rabbies tours hadrian's wall

We've noticed that you're using an out of date browser. We recommend that you update to the latest version to enhance your browsing experience.

We've refreshed our website design so things may look a little different if you've been here before. We'll be making more improvements soon so watch this space.

Hadrian's Wall, Roman Britain & the Scottish Borders from Edinburgh

Explore the incredible Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish Borders on this day tour from Edinburgh.

The Romans came, they saw, but they couldn’t quite conquer.

After centuries of raiding, plundering, and fighting the ancient north of Britannia, they decided to build a wall.

But this isn’t just any wall, it’s an astounding achievement. It showcases the might of the ancient Roman Empire and illustrates how the Romans interacted with tribal Britain.

This tour takes you to the most interesting parts of this grand partition and lets you learn about Rome’s influence on Britain, while also giving you a chance to explore the gentle rolling hills of the borders and visit an ancient abbey. You also get the chance to explore the incredible Roman site of Vindolanda.

It’s perfect for anyone fascinated by the collision of cultures and quintessential British landscapes.

From £64 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

January — December

Contact details

• +44 (131) 2263133
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Tour information

• Edinburgh - City Centre
• Driver guide
• Small coach
• Small Group (1-16)

Tour prices

From £64 Per Adult £58 Per Child £58 Concession

Prices are subject to change depending on season

JavaScript needs to be enabled to see this. You can turn this on in your browser settings.

Tour gallery

Tour company information

Rabbie's trail burners ltd.

Our award-winning small-group tours take care of details and ensure you and your driver-guide’s adventures are free from the things that make travel less lovable. Here’s how we deliver travel experiences you’ll love: ✔ You learn from the best storytellers. ✔ You explore in top of the range 16 seat mini-coaches. ✔ You support the local communities. ✔ You make your trip your own. ✔ Guaranteed departures: you book, you go. ✔ Guaranteed experience or your money back.

Social Channels

Visit Rabbie's Trail Burners Ltd

Opening times

Daily 07:30 - 22:00

Other tours from this company

Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands day tour from Edin...

Departs: Edinburgh - City Centre, Edinburgh

Myths, monsters, and mountains: this tour is the best way to see Scotland in a d...

Price from:

£69pp

Loch Lomond National Park, Kelpies & Stirling Castle fr...

Step back in time and discover the legends, landscapes, and landmarks that defin...

£57pp

West Highlands Lochs and Castles Day Tour from Edinburg...

Capture the spirit of the Western Highlands and explore Scotland’s most atmosphe...

£64pp

St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife from Edinburg...

An ancient university, breathtaking medieval ruins, and quaint coastal villages:...

The content of many of our web listings is provided by third party operators and not VisitScotland. VisitScotland accepts no responsibility for (1) any error or misrepresentation contained in third party listings, and (2) the contents of any external links within web listings ((1) and (2) together hereinafter referred to as the "Content"). VisitScotland excludes all liability for loss or damage caused by any reliance placed on the Content. The Content is provided for your information only and is not endorsed by VisitScotland.

Savvy Travel Advice

Best of the Scottish Borders & Hadrian’s Wall

Last updated: October 7, 2019 - Written by Jessica Norah 26 Comments

A visit to the Scottish Borders is an easy day trip from Edinburgh, and allows visitors to get a glimpse into a relatively unknown region of Scotland. The Scottish Borders is region located in the southeast part of Scotland, with the Southern section forming part of the border with England. It is sparsely populated, largely rural, and covered with rolling hills, wild moorland and meandering rivers. Like in many regions of Scotland, you’ll find historic towns, ruined abbeys, castