combine with historic buildings such as 15th century Thirlstane Castle, where features include an adventure playground, Victorian kitchen, and dolls house collection. Situated close to the Lammermuir Hills, property styles in this picturesque part of the world are predictably varied, from traditional through to modern.
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Shopping is another reason to visit Melrose. The town is renowned for having small independent shops and restaurants. Crafts are also an attraction, with the Crafters co-operative providing a wide range of locally made arts and crafts, including pottery, stained glass, jewellery and knitwear.
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Picturesque Melrose has something for everyone, be it historic attractions, a rugby match, shops, fine dining, or heading to the surrounding countryside to fish, walk, cycle or golf at Melrose Golf Club’s picturesque nine -hole parkland course at the foot of the Eildons.
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WHEN YOU’RE BUYING OR SELLING PROPERT Y . . . IT HAS TO BE BSPC
Peebles Located the furthest west, just 23 miles from Edinburgh and 50 miles from Glasgow, Peebles has long been a favourite place for a day out with residents of both cities, who come to browse the town’s much admired high street shops, galleries, craft centres and round the day off with a meal in one of the many acclaimed eateries. But in recent years these same attractions, coupled with the wide range of outdoor leisure pursuits and new housing developments that offer better value for money than the cities, have tempted many younger people to make it their home and enjoy the lifestyle on a permanent basis. The area around the town has many notable sports and adventure opportunities. Glentress Forest, which has existed for 10,000 years, is one of the top mountain bike venues in the UK (and the number one attraction in the Borders), with exhilarating ski -style black, red, blue and green trails to suit all levels of ability (walkers have their own routes to ensure the two never meet). Nearby, Cardrona Adventure Centre adds quad biking, kayaking, horse riding, climbing and abseiling to the list of outdoor possibilities. The outdoor lifestyle opportunities are one of Peebles main attractions – and you don’t have to be an angler to appreciate the world-famous River Tweed, which flows through the town like a silver ribbon, providing glorious river walks and trails for walkers and cyclists of all ages and abilities. Dawyck Botanic Garden and Kailzie Gardens provide a year -round kaleidoscope of colour, while nearby hills like Cademuir reward walkers with spectacular views of the town and surrounding area.
Parts of Peebles can be dated back to the 15th century, although most of the present buildings and houses in the old town are 18th century – old enough to have developed all the quirks and irregular rooflines that give traditional properties character in abundance. As the town expanded, so too did the size of the houses, resulting in elegant, detached villas, some built in sandstone as opposed to local whinstone. In contrast, there are pockets of modern but now well-established property developments like the 1960’s villas in Edderston Road, on the south side of the town. More recently, the creation of Cardrona, a planned new village bordering the Tweed on the outskirts of Peebles, has added hundreds of homes to the local property mix as well as providing a hotel, championship golf course and leisure facilities, including a pool and spa. Expansion within the town has continued on a less dramatic scale, with current developments offering everything from a two-bedroom terraced home to a prestigious detached family villa in a village-style development bordering countryside. Peebles is the main town for many of the outlying villages, like Eddleston and Stobo, home to the world-famous Stobo Castle Health Spa. A few miles east in the direction of Galashiels is Innerleithen. Smaller than Peebles, it nonetheless offers a good variety of shops and eateries, a nine-hole golf course and a property market that comprises a similar mix of traditional, modern and new houses. While Peebles has Neidpath Castle, neighbouring Innerleithen has Traquair House, home to the Maxwell Stuarts since before the time of Mary Queen of Scots and the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. The Traquair House Brewery is one of the oldest working breweries in the UK, dating back to the 18th century.
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Kelso Kelso is arguably the most picturesque of all the Border towns, attracting holidaymakers and visitors as well as those looking to maximise their quality of life away from the stresses and pressures of work. Lying in a fertile valley between the Lammermuir Hills and the Cheviots, Kelso has prospered without sacrificing the character and intrigue imbued by passing centuries. The historic heart of the town around the recently improved 18th century market square is a conservation area, which safeguards its future. But the past is evident almost at every turn, with landmarks that include 12th century Kelso Abbey, Kelso bridge (the first in the world to have elliptical arches and the model for London’s Waterloo Bridge), Cross Keys Hotel, built in 1761 and once the finest coaching inn in the area, and to the north of the town, the magnificent 18th century Floors Castle, Scotland’s largest inhabited house and the ancestral home of the Dukes of Roxburghe. For nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts the opportunities in and around Kelso are almost endless, with parks and riverside walkways, athletics, badminton, cricket, tennis, cycling, ice -skating, hockey, angling, football, swimming and golf to name but a few. Unique among Border towns, Kelso has an ice rink and an equestrian racecourse, the home of National Hunt Racing. Given its historical background, the local property market offers a predictably wide range of house styles, from modern luxury apartments and one-off houses, to traditional flats and terraced styles, rural cottages in outlying villages and larger stone-built houses from the Georgian and Victorian eras.
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A diverse range of properties From period sandstone villas in Peebles to coastal cottages, the Scottish Borders has a wide range of property types to suit all tastes, which you will find within our BSPC Property Guide and website. Below is just a small sample of the range available . . .
