15THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE • WWW.BSPC.CO.UK

The Scottish Borders A wonderful place to live

There are 20 BSPC member firmslocated throughout the Borders, whichmeans there is one near you!

Established in 2001, Borders SolicitorsProperty Centre (BSPC for short) is thelargest local network of property agents,with 20 independent member firmsoperating from 33 offices convenientlylocated throughout the region.

Each office is run by an experienced teamof property professionals and headed by aqualified solicitor who, in turn, is governedby a strict professional code of conductlaid down by the Law Society of Scotland.

What’s not to love about a region that offersspectacular landscapes, rivers that provideworld-class fishing, miles of coastline edgedby rugged cliffs and beautiful beaches?

A region that has thriving towns, quiet hamletsand picturesque villages, outstanding schools,healthcare, and a housing market that offersmore house for the money than anythingcomparable in the city suburbs; a regionsteeped in history and traditions that unite itscommunities and where sport and leisureopportunities are not only legendary, many arealso free and there for the taking.

These are what define the unique quality of lifein the Scottish Borders, a region that has itsroots in the past and its focus firmly fixed onthe future.

Selling a house usually calls for theservices of an estate agent and asolicitor - but why deal with twoseparate companies when you canhave just one?

BSPC firms provide both servicesunder one roof, making it by far theeasiest, fastest and most financiallycost-effective way to market and sella home in the Borders region.

BSPC offices are staffed by localswho live and work in the area andhave in-depth knowledge of localisedproperty markets.

WHEN YOU’RE BUYING OR SELLING PROPERTY . . . IT HAS TO BE BSPC16

Galashiels made its name as a centre ofexcellence for textile manufacturing. Morerecently, the gradual decline of the industry sawonce productive mills become tombstones to abygone era.

Today, thanks to major investment, the mill siteshave been reborn in a different guise, with thelargest now home to Gala Water Retail Park,where 24-hour supermarkets are joined by top high street chain stores, while links withGalashiels’ textile industry are maintained by theSchool of Textiles and Design, now part ofHeriot-Watt University.

There’s never a shortage of things to do inGalashiels, where leisure activities includeswimming, golf (two courses), athletics, cycling,canoeing on the Gala Water and River Tweed,walking, football and rugby. The town also hasan outdoor sports complex, children’s indooradventure playground and a four-screen cinemacomplex.

Living in the Central Borders gives house buyersa far wider choice than in the city and Galashielshas property styles to suit all tastes and budgets,from starter flats and ex local authority housesto substantial stone-built semi and detachedperiod and one-off properties at the other.Further afield, the surrounding area haseverything from picturesque country cottagesand farm conversions to modern familyestates and individually designed houses.

A few miles east of Galashiels is Melrose, a genteeltown at the foot of the landmark Eildon Hills with atranquil vibe. The jewel in this picturesque town isthe magnificent rose-red ruins of the 12th centuryabbey, its architecture reputed to be the bestmonastic example in Great Britain. Melrose Abbey,which is in the care of Historic Scotland, is alsobelieved to be the final resting place of a casketcontaining the heart of Robert the Bruce – thecasket, discovered, but not opened, by high schoolstudents during an excavation dig, was placed in asealed lead cylinder and then re-buried in the abbey.

The abbey is also the starting point for St Cuthbert’sWay, a 62-mile cross border walk that ends in HolyIsland, off the northwest coast of Northumberland.It’s one of the many leisure activities that bringpeople to the town. For a small place, Melrose hasa surprising number of annual events, including theMelrose Festival, which takes place every year inJune and combines all of the typical elements of thetraditional Border summer celebrations, with aCommon Riding, Festival Queen, sports and fancydress. This year’s festival dates are 14-20 June andthe Festival Queen will be crowned at the Abbey.

The largest town in the Borders is Galashiels,historically the centre of the tweed industry. Closeproximity to the A7, one of the main routes linkingEdinburgh with Carlisle, makes Galashiels and thesmaller nearby towns and villages such as Melrose,Stow, Lauder, Earlston, Clovenfords, St Boswellsand Newtown St Boswells highly accessible forcommuting in all directions. And this area’scommuter edge will be boosted further later thisyear when the Borders Railway becomes a reality,resulting in stations in Stow, Galashiels andTweedbank, the last station on the line.

This area of the Borders is steeped in history andtradition. Galashiels means ‘dwellings by the GalaWater’ and the first recorded reference to the townwas in 1124, during the reign of David 1st. The town’soldest building, Old Gala House, home of the Lairdsof Gala for five centuries, is now an art gallery andlocal museum charting the story of the house, itsinhabitants and the early development of the town.A newer monument but equally impressive is the warmemorial with its massive Border Reiver horseman,the work of local sculptor Thomas Clapperton.

Galashiels

Melrose

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BSPC property professionals have in-depth knowledge of the local market

Closer to Edinburgh, towns and villages likeEarlston, Lauder and Stow are similarly expandingto meet increased demand from commuters –especially the latter, which is scheduled to havea railway station on the Borders Railway.

Just 28 miles from Edinburgh and just seven milesfrom Galashiels, the village of Stow has manybuildings of character and interest, including theruined Old Kirk and Town Hall, while recentexpansion has added new build detachedproperties to the local housing market.

Earlston’s desirability is enhanced by a new state-of-the-art high school, good range of localamenities, and house styles that range fromtraditional through to modern.

Lauder’s proximity to the A68 – the oldestestablished route between Edinburgh and England- gives the town added commuter appeal.

Lauder is also unique in having retained the layoutof an ancient Scottish Royal Burgh, whereby thefacilities of a modern town combine with historicbuildings such as 15th century Thirlstane Castle,where features include an adventure playground,Victorian kitchen, and dolls house collection.

Situated close to the Lammermuir Hills, propertystyles in this picturesque part of the world arepredictably varied, from traditional through tomodern.

Another highly acclaimed annual event in Melrose isthe Borders Book Festival, which is held at the NationalTrust for Scotland’s Harmony Garden, a tranquil settingsurrounded by walls and screened by trees from whichto hear thought-provoking words from many esteemedwriters and performers who take part in this event. Thisyears Book Festival takes place from 11-14th June.

Melrose is known throughout the world as thebirthplace of Rugby Sevens, an abbreviated game of rugby invented circa 1883 by Ned Haig, a localbutcher. The Melrose Sevens remains the most popularScottish Sevens tournament, regularly attractingaudiences of more than 10,000 people.

Like other Border towns it also has a rugby unionteam and Melrose Rugby Football Club is one of theoldest in the world, founded in 1877.

For the sports minded, Melrose also hosts the annualEildon Two Hill Race – the trio of hills is a well-knownlandmark visible for miles around the town. Walkershead to the Eildons to follow in the footsteps of SirWalter Scott and admire his favourite view of theBorders, aptly known as Scott’s view.

Good to visit, Melrose is an even better place to live.Although best known for its traditional stone-builthouses, new build development in recent years meansbuyers now have the opportunity to choose both endsof the spectrum; a traditional setting with Victorianarchitecture and modern new build properties.

Shopping is another reason to visit Melrose. The townis renowned for having small independent shops andrestaurants. Crafts are also an attraction, with theCrafters co-operative providing a wide range of locallymade arts and crafts, including pottery, stained glass,jewellery and knitwear.

Picturesque Melrose has something for everyone, be ithistoric attractions, a rugby match, shops, fine dining,or heading to the surrounding countryside to fish, walk,cycle or golf at Melrose Golf Club’s picturesque nine-hole parkland course at the foot of the Eildons.

Stow • Earlston • Lauder

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Parts of Peebles can be dated back to the 15thcentury, although most of the present buildingsand houses in the old town are 18th century –old enough to have developed all the quirks andirregular rooflines that give traditional propertiescharacter in abundance. As the town expanded,so too did the size of the houses, resulting inelegant, detached villas, some built in sandstoneas opposed to local whinstone. In contrast, thereare pockets of modern but now well-establishedproperty developments like the 1960’s villas inEdderston Road, on the south side of the town.

More recently, the creation of Cardrona, aplanned new village bordering the Tweed on the outskirts of Peebles, has added hundredsof homes to the local property mix as well asproviding a hotel, championship golf course andleisure facilities, including a pool and spa.

Expansion within the town has continued on aless dramatic scale, with current developmentsoffering everything from a two-bedroom terracedhome to a prestigious detached family villa in avillage-style development bordering countryside.

Peebles is the main town for many of the outlyingvillages, like Eddleston and Stobo, home to theworld-famous Stobo Castle Health Spa. A fewmiles east in the direction of Galashiels isInnerleithen. Smaller than Peebles, it nonethelessoffers a good variety of shops and eateries, anine-hole golf course and a property market thatcomprises a similar mix of traditional, modernand new houses. While Peebles has NeidpathCastle, neighbouring Innerleithen has TraquairHouse, home to the Maxwell Stuarts since beforethe time of Mary Queen of Scots and the oldestinhabited house in Scotland. The Traquair HouseBrewery is one of the oldest working breweriesin the UK, dating back to the 18th century.

Kelso is arguably the most picturesque of all theBorder towns, attracting holidaymakers and visitorsas well as those looking to maximise their quality oflife away from the stresses and pressures of work.

Lying in a fertile valley between the LammermuirHills and the Cheviots, Kelso has prosperedwithout sacrificing the character and intrigueimbued by passing centuries. The historic heartof the town around the recently improved 18thcentury market square is a conservation area,which safeguards its future. But the past is evidentalmost at every turn, with landmarks that include12th century Kelso Abbey, Kelso bridge (the first inthe world to have elliptical arches and the modelfor London’s Waterloo Bridge), Cross Keys Hotel,built in 1761 and once the finest coaching inn inthe area, and to the north of the town, themagnificent 18th century Floors Castle, Scotland’slargest inhabited house and the ancestral homeof the Dukes of Roxburghe.

For nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts theopportunities in and around Kelso are almostendless, with parks and riverside walkways,athletics, badminton, cricket, tennis, cycling, ice-skating, hockey, angling, football, swimming andgolf to name but a few. Unique among Bordertowns, Kelso has an ice rink and an equestrianracecourse, the home of National Hunt Racing.

Given its historical background, the local propertymarket offers a predictably wide range of housestyles, from modern luxury apartments and one-offhouses, to traditional flats and terraced styles, ruralcottages in outlying villages and larger stone-builthouses from the Georgian and Victorian eras.

Located the furthest west, just 23 miles fromEdinburgh and 50 miles from Glasgow, Peebles has long been a favourite place for a day out withresidents of both cities, who come to browse thetown’s much admired high street shops, galleries,craft centres and round the day off with a meal inone of the many acclaimed eateries. But in recentyears these same attractions, coupled with the widerange of outdoor leisure pursuits and new housingdevelopments that offer better value for money thanthe cities, have tempted many younger people tomake it their home and enjoy the lifestyle on apermanent basis.

The area around the town has many notable sportsand adventure opportunities. Glentress Forest, whichhas existed for 10,000 years, is one of the topmountain bike venues in the UK (and the numberone attraction in the Borders), with exhilarating ski-style black, red, blue and green trails to suit alllevels of ability (walkers have their own routes toensure the two never meet).

Nearby, Cardrona Adventure Centre adds quadbiking, kayaking, horse riding, climbing and abseilingto the list of outdoor possibilities.

The outdoor lifestyle opportunities are one ofPeebles main attractions – and you don’t have tobe an angler to appreciate the world-famous RiverTweed, which flows through the town like a silverribbon, providing glorious river walks and trails forwalkers and cyclists of all ages and abilities. DawyckBotanic Garden and Kailzie Gardens provide a year-round kaleidoscope of colour, while nearby hills likeCademuir reward walkers with spectacular views ofthe town and surrounding area.

PeeblesKelso

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Peebles Offers Over £695,000

One of the most impressive period sandstone villas inPeebles, this home’s interior combines all the originalfeatures you would expect with a clean modern colourpalette and fixtures and fittings. The property is set in1.08 acres of beautifully maintained garden groundsminutes from the town.

Gordon Offers Around £440,000

A dream property for anyone with equestrian interests,Kircal represents the good life with a rural setting andglorious gardens (with vegetable plot). Outside are sixacres of paddocks, a five-box stable block, garage,greenhouse and sheds.

Lauder Offers Around £340,000

Easy commuting to Edinburgh is a key feature of thissubstantial 5 bedroom detached villa in a cul-de-sacsetting within a modern development. In pristinecondition throughout with enclosed rear gardens thisis ideal for families with young children.

Yarrowford Fixed Price £280,000

This detached bungalow is a most unusual propertywith immense appeal and potential and is set in adelightful village cul-de-sac development overlookinga large shared pond and countryside beyond. Themature gardens have scope for another dwelling andthe bungalow has scope for an extension.

Duns Guide Price £280,000

This property offers a rare opportunity to acquire aC-listed Victorian villa with charm, character, originalfeatures, modern day comforts and a two-storey layout,within close proximity to the town centre. This is a veryspacious four bedroom property which also benefitsfrom a fully floored attic, garage and workshop.

Hawick In region of £225,000

This is a substantial detached Victorian family home ina desirable area of the town. Beautifully presented, theaccommodation combines original period features andmodern comforts. The sizeable rear gardens are a joyand the property also benefits from a driveway withparking space and single garage.

