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Things to do in Galashiels, Scottish Borders

Bank Street Gardens
Bank Street Gardens © AboutBritain.com

The Scottish Borders town of Galashiels is situated just over 30 miles south of Edinburgh, on the Gala Water river. The town grew rapidly in the 19th century with the textile industry, and many woollen mills were built in the town employing thousands of people.

Gala Water
Gala Water © AboutBritain.com

Today Galashiels is one of the largest of the Scottish Borders towns, with a population of just over 12,000 people, and it's a popular starting point for visitors to the area, thanks to the Borders Railway from Edinburgh.

Burgh Chambers
Burgh Chambers © AboutBritain.com

There are lots of activities, attractions and things to do in Galashiels, including the famous Braw Lads Gathering which takes place in June every year.

Things to do in Galashiels and Nearby

Though there aren't many tourist attractions in Galashiels itself, there are lots in the surrounding area, all easily accessible by car, bike, or bus:

The Great Tapestry of Scotland

The Great Tapestry of Scotland
The Great Tapestry of Scotland © The Great Tapestry of Scotland

Built at a cost of more than £6 million and opened in 2021, the Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre is an iconic building in the heart of Galashiels, custom-designed to display the tapestry beautifully.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland is a unique artwork, created by more than a thousand volunteer stitchers from across the nation who came together to make a work of art that celebrates Scotland's history, identity and culture in textile form.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland
The Great Tapestry of Scotland © The Great Tapestry of Scotland

The tapestry tells the story of Scotland from 8500 BC to the present day, in 160 hand-stitched panels, using 300 miles of wool!

It is appropriate that this new national treasure, which has toured Scotland, has its permanent home in Galashiels - a town with a rich history of textile production.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland
The Great Tapestry of Scotland © The Great Tapestry of Scotland

This amazing artwork, beautifully presented in its state-of-the-art home is an attraction not to be missed.

Based on our own visit, we would advise allowing at least 2-3 hours for your visit, though you'll need much longer to see and appreciate it all.

Old Gala House

Old Gala House
Old Gala House © AboutBritain.com

Dating back to 1583, Old Gala House was once home to the Pringle family, lairds of Galashiels. Today it houses a local museum where you can learn all about the history of the town.

Find out about the exciting history of the area, including the Border Reivers, and enjoy the beautiful garden. There's also a cafe and gift shop.

Abbotsford

The famous writer Sir Walter Scott is known throughout the world, but he made his home in the Scottish Borders at Abbotsford House.

Abbotsford
Abbotsford © AboutBritain.com

Located just outside Galashiels, Abbotsford has undergone a multi-million-pound restoration. As well as the house itself there's now a new visitor centre and the Ochiltree's Cafe where you can enjoy lunch or afternoon tea while enjoying stunning views of the house.

There are also 120 acres of land and gardens to explore including beautiful walks beside the River Tweed.

Bank Street Gardens

In the centre of Galashiels, Bank Street is home to a range of independent shops.

Bank Street Gardens
Bank Street Gardens © AboutBritain.com

On the opposite side of the road, you'll find Bank Street Gardens - a small area of land which is beautifully laid out and planted to provide a riot of colour in the summertime.

Not an attraction worth making a special journey to visit - but it's a very pleasant part of town to see while you're in Galashiels.

Bank Street Gardens
Bank Street Gardens © AboutBritain.com

Scott's View

A short drive from Galashiels takes you to Scott's View - a beautiful viewpoint where you can see the River Tweed winding through the landscape beneath the Eildon Hills.

Scott's View
Scott's View © AboutBritain.com

This viewpoint was a favourite of Sir Walter Scott, who liked to come here to enjoy the stunning landscape of his beloved Scottish Borders.

There's a romantic story that Sir Walter Scott stopped here so often when travelling back to his home at Abbotsford, that his horses would halt without being told.

On the day of Scott's funeral, the cortege passed Scott's View, and his horses halted as usual, so their master could enjoy his view one last time.