Peebles
Offers Over £695,000
One of the most impressive period sandstone villas in Peebles, this home’s interior combines all the original features you would expect with a clean modern colour palette and fixtures and fittings. The property is set in 1.08 acres of beautifully maintained garden grounds minutes from the town.
Yarrowford Fixed Price £280,000
Gordon Offers Around £440,000
Lauder Offers Around £340,000
A dream property for anyone with equestrian interests, Kircal represents the good life with a rural setting and glorious gardens (with vegetable plot). Outside are six acres of paddocks, a five-box stable block, garage, greenhouse and sheds.
Easy commuting to Edinburgh is a key feature of this substantial 5 bedroom detached villa in a cul-de-sac setting within a modern development. In pristine condition throughout with enclosed rear gardens this is ideal for families with young children.
Duns
Guide Price £280,000
Hawick In region of £225,000
This detached bungalow is a most unusual property with immense appeal and potential and is set in a delightful village cul-de-sac development overlooking a large shared pond and countryside beyond. The mature gardens have scope for another dwelling and the bungalow has scope for an extension.
This property offers a rare opportunity to acquire a C-listed Victorian villa with charm, character, original features, modern day comforts and a two-storey layout, within close proximity to the town centre. This is a very spacious four bedroom property which also benefits from a fully floored attic, garage and workshop.
This is a substantial detached Victorian family home in a desirable area of the town. Beautifully presented, the accommodation combines original period features and modern comforts. The sizeable rear gardens are a joy and the property also benefits from a driveway with parking space and single garage.
Nenthorn Asking Price £199,950
Galashiels Guide Price £165,000
Tweedbank Guide Price £157,500
This cleverly converted former church three miles from Kelso is a rare find – ideal for those looking for a unique or historical property. It has charm and character in equal measure. Highlights include exposed stonework, arched windows and high ceilings, while outside the property has peaceful mature gardens, off-road parking and stunning views of the surrounding countryside.
Recently upgraded to a high specification, this Victorian semi-detached family home is located in one of the most sought after areas of the town - and has a stunning interior. Beautifully presented throughout, the property also has attractive gardens to the front, side and rear,the latter incorporating a paved patio area, shed and outhouses. A must-see home.
It’s all about location and this modern semi-detached villa is on a private residential estate in Tweedbank – ideally placed for Tweedbank station when the Railway commences this year. The property has a number of connected rooms that flow from room to room, and a conservatory with patio doors to the garden. It also has an attached single garage and beautiful gardens.
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WHEN YOU’RE BUYING OR SELLING PROPERT Y . . . IT HAS TO BE BSPC
In addition to its mix of house styles to suit all age groups and prices ranges, Kelso has an outstanding range of facilities and amenities, including primary and secondary schools, shops, and clubs for everything from curling to arts and bridge. This area is a firm favourite with walkers, particularly outlying villages like Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm, which are half-a-mile apart and stand on either side of the Bowmont River. Kirk Yetholm, home to the world famous Yetholm Gypsies, also marks the end of the Pennine Way, a challenging long-distance walk that begins in Derbyshire and winds through three National Parks before crossing the border at Kirk Yetholm. The property market in this part of the world is kept buoyant by demand from both local residents and incomers from north and south of the border. It helps that despite being geographically only a few miles from the English border, Kelso is still within commuting distance of Edinburgh via the A68 and the city bypass – and will be even better placed for commuters when the Borders Railway is up and running later this year. Given that it has so many attractions and things to do, the Kelso area is also a favourite choice for buyers looking to invest in a holiday or retirement home.
Jedburgh Jedburgh is similar in layout to Edinburgh’s Old Town in that it has a long high street terminating with a castle – Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum - at its highest point. The town centre is a conservation area boasting more than 130 listed properties, a number of which are category A - buildings of national or international importance, either architectural or historic, or little-altered examples of a particular period, style or building type. The history of this attractive town is highlighted at a visitor centre based in a fortified house that played host to Mary Queen of Scots in 1566. The A68 cuts a swathe through Jedburgh providing direct access north to Edinburgh and south, through Northumberland National Park, where it joins the A69 linking Carlisle and Newcastle. The town is an attractive mix of old and new, its buildings ranging from historic and quirky to traditional and modern, while the surrounding countryside offers opportunities for one-off properties with land for horses, farm houses and steadings and rural conversions. Like Kelso, Jedburgh’s main sport (some would say passion) is rugby, however, other outdoor options include golf, horse riding, angling, cycling and places to visit, such as Harestanes Countryside Centre and Jedforest Deer and Farm Park. Local facilities include pre-school, primary and secondary schools (Jedburgh Grammar School), local shops and restaurants, healthcare all the necessities of life wrapped up in scenic rural surroundings.
