Kelso Tourist Information

The picturesque town of Kelso, lies in a fine setting at the junction of the Rivers Tweed and Teviot. Described by Sir Walter Scott as 'the most beautiful, if not the most romantic village in Scotland'.

The elegant Town House, built in 1816 now houses the Tourist Information Centre, and is situated in the centre of the spacious square.

The graceful five-arched bridge over the Tweed dates from 1803, it was built by John Rennie and was the model for London's old Waterloo Bridge.

Kelso Abbey was founded in 1128, this was the greatest border abbey; like others it suffered in the border wars but even in its fragmentary state this is a superb piece of architecture.

There are two interesting examples of Border Towers near to Kelso: Greenknowe Tower - lies just outside the village of Gordon on the A6105. A handsome towerhouse in an L plan, built in 1581 and still retaining its own iron gate. Smailholm Tower - 6 miles west of Kelso on the B6937, on an elevated situation on a rocky outcrop. Smailholm is a simple rectangular tower in a good state of preservation, it was the setting for Sir Walter Scott's ballad 'The Eve of St. John'.

For leisure and recreation in Kelso, you can play golf at the Borders first championship standard golf course, situated in the grounds of The Roxburghe Hotel. You can play tennis, putting , swingball and table tennis at Shedden Park. Enjoy a swim at Kelso Swimming Pool or enjoy racing at Kelso Racecourse.

Tourist Information (Open Easter-October) Town House, The Square, Kelso Tel: +44 (0) 1573 223 464