The small border town of Duns is set in a wide valley known as The Merse and was once the capital of the Scottish Borders, when the current capital, Berwick-upon-Tweed, was under English rule. The town offers a good range of shops, including an award-winning butchers and quality delicatessen, pubs and restaurants, whilst the Jim Clark Museum is open to the public in honour of the famous racing driver who lived in the area. Duns Castle sits within a nature reserve with well-marked woodland lakeside walks through the castle estate. There are many castles and historic houses scattered throughout the surrounding area, including Manderston House (home of Lord Palmer), Floors Castle and Gardens, the largest inhabited house in Scotland, Norham Castle situated on the River Tweed, Mellerstain House and Paxton House and Country Park. A short drive to the east coast offers the opportunity to explore the dog friendly beaches at Coldingham or for the more adventurous why not learn to surf at the local surf school. Widely acclaimed golfing is available at Duns and nearby Dunbar whilst fishing for trout and salmon on the Tweed and Whiteadder River is also available with permits available locally. The nearby walled town of Berwick-upon-Tweed is well worth a visit with weekly markets, town trails and a cinema. A short hop to Eyemouth to feed the resident harbour seals, enjoy award-winning fish and chips or take a boat trip for some coastal exploration. The sights and excitement of Edinburgh are just 45 miles away and numerous other destinations are within a short driving distance of this fantastic location providing a great base at any time of the year for exploring the beautiful Scottish Border region and the picturesque, exhilarating North Northumberland regions.
