Tour of the Abbeys

Border Express prompt services and friendly customer service with a commitment to passenger comfort and safety will be key for your holiday or short break.

 

Jedburgh Abbey, founded in 1138, was a frequent target for invading border armies.

Today, there is a cloister and herb garden to explore, and a visitor centre containing 8th century carvings and artifacts excavated from the abbey grounds.

Visitors can also enjoy the interactive play area within the carved stone display.

The ruined abbey was the site of a major archaeological dig in 1986. It is open to the public, as is Jedburgh Castle Jail. Borders traditions like the annual Callants Rideout and bands of pipes and drums add local colour, and delicacies include Jethart Snails and Jethart Pears. Another annual event is the Jethart Hand Ba' game. The Canongate Brig dates from the 16th century, and there are some fine riverside walks. The Capon Oak Tree is reputed to be 2000 years old, and Newgate Prison and the town spire are among the town's older buildings. The town's industries included textiles, tanning and glove-making, grain mills, and electrical engineering.

Tours can be tailor made to cater for your needs... Simply call us with your start and finish times and we will do the rest at Border Express.  

---

Melrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. It was headed by the Abbot or Commendator of Melrose. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland (open all year; entrance charge). The ruins of Melrose are widely considered among the most beautiful of religious houses in the United Kingdom, being especially notable for a wealth of well-preserved figure-sculpture.

Tours can be tailor made to cater for your needs... Simply call us with your start and finish times and we will do the rest at Border Express.  

---

Dryburgh Abbey, on the banks of the River Tweed, Scotland, was founded in 1152 by Premonstratensian monks, on a site perhaps made sacred by Saint Modan around the year 600. It was founded by monks from Alnwick on land owned by Hugh de Morville, Lord of Lauderdale.

It was burned by English troops in 1322, after which it was restored and patronised by Robert I of Scotland. It was again burned in 1385, but it flourished in the fifteenth century. It was finally destroyed in 1544, briefly to survive until the Scottish Reformation, when it was given to the Earl of Mar by James VI of Scotland.

Tours can be tailor made to cater for your needs... Simply call us with your start and finish times and we will do the rest at Border Express.  

---

Kelso Abbey is a Scottish abbey built in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks (originally from Tiron, near Chartres, in France) who had moved from the nearby Selkirk Abbey. The monks constructed the Abbey on land granted to them by King David I. The construction commenced in 1128, and when completed fifteen years later, in 1143, it was dedicated to The Blessed Virgin and Saint John.

Kelso Abbey soon grew to be one of the wealthiest and grandest in Scotland, with much of its income coming from its vast estates in the Border country. It was also the seat of the Feudal Lordship of Holydean. The importance of the Abbey at that time was shown when King James III of Scotland was crowned at the Abbey in 1460. However, the Abbey's proximity to the border with England led to it suffering damage from cross-border raids. It was first damaged in the Anglo-Scottish wars at the start of the 1300s, but was later repaired by the monks.

Tours can be tailor made to cater for your needs... Simply call us with your start and finish times and we will do the rest at Border Express.