Selkirk Less than 40 miles from Edinburgh, the town of Selkirk is officially ancient – an Ancient and Royal Burgh, no less. But what sets this Border town apart from its neighbours is its dramatic elevated setting high above the Ettrick and Yarrow valleys. While Hawick made hosiery, Selkirk built a reputation for glassmaking and gave its name to the buttery Selkirk Bannock. The town is also known for its associations with Sir Walter Scott - who served as sheriff for 33 years and whose courtroom is now a museum - and with William Wallace, who was declared Guardian of the Kingdom of Scotland in Selkirk. The Ettrick Valley was also the birthplace of poet and writer James Hogg, otherwise known as the ‘Ettrick Shepherd.’ As a place to live Selkirk has much going for it apart from spectacular scenery – good schools, shops, hotels, restaurants, and sports and leisure facilities that include rugby, swimming, angling, golf (with both nine and 18-hole courses), horse -riding, walking and cycling. Bowhill House and Country Park, the Borders’ home of the Duke of Buccleuch, is another major attraction in the area. There’s also a creative vibe in Selkirk that can be seen in Rob Elliot’s handcrafted furniture and the award-winning Twists Glass Studio.
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Hawick Hawick is famous for its fine quality knitwear including cashmere , peppermint sweets known as Hill’s Hawick Balls – and ‘The Horse’ at the end of the High Street, an impressive equestrian statue that commemorates the victory of local youths over English invaders at nearby Hornshole in 1514, barely a year after the disaster at Flodden. Hawick has merged the old and the new with outstanding success. Architecture from the past has found a new lease of life – most notably the former Tower Mill, the centrepiece of a £10 million regeneration project that incorporates a striking two -storey glass entrance and terrace overlooking Slitrig Water. Now a modern civic arts centre, this landmark building houses a cinema, theatre, cafe and exhibition area – quite a contrast to the original water wheel, which has been retained as a tangible link with the past. Many historical buildings are there to admire, like the Public Library and Town Hall, while former mill buildings that once put Hawick on the world map, are gradually being put to other uses. The town’s close proximity to the English border made it a frequent target for cross border skirmishes between the two countries during the 1400s and 1500s. Today the English come either to shop as day visitors or to find a lifestyle destination that offers spectacular scenery, wide variety of sports and leisure facilities and a property market that has something to suit every taste, from period buildings, conversions and traditional flats, to rural cottages and modern housing developments. East access to the A7 also puts Hawick within easy reach of Selkirk and Galashiels. Marginally closer to Newcastle – an hour’s drive as opposed to an hour and fifteen minutes to Edinburgh.
Berwickshire is a region with just 32 miles of coastline, yet as a lifestyle location it offers a diversity that is hard to beat, with magnificent beaches, wildlife tours, off-shore safaris, loch, sea and river fishing, bird watching, golf, guided walks, cycle trails, boat trips, surfing, diving, historic monuments and places of interest. All these factors combine to make a positive impact on Berwickshire’s property market, which continues to attract out-of-town buyers to Eyemouth - its largest port and the centre for commercial fishing on the east coast.
Eyemouth Eyemouth, located five miles or so from the English border, is named after its position at the mouth of the Eye Water. It’s a fascinating town with a mix of architectural styles, from the historic Gunsgreen House on a site overlooking the river – built in 1753 by notorious smuggler, John Nisbet, who included such things as a tea chute, vast cellars and other hidey holes in which to conceal smuggled goods, most notably tea - to quaint cottages, narrow streets and vennels, modern houses, shops, galleries, eateries, and other historic attractions. A wide bay and sandy north-facing beach makes Eyemouth a seaside resort as well as a busy working harbour where fish are traded early every morning and where all the traditional crafts and trades associated with the fishing industry can still be found, from net-making to ship building and repair. The Auld Kirk is now an award -winning museum, which gives insight into the history of the town, while the Maritime Centre, which opened in 2007, charts life afloat in changing exhibitions. Eyemouth also has a modern, state-of-the-art High School, which, coupled with the choice of both traditional and modern/new build house styles available, has boosted the town’s desirability with families.
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Duns Further inland and only ten minutes from the A1 and just 45 minutes from Edinburgh, Duns has its roots in farming and a history marked by the many skirmishes and battles that took place between the Scots and the English. Modern day Duns has a great many attractions, including architectural gems like the 14th century Duns Castle (now a luxury hotel) and Manderston House, the setting for Channel 4’s Edwardian Country House series. But the town’s early history stretches far back in time – Duns Law, close to the original Duns Castle built in 1320 by the Earl of Moray, nephew of Robert the Bruce, has the remains of an Iron Age hill fort at its summit, while other similar structures nearby, such as that at Edin’s Hall Broch, suggest the area’s domestic and defensive use at a very early stage. Today Duns is renowned for its shopping facilities and education - most notably the new Berwickshire High School, which opened in 2009 and replaced the former 1950s school, which has been refurbished to re-house the primary school. Equally important in attracting people to move to the area is the town’s diverse property market, which offers everything from traditional and period styles to conversions and modern estate houses that have sprung up in recent years on the outskirts of the town, adjacent to open countryside yet with easy reach of local amenities.
There is a place for everyone in the Scottish Borders, from lively towns to picturesque villages. All are steeped in history and heritage and retain their character and charm in conjunction with modern facilities and amenities. Perhaps then it’s little wonder that the outstanding quality of life in the Scottish Borders is the envy of many.