Albert Place Fountains
Albert Place Fountains © AboutBritain.com

Scott's View is just off the B6404, so it's very close to our next attraction:

Dryburgh Abbey

The 4 Abbeys are some of the Scottish Borders' most famous attractions: Dryburgh Abbey, Kelso Abbey, Jedburgh Abbey and Melrose Abbey are all worth a visit.

Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott © AboutBritain.com

Situated on the banks of the River Tweed near St Boswells, Dryburgh Abbey is a medieval ruin that is both atmospheric and very beautiful.

You can wander around the ruins, enjoy the Gothic architecture and really get a sense of what life as a monk might have been like, hundreds of years ago.

Don't miss the Dryburgh Yew - believed to be one of the oldest living trees in Scotland, having been planted in 1136.

Traquair House & Brewery

Traquair House is believed to be the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. Dating back to 1107, Traquair has a rich and fascinating history, including visits from 27 Scottish Kings and Queens.

As well as being a fascinating historic house, today one wing is home to the Traquair House Brewery. You can sample the ales in the brewery shop.

There are also extensive grounds to explore, including a maze that the whole family will enjoy, before stopping for refreshments in the Garden Cafe.

Scottish Borders Donkey Sanctuary

A few miles outside Galashiels you'll find the Scottish Borders Donkey Sanctuary which provides a permanent home for donkeys and mules that needed re-homing.

Scottish Borders Donkey Sanctuary
Scottish Borders Donkey Sanctuary © Swithun Crowe via Flickr

Some come to the sanctuary having been rescued from cruelty or neglect, others simply because their owners could no longer look after them.

Covering 80 acres and including beautiful views over the River Tweed the sanctuary is also home to llamas, sheep, goats, pigs, ducks and ponies so it's a great place for animal-loving families to enjoy.

Eildon Hills

Clearly visible from many places in Galashiels, the three peaks of the Eildon Hills are a famous local landmark.

The Eildon Hills
The Eildon Hills © AboutBritain.com

If you're feeling energetic, there are walking paths to the top of the Eildon Hills which will let you enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside from the summits.

The best starting point is the nearby town of Melrose. The paths are steep in places, but not beyond the scope of keen walkers, or anyone who is reasonably fit and prepared to take their time.

Braw Lads' Gathering

Many Border towns hold annual celebrations of their unique history, often involving riding through the town and surrounding land on horseback.

Braw Lads Day
Braw Lads Day © ddh photos via Flickr

Galashiels' festival is called the Braw Lad's Gathering and consists of a number of traditional annual events taking place over a week in June.

The Braw Lads Gathering dates from the 1930s, but commemorates much older historical events:

The main event is the Ride Out that takes place on the final Saturday: The Braw Lad receives the Burgh Flag and leads a horseback procession of hundreds of local supporters on a route that takes in the Raid Stane, crosses the River Tweed and ends at the Old Town cross for the ceremony of sod and stone.

Mercat Cross
Mercat Cross © AboutBritain.com

The ceremony also commemorates Galashiels receiving its Burgh Charter in 1599 and the marriage of James IV of Scotland to Margaret Tudor with red and white roses on a base of thistles.

The cavalcade also includes a pipe band, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Braw Lads' Gathering FAQ

Q. What does "braw" mean?

A. Braw means good, fine, fine-looking or excellent.

Channel Street
Channel Street © AboutBritain.com

 

Q. How are the Braw Lad and Braw Lass chosen?

A. The Braw Lad and Lass are chosen from the young people who apply for the roles. This takes place each April on "Declaration Night". Applicants must be over 18, single, have been born in the Galashiels area, and have been resident in the area for at least 12 years.

 

Q. What's the best place to see the cavalcade?

A. Our favourite vantage point is Scott Street - there's a tremendous atmosphere as large crowds gather to enjoy the spectacle of more than 100 horses thundering up the hill. Another popular spot is the Tweed Bridge or river-side, to see the fording of the Tweed at Abbotsford.

