The Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels + choice of Abbotsford House or Melrose

The Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels + choice of Abbotsford House or Melrose. A whole day experience with door-to-door private transport. A day out without a long journey!

The Borders area is noted for its undulating countryside, a plethora of stunning country houses open to the public, the festivals of the riding of the marches, fishing, farming, golf and Scottish textiles. It is also the ‘home of Scottish rugby’.

The Great Tapestry is no ordinary tapestry – a 20th century creation stitched by volunteers the length and breadth of Scotland. It tells the fascinating story of Scotland from earliest times to the present day and includes history and culture and lots of fun and interesting facts on all aspects of Scotland. Everyone will find something to explore and interest them. It is no mean feat to tell Scotland’s story in a mere 165 panels. It is one of the biggest community projects ever undertaken in Scotland: an artwork for the nation by the nation.

Galashiels was chosen as the permanent home for the tapestry because of its long and rich history in textiles and is now home to Heriot Watt University’s world class school of Textile and Design which Vivienne Westwood has claimed has ‘the best facilities in the UK.’

Abbotsford House is the extraordinary home and gardens of Sir Walter Scott, a local hero and Scottish legend. Author of Rob Roy and the Waverley novels, the ‘Great Scott’ popularised tartan, saved the Scottish banknote and rediscovered his country’s ‘crown jewels’. Scott’s ‘conundrum castle’ is where the craze for baronial architecture began and was Scott’s home as he became the world’s biggest selling author.

The charming town of Melrose offers a range of things to see and do. There are many lovely independent shops and a range of eateries, the Trimontium Museum and Melrose Abbey.