Things to do

Sit back, relax and look at the Dark Skies

Experience the dark skies of the Scottish Borders when you stay at either Owl Cottage or Wild Rose.

We will take you for an hour onto the farm to enjoy the dark skies or the stars, depending on the weather.

Comfy chairs, a flask of hot chocolate and binoculars will be provided.

This experience is available December through to end of March when you book your stay at Bairnkine Cottages (subject to availability).

We are experiencing some great Aurora skies too even outwith these winter months. This photo was taken in May!

The Borders Railway

From iconic city views to picture-perfect countryside, the Borders Railway Line offers plenty of opportunity for you to sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning vistas sweeping past your train window on one the great scenic rail journeys in Scotland. Travel through Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders and hop off at one of the 10 stops along the route to enjoy a fun adventure with all the family.

The Borders.

Full of history, culture, and tradition. Step off the train at Waverley Station in the beating heart of Edinburgh and pay a visit to the world-famous Edinburgh Castle. Travel to the National Mining Museum Scotland in Newtongrange Midlothian, and take the kids to experience what life was like for the coal miners in Scotland in days gone by. Or board the train to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders and explore Abbotsford House, the exquisite former home of the famous Scottish author Sir Walter Scott, which is just a leisurely 20 minute walk from the station. Let the new Borders Railway help you to explore these wonderful regions in full.

There are lots of places to visit in the Borders. This is a small selection of a few that are within twenty minute drive. All of the places below are worth a visit. Whilst you are staying at the Bairnkine ask for our other recommendations for places to visit, there are so many, whether you want a relaxing, chill-out day by a river with a picnic or a historic packed day at an historic house or castle.

• Mary Queen of Scotts' Visitor Centre - Jedburgh
• Jedburgh Castle
• Jedburgh Abbey
• The Borders Distillery - Hawick
• Born in Scotland - Lanton Mill
• Harestanes - Ancrum
• Beirhope Alpacas

Click on the above to external website links and below buttons for more info on the area and things to do.

The Scottish Borders has become a real paradise for cyclists with plenty of roads that carry very little traffic. Ample forest tracks provide casual off road routes for beginners and for the more adventurous, the forests and hills in the Borders provide some of the best mountain biking in the country. These include 7stanes at Newcastleton and Glentress. The Borders are ideal in so many ways for the avid cyclist.

The landscape allows the cyclist to enjoy their favourite terrain whether its fast downhill stretches, rough country lanes, or hard hilly terain, most routes will show you beautiful views all the way, over some of the loveliest countyside as a reward. There are many well known and established cycle routes in the Borders. You can find booklets and leaflets describing the Tweed Cycleway, The Four Abbeys Cycle Route, and Borderloop at most Tourist Information Centres.

The Borders is renowned for it's walking

The Southern Upland Way, St Cuthbert's Way and The Pennine Way. Or Why not stay on the farm and take one of our farm walks around the Bairnkine's 1100 acres, stopping off in the picnic area to admire the view or sit in the hide to watch the wildlife. One of the popular routes with hikers is The Borders Abbeys Way, a circular walk which passes the four great Border Abbeys of Jedburgh, Kelso, Melrose and Dryburgh passing close to the site of the first Border Abbey of Selkirk, abandoned in the 12th century in preference of Kelso. The walk has scenery ranging from views over the hills of the Ettrick, Yarrow and Cheviots to beautiful landscapes of the Tweed and Teviot valleys. The walks by the rivers can be especially rewarding in terms of beauty and tranquility.

At home on the farm

We encourage our guests to explore the farm and see for themselves what's happening, whether it be tree planting, cultivation, sheep work or conservation. Duck, Deer and Badger walk take you to different areas of the farm. Or just take a walk to one of the ponds and enjoy the wildlife. Please note that we are lambing from the last week in April for about four weeks, during which time there will be restricted access to the farm walks. We lamb all of our sheep out in the fields therefore we need as little disturbance for them as possible.

The Borders is full of history, culture and tradition

Nearly every Borders town has a story to tell and many places of interest to visit.

Anyone for Tennis?

There is a tennis court at the Bairnkine which Owl Cottage and Wild Rose guests can use by arrangement with Lucy.

Please bring trainers, rackets and balls with you.

You have a wide range of choice when it comes to Golf in the Borders. If you are planning to try out more than one of the available courses, it might well be worth purchasing a "Freedom Of The Fairways" passport, very good value for money.

Jedburgh Golf Club, Dunion Road, Jedburgh: Parkland 18 holes 5760 yards par 68 Phone: ­01835-863587

Kelso Golf Club, Racecourse Road, Kelso, Roxburghshire: Parkland, 18 holes, 6046 yards, par 70 Phone: ­01573 223009

The Roxburghe Golf Club, Kelso, Roxburghshire: Parkland,
18 holes, 7111 yards, par 72 Phone: ­01573 450333

Minto Golf Club, Hawick, Roxburghshire: Parkland, 18 holes,
par 68, 5274 yards Phone: ­01450 870220

St Boswells Golf Club, Braedheads, St. Boswells, Parkland,
​9 holes, par 68, 5724 yards Phone: ­01835 823527

The Teviot and The Tweed are both within 20 minutes drive.
Three hour or full day package for wild brown trout & grayling, tailored to your needs (all ages). Salmon day packages. Equipment instruction & permits provided. Tel: ­07962 401770. Email-info@tweedguide.com

The Hass Lochs
Also, just a few minutes drive away are the Hass Lochs stocked with trout for the avid angler. Tickets from Jedburgh swimming pool - tel: 01835 863430.. For more details, phone: ­07053501439 - 01573 224073

International fame
The River Tweed has always been internationally famous for its salmon fishing, with people coming from all over the world to fish it. Brown trout and sea trout are also there to be had.

We have space to store rods
Also an outside freezer where your catch of the day can be kept until your homeward journey!

The Cheviot Hills, on Scotland's border with England,

offer breathtaking scenery and wonderful opportunities for the horse riding enthusiast young and old. There are some good riding stables in the area around Jedburgh catering for most equestrian needs, with rides and treks through this historically rich, and beautiful part of Scotland.

Nenthorn Equestrian Center, Kelso
Learn how to ride at phone: ­07053501439 - 01573 224073