 

Q. What else happens during Braw Lads' Week?

A. In addition to the main ride, there are several other ride-outs, as well as family events non-riders can take part in, including the Braw Lads' Bike Ride, the Braw Lads' Country Dance, Braw Lads' Sports, and a Fancy Dress parade through the town which is always well-supported.

Sour Plums

The Galashiels coat of arms shows two foxes eating plums from a tree, with the inscription "Sour Plums".

Sour Plums Pillar
Sour Plums Pillar © AboutBritain.com

The story behind this image goes back to 1337 when a raiding party of English soldiers stopped to rest, tempted by some wild plums they'd found.

While their guard was down, a group of locals discovered them quite by chance and slaughtered them all.

This skirmish is commemorated by the "Raid Stane" - one of the locations visited by the Braw Lads Ride Out every June.

Scott Street
Scott Street © AboutBritain.com

Golf

There are two golf clubs in Galashiels, both offering unique challenges set in stunning Borders scenery:

Galashiels Golf Club

The club has a 9-hole par 70 course, a relaxed atmosphere and dress code and caters to golfing parties of all sizes.

Torwoodlee Golf Club

This club has been challenging golfers for more than a century and has been awarded most friendly/visited club in the Borders Freedom of the Fairway scheme several times.

Torwoodlee Golf Club
Torwoodlee Golf Club © Torwoodlee Golf Club

The course is set in a scenic valley among mature trees and offers 18 challenging holes, but is suitable for golfers of all levels.

Cycling

The Scottish Borders is a mecca for cyclists from across the UK and around the world - a combination of quiet roads and spectacular scenery making it an irresistible place to explore on two wheels.

Library
Library © AboutBritain.com

As well as world-class mountain-biking facilities at Glentress near Peebles, and challenging downhill courses at Innerleithen, there are several popular cycle trails that pass through Galashiels:

Borders Railway Link Cycle Route

This 8-mile easy route takes in the towns of Clovenfords, Melrose and Galashiels and is ideal for a relaxed family day out.

Tweed Cycle Route

At 95 miles, this scenic but challenging route takes in many Borders towns including Coldstream, Galashiels, Kelso, Melrose and Peebles.

Coasts and Castles

This 200-mile multi-day route offers cyclists a chance to see much of what the region has to offer, starting in Newcastle and finishing in Edinburgh via Hadrian's Wall and the beautiful Tweed Valley.

For more information, and many more (and shorter) routes, check out the Cycle Scottish Borders website.

Walking

The Scottish Borders is a popular area with walkers, and many well-trodden routes pass near Galashiels:

The 214-mile Southern Upland Way coast-to-coast route passes through Galashiels during the Traquair to Melrose section of the route.

Market Square
Market Square © AboutBritain.com

The 68-mile Borders Abbeys Way also passes the town on its circular route that takes in all four historic Abbeys and lots of beautiful countryside.

At the other end of the scale, the Galashiels Town Trail is only 2 miles long, but guides you around the town and through the fascinating history of Galashiels, pointing out many landmark buildings on the way.

Albert Place Fountains
Albert Place Fountains © AboutBritain.com

Other Sports Facilities

Galashiels has a 25m indoor swimming pool offering lane swimming and inflatable fun sessions as well as Learn 2 Swim classes.

Old Parish and St Paul's Church
Old Parish and St Paul's Church © AboutBritain.com

The Borders is the home of Rugby 7s, and Galashiels has a full-size floodlit 3G pitch for rugby and football, and a five-a-side 3G pitch in Netherdale.

Athletics is also well catered for with an all-weather 400m running track at Tweedbank Sports Complex. There's also an indoor bowling hall, 2G pitch, gym and fitness studio.

The Borders Tennis Centre has 7 tennis courts (4 floodlit).

Galashiels also has a well-kept bowling green.

Bowling Green
Bowling Green © AboutBritain.com

Pavilion Cinema

For a relatively small town, Galashiels is lucky to have a 4-screen cinema offering a range of new and popular films.

Family-run since 1993, the Pavilion has seen significant investment in its projection and audio facilities, making it a great place to relax, eat popcorn and enjoy a film with the family.

