Lazy Days - Culture Trail

With a unique combination of adventure, activity, culture and tranquility on offer the Tweed Valley really does have something for everyone. If you are particularly interested in exploring the culture of the area you really are spoilt for choice.

Here are just some of the cultural highlights on offer in this beautiful part of Scotland.

A must is a visit to Traquair House near Innerleithen which is Scotland's oldest inhabited house spanning over a thousand years of Scottish history and still a family home. Strong associations with Mary Queen of Scots and the Jacobites, highlights include the secret stairs, spooky cellar, the library, 18th century dining room and you can sample Traquair Ale at the brewery.

Also in Innerleithen is St Ronan's Wells which is housed in an historic spa and has strong links to writers Sir Walter Scott and James Hogg.

If you head south through the Tweed Valley and only half an hour from Traquair you can visit Abbotsford House near Melrose. This is the home that Sir Walter Scott built and lived in and includes fascinating collections, the renowned library and study in a beautiful setting overlooking the Tweed.

To learn more about the life of Thirty Nine Steps author John Buchan visit the John Buchan Museum in Broughton. This is just one of over 100 books he wrote and which were influenced by his Scottish upbringing and time spent in the area.

And when you come back to Peebles you can top off your cultural journey with a visit to The Eastgate Theatre for a performance of your choice from their all year round arts events.

Find out more and view our Google map of the tour online.

Christmas at the Tontine Hotel

We've just announced our Christmas packages for this year at the Tontine Hotel.

Find out more and download all our festive menus at the website.

Lazy Days - Garden Lover's Trail

For Garden Lover's the area has some wonderful gardens to explore and all very different from each other.

Kailzie Gardens just outside Peebles is a large Scottish domestic garden on the grand scale which occupies a beautiful position on the River Tweed. Surrounded by magnificent hills, and planted with a wide variety of mature specimen trees.

Dawyck Botanic Garden at Stobo is one of four gardens that comprise the National Botanic Gardens of Scotland and is a regional garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh whose mission is to explore and explain the world of plants.


St Ronan's Wells Visitor Centre in Innerleithen is housed in an historic spa, the exhibitions tell the story of Innerleithen and St Ronan's Wells, describing their connections with the great Scottish writers, Sir Walter Scott and James Hogg.

The natural beauty of the grounds of Traquair House are a perfect complement to the intimate nature of the house. There are no formal gardens here but over 100 acres of woodlands, lawns and the more modern maze now celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2006.

Find out more on our website.

Lazy Days - Take your Time Walking Trail

This is an area which offers numerous opportunities for walkers of all abilities. Covering 13 miles from Peebles to Broughton, The John Buchan Way, a new path which is way marked in both directions and mainly follows long established hill tracks, is a good route for beginners and can be finished off with a trip to the John Buchan Centre at Broughton.

For Forest Walking there are numerous routes at Glentress varying from short strolls of an hour or so perhaps to see specimen trees or a waterfall, to longer walks taking 3 to 4 hours and reaching viewpoints commanding extensive panoramas. There are even identified routes which are suitable for buggies, dogs on leads are also permitted. Forest Walking is also available in Thornielee Forest and Pirn Caberston Forest, both within the Tweed Valley Forest Park.

There are also numerous Town Walks around Peebles and Innerleithen which vary in distance such as the 5 mile Tweed and Neidpath Castle Walk or the Peebles Town Trail which takes you on a fascinating historical walk of the town.

Find out more, or book on our website.

Lazy Days - the Fully Flexible Go Golfing Trail

You have 21 courses in total to choose from throughout the Scottish Borders but if you want to concentrate on the courses local to Peebles itself namely - Peebles Golf Course, Innerleithen Course, Championship Cardrona and West Linton, our Flexible Go Golfing Trail could be the answer. Enjoy either 6 rounds of golf including 3 nights dinner, bed and breakfast at The Tontine Hotel from just £268 per person or 10 rounds with 5 nights dinner, bed & breakfast from £420 per person. Our dedicated Golf Planner Sarah can organise all your golf to suit your individual requirements.

For committed golfers we specialise in looking after golfing groups to all of the 21 courses in the Scottish Borders and have been proud to sponsor the 'Freedom of the Fairways Golf Passport' for the past five years. You can find out more about our great value golfing breaks in the Scottish Borders here.