Nenthorn Asking Price £199,950

This cleverly converted former church three miles fromKelso is a rare find – ideal for those looking for a uniqueor historical property. It has charm and character inequal measure. Highlights include exposed stonework,arched windows and high ceilings, while outside theproperty has peaceful mature gardens, off-road parkingand stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Galashiels Guide Price £165,000

Recently upgraded to a high specification, this Victoriansemi-detached family home is located in one of themost sought after areas of the town - and has astunning interior. Beautifully presented throughout, theproperty also has attractive gardens to the front, sideand rear,the latter incorporating a paved patio area,shed and outhouses. A must-see home.

Tweedbank Guide Price £157,500

It’s all about location and this modern semi-detachedvilla is on a private residential estate in Tweedbank –ideally placed for Tweedbank station when the Railwaycommences this year. The property has a number ofconnected rooms that flow from room to room, and a conservatory with patio doors to the garden. It alsohas an attached single garage and beautiful gardens.

From period sandstone villas in Peebles to coastal cottages, the Scottish Borders hasa wide range of property types to suit all tastes, which you will find within our BSPCProperty Guide and website. Below is just a small sample of the range available . . .

A diverse range of properties

WHEN YOU’RE BUYING OR SELLING PROPERTY . . . IT HAS TO BE BSPC20

Jedburgh is similar in layout to Edinburgh’s OldTown in that it has a long high street terminatingwith a castle – Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum- at its highest point.

The town centre is a conservation area boastingmore than 130 listed properties, a number ofwhich are category A - buildings of national orinternational importance, either architectural orhistoric, or little-altered examples of a particularperiod, style or building type. The history of thisattractive town is highlighted at a visitor centrebased in a fortified house that played host toMary Queen of Scots in 1566.

The A68 cuts a swathe through Jedburghproviding direct access north to Edinburgh andsouth, through Northumberland National Park,where it joins the A69 linking Carlisle andNewcastle. The town is an attractive mix of oldand new, its buildings ranging from historic andquirky to traditional and modern, while thesurrounding countryside offers opportunities forone-off properties with land for horses, farmhouses and steadings and rural conversions.

Like Kelso, Jedburgh’s main sport (some wouldsay passion) is rugby, however, other outdooroptions include golf, horse riding, angling, cyclingand places to visit, such as HarestanesCountryside Centre and Jedforest Deer and FarmPark. Local facilities include pre-school, primaryand secondary schools (Jedburgh GrammarSchool), local shops and restaurants, healthcareall the necessities of life wrapped up in scenicrural surroundings.

Less than 40 miles from Edinburgh, the town ofSelkirk is officially ancient – an Ancient and RoyalBurgh, no less. But what sets this Border townapart from its neighbours is its dramatic elevatedsetting high above the Ettrick and Yarrow valleys.While Hawick made hosiery, Selkirk built areputation for glassmaking and gave its nameto the buttery Selkirk Bannock.

The town is also known for its associations withSir Walter Scott - who served as sheriff for 33years and whose courtroom is now a museum - and with William Wallace, who was declaredGuardian of the Kingdom of Scotland in Selkirk.The Ettrick Valley was also the birthplace of poetand writer James Hogg, otherwise known as the‘Ettrick Shepherd.’

As a place to live Selkirk has much going for itapart from spectacular scenery – good schools,shops, hotels, restaurants, and sports and leisurefacilities that include rugby, swimming, angling,golf (with both nine and 18-hole courses), horse-riding, walking and cycling.

Bowhill House and Country Park, the Borders’home of the Duke of Buccleuch, is another majorattraction in the area. There’s also a creative vibein Selkirk that can be seen in Rob Elliot’shandcrafted furniture and the award-winningTwists Glass Studio.

In addition to its mix of house styles to suit all agegroups and prices ranges, Kelso has an outstandingrange of facilities and amenities, including primaryand secondary schools, shops, and clubs foreverything from curling to arts and bridge.

This area is a firm favourite with walkers, particularlyoutlying villages like Town Yetholm and Kirk Yetholm,which are half-a-mile apart and stand on either sideof the Bowmont River.

Kirk Yetholm, home to the world famous YetholmGypsies, also marks the end of the Pennine Way, a challenging long-distance walk that begins inDerbyshire and winds through three NationalParks before crossing the border at Kirk Yetholm.

The property market in this part of the world is keptbuoyant by demand from both local residents andincomers from north and south of the border. It helps that despite being geographically only a fewmiles from the English border, Kelso is still withincommuting distance of Edinburgh via the A68 andthe city bypass – and will be even better placed forcommuters when the Borders Railway is up andrunning later this year. Given that it has so manyattractions and things to do, the Kelso area is also a favourite choice for buyers looking to invest in aholiday or retirement home.

