A good place to find out what events are on and listings of local activities, please see the Ettrick & Yarrow valley website.
We also try and keep guests up-to-date with events and Farmers Markets in the Scottish Borders via our Facebook page @Howfordfarm
The Scottish Borders is full of great days out and experiences – we cannot list them all here but will definitely give you a head start!
For a full history, heritage and wildlife guide to our immediate surrounding area of the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys, download or view this guide: Ettrick and Yarrow Guide
The Border towns are famous for luxury cashmere and woollen mills. In Selkirk we have Locharron of Scotland and weavers Andrew Elliot Ltd, famous for producing tartan cloth for royal kilts and tweed for Dr Who’s jackets! Hawick has Johnstons of Elgin, Lovat Mill, William Lockie, Hawico, Love Cashmere and Pringle of Scotland, to name a few. All of these have either a visitor centre or mill shop. We would also recommend visiting Lindean Mill Glass, they have a beautiful gallery and workshop and are based just outside Selkirk and also for art please drop into Burnside Gallery and Frames to catch up on the latest exhibition.
Fishing: Howford is in an enviable position for fishing on the Tweed and Ettrick Water. A trout fishing permit can be purchased in the local pub, The Cross Keys, Ettrickbridge or at the Post Office in Selkirk on the market square. For salmon fishing beat enquiries, please contact either Bowhill or Fishpal. If you are looking for a guide or instruction for fly fishing in the area, contact Bill Drew at Best Fishing Scotland. Bill has been providing fishing guide/instructor, rods, reels, waders, permits and licences for trout, grayling, salmon and sea trout fishing in the local area for 26 years for individuals and groups; all ages and abilities.
Paddleboarding & Kayak Hire at St Mary’s Loch, please speak to Audrey. Kayak and SUP Hire and Sales Scottish Borders
The Borders Distillery is a place to visit for whisky, gin and vodka. The Selkirk Distillers has award winning gins and seasonal liqueurs and very attractive, limited run bottles. Visit their shop in Selkirk.
Bowhill House & Country Estate: Less than 2 miles away, the country home of the Duke & Duchess of Buccleuch, with adventure playground, soft play, historic house and cafe. There is a lovely off-road walk from Ettrickbridge to Bowhill.
Clay Pigeon, Target and Virtual Reality Shooting can be found in nearby Midlem. Bisley Shooting School is Scotland’s largest and most versatile shooting ground.
Cycling & Mountain Biking: Situated in the Tweed Valley, Glentress and Innerleithen 7Stanes provides some of the best mountain biking in the country. The award winning Glentress bike centre is a great day out for all ages, skills and abilities with various courses, stunt areas and Dirt School offering safaris, instruction and courses. For cycling you can’t get better than the roads around our hills and valleys, as chosen by the Tour of Britain on occasions. See the Ten Classic Bike Routes in the Tweed Valley for inspiration and suggested routes in the area.
All Terrain Electric Bikes can be hired for exploring the quiet valley roads of the Ettrick and Yarrow or for the more adventurous can follow the high-level tracks into the hills. Further info here
Alpaca Trekking: Head to Innerleithen for an unusual way to see the Tweed Valley. Visit Velvet Hall Alpacas.
Equestrian: The BHS approved Ian Stark Equestrian Centre is a short drive and offers lessons, hacking and trekking 6 days a week along with regular fixtures, competitions and training for all equestrian disciplines.
GoApe the treetop forest adventure is at Peebles Glentress Forest.
Traquair House & Brewery: Originally a hunting lodge for the kings and queens of Scotland with extensive grounds, maze, craft workshops, events and delicious 1745 Restaurant.