MacArts

MacArts is an award-winning music and arts venue that shows a wide range of Music, Theatre and Exhibitions.

Mac Arts
Mac Arts © Mac Arts Galashiels

They emphasise involving everyone in the local community, and the performance space is situated inside a fascinating listed historic church in the centre of the town.

Check their website to see what they are showing when you're in town: http://www.macarts.scot/

Galashiels FAQ

Q. What shops are there in Galashiels?

A. Galashiels is the main shopping town for this part of the Borders so it has a good choice of shops for a town of its size. There's a large Tesco Extra supermarket and a similarly-sized Asda next door. Several other chains are represented including Boots, Next, WH Smith, Marks and Spencer Food, Halfords, Matalan, Aldi and Pets at Home. There are also quite a few independent shops in the town centre, many on Bank Street and Channel Street.

Tesco Extra
Tesco Extra © AboutBritain.com

 

Q. What does Galashiels mean?

A. The name comes from two words: Gwala, meaning "full stream" and Shiel meaning "shelter". So Galashiels means the "shelters by the full stream" where people took shelter by the river.

 

Q. Where's the cheapest place to buy petrol?

A. Asda has a "pay at pump only" petrol station next to its car park which is usually the cheapest place to buy petrol in town.

 

Q. Is Galashiels a nice place to live?

A. Apparently it is: In 2019 Galashiels was voted the happiest place to live in Scotland in a survey for property website Rightmove.

 

Q. How far is Galashiels from Edinburgh?

A. By road it's 35 miles from Edinburgh to Galashiels. You can also go by train from Galashiels Station at the Transport Interchange and take the Waverley Line into Edinburgh. The journey takes just under an hour by train.

 

Q. How far is Galashiels from Glasgow?

A. By road it's 76 miles from Glasgow to Galashiels. You can take the train from Glasgow, change at Edinburgh and take the Borders Railway to Galashiels. The journey times are 2-3 hours by train depending when you travel.

Walk in The Policies
Walk in The Policies © AboutBritain.com

 

Q. What do local people call the town?

A. Galashiels is usually shortened to "Gala" by local people.

 

Q. Where can I hire a bike in Galashiels?

A. You can hire bikes from the Diamond Cycle Centre which is behind the Shell petrol station.

 

Q. What are the most common miss-spellings of Galashiels?

A. Galashiels is often miss-spelt as Galashields, and less commonly as Galasheils or Galasheilds.

Places to Stay

There are several hotels and guesthouses in Galashiels and the surrounding area:

The Kingsknowes Hotel

A Scots Baronial mansion built for a wealthy local mill owner in 1869.

Conveniently located just off the A7 between Galashiels and Abbotsford, the hotel has many original Victorian features and a magnificent Edwardian conservatory.

Post Box
Post Box © AboutBritain.com

The hotel has 12 en-suite guest rooms including a family room and the lovely Scott Suite which boasts views of Abbotsford and the Eildon Hills.

The Hawthornebank Guest House

Hawthornebank offers luxurious en-suite bedrooms with TV and WiFi. Fluffy white robes and slippers are provided - ideal when using the outdoor hot tub.

Volunteer Hall
Volunteer Hall © AboutBritain.com

A hearty Scottish Breakfast is provided, which can include Scottish smoked salmon with a bagel and cream cheese.

Places to Eat

Galashiels is well served for restaurants and cafes. There's a McDonald's or a Gregg's if you're looking to grab a snack on the go, as well as a selection of restaurants offering Indian and Chinese meals. For more traditional Scottish fayre, try:

Ochiltree's Cafe

Located in the visitor centre at Abbotsford, Ochiltree's Cafe is a stylish, modern eatery offering an excellent range of meals and snacks made from local ingredients, and quick and friendly service.

War Memorial
War Memorial © AboutBritain.com

With wonderful views over Abbotsford and its estate, there's an outdoor balcony for when the weather is nice, and huge floor-to-ceiling glass walls that let you enjoy the magnificent views even when the weather doesn't cooperate.

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