Jedburgh

Selkirk

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There is a place for everyone in theScottish Borders, from lively towns to picturesque villages. All are steepedin history and heritage and retain theircharacter and charm in conjunction with modern facilities and amenities.Perhaps then it’s little wonder that theoutstanding quality of life in theScottish Borders is the envy of many.

Berwickshire is a region with just 32 miles ofcoastline, yet as a lifestyle location it offers adiversity that is hard to beat, with magnificentbeaches, wildlife tours, off-shore safaris, loch,sea and river fishing, bird watching, golf, guidedwalks, cycle trails, boat trips, surfing, diving,historic monuments and places of interest.

All these factors combine to make a positiveimpact on Berwickshire’s property market, whichcontinues to attract out-of-town buyers toEyemouth - its largest port and the centre forcommercial fishing on the east coast.

Eyemouth, located five miles or so from theEnglish border, is named after its position at themouth of the Eye Water. It’s a fascinating townwith a mix of architectural styles, from the historicGunsgreen House on a site overlooking the river– built in 1753 by notorious smuggler, JohnNisbet, who included such things as a tea chute,vast cellars and other hidey holes in which toconceal smuggled goods, most notably tea - toquaint cottages, narrow streets and vennels,modern houses, shops, galleries, eateries, andother historic attractions.

A wide bay and sandy north-facing beach makesEyemouth a seaside resort as well as a busyworking harbour where fish are traded early everymorning and where all the traditional crafts andtrades associated with the fishing industry canstill be found, from net-making to ship buildingand repair. The Auld Kirk is now an award-winning museum, which gives insight into thehistory of the town, while the Maritime Centre,which opened in 2007, charts life afloat inchanging exhibitions. Eyemouth also has amodern, state-of-the-art High School, which,coupled with the choice of both traditional andmodern/new build house styles available, hasboosted the town’s desirability with families.

Further inland and only ten minutes from the A1and just 45 minutes from Edinburgh, Duns has itsroots in farming and a history marked by the manyskirmishes and battles that took place between theScots and the English.

Modern day Duns has a great many attractions,including architectural gems like the 14th centuryDuns Castle (now a luxury hotel) and ManderstonHouse, the setting for Channel 4’s EdwardianCountry House series. But the town’s early historystretches far back in time – Duns Law, close to theoriginal Duns Castle built in 1320 by the Earl ofMoray, nephew of Robert the Bruce, has theremains of an Iron Age hill fort at its summit, whileother similar structures nearby, such as that atEdin’s Hall Broch, suggest the area’s domesticand defensive use at a very early stage.

Today Duns is renowned for its shopping facilitiesand education - most notably the new BerwickshireHigh School, which opened in 2009 and replacedthe former 1950s school, which has beenrefurbished to re-house the primary school.

Equally important in attracting people to moveto the area is the town’s diverse property market,which offers everything from traditional and periodstyles to conversions and modern estate housesthat have sprung up in recent years on the outskirtsof the town, adjacent to open countryside yetwith easy reach of local amenities.

Hawick is famous for its fine quality knitwearincluding cashmere , peppermint sweets known asHill’s Hawick Balls – and ‘The Horse’ at the end ofthe High Street, an impressive equestrian statuethat commemorates the victory of local youths overEnglish invaders at nearby Hornshole in 1514, barelya year after the disaster at Flodden.

Hawick has merged the old and the new withoutstanding success. Architecture from the pasthas found a new lease of life – most notably the former Tower Mill, the centrepiece of a £10 millionregeneration project that incorporates a striking two-storey glass entrance and terrace overlooking SlitrigWater. Now a modern civic arts centre, this landmarkbuilding houses a cinema, theatre, cafe andexhibition area – quite a contrast to the originalwater wheel, which has been retained as a tangiblelink with the past.

Many historical buildings are there to admire, like the Public Library and Town Hall, while former millbuildings that once put Hawick on the world map,are gradually being put to other uses.

The town’s close proximity to the English bordermade it a frequent target for cross border skirmishesbetween the two countries during the 1400s and1500s. Today the English come either to shop asday visitors or to find a lifestyle destination thatoffers spectacular scenery, wide variety of sportsand leisure facilities and a property market that hassomething to suit every taste, from period buildings,conversions and traditional flats, to rural cottagesand modern housing developments.

East access to the A7 also puts Hawick within easyreach of Selkirk and Galashiels. Marginally closer toNewcastle – an hour’s drive as opposed to an hourand fifteen minutes to Edinburgh.

Hawick

Eyemouth

Duns

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