Edinburgh/Peebles Scottish Borders

When are you traveling? Are you looking for a day trip or somewhere to base for several days? Are you traveling alone or with others? Any kids?

What do you want to see or do? Take walks, visit castles and Great Houses, delve into Scottish history, gardens, walk along the coast...?

I would like to have a base and do day trips plus I like to hike. Love castles! I have been to Glen Coe and Glasgow. Haven’t decided on when I will be traveling but I travel off season. No kids as I am in my 70’s and my friend—who I travel with is also in her 70’s. No car! I haven’t decided if Edinburgh is the place to go just yet. Do you have a favorite place in Scotland?

I rad your reply again and I have lots of flowers so gardens are things I enjoy.

Peebles would work. There's also Melrose with its ruined abbey

Stirling, North Berwick….both on train lines from Edinburgh.

Peebles has the X62 bus from Edinburgh, a double decker normally. That service continues to Galashiels for connections all over the Borders and the railway line to Edinburgh.
Melrose you would probably access by rail to Galashiels, then bus connection.

From Melrose there are buses to Kelso and Jedburgh, also two different routes to Berwick on Tweed for main line connections.

So either fits. With such easy and good public transport it is a shame so few people on this forum venture South into the Borders.
From Galashiels buses also run to Hawick, Langholm and Carlisle.

If you stay in Melrose you could walk to Priorwood Gardens and Melrose Abbey. A short bus or taxi ride could take you to Abbotsford House and Gardens or Thirlestane Castle. A bit further by bus is Jedburgh Abbey and Mary Queen of Scots House. In nearby Galashiels is The Great Tapestry of Scotland. There are also several marked walking paths in Melrose along the river Tweed.

Of course, walks and gardens would depend on when in the office season you are traveling.

Borders Buses currently has direct bus service between Edinburgh and Melrose. It's about a 2 hour ride.

Peebles is small and peaceful. We used it as a base in 2022 to visit the borders abbeys (Kelso, Melrose, Jedburgh, and Dryburgh), Rosslyn Chapel, Robert Smail's Printing Works (National Trust for Scotland) in Innerleithen, and Lochcarron of Scotland woolen mill in Serkirk. We did have a rental car as our stay there was part of a longer trip.

I want to thank everyone for all the great information. Again thank you.