Home to the famous Coldstream Guards, the pretty borders town of Coldstream sits on the northern bank of the River Tweed, and was once a rival to Gretna Green for runaway marriages. There is a museum dedicated to the Guards, a good selection of shops and pubs, or visitors can try their hand at a variety of activities, including cycling, fishing, golf, riding or walking in the beautiful surrounding countryside. The picturesque seat of The Earls of Hume, including former Conservative Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home, is The Hirsel, an estate to the west of the town with a fine mansion in beautiful grounds through which flow the Leet Waters, famous for a wide range of birds which nest there. With the Scottish borders and North Northumberland easily accessible, this is a fantastic base from which to make the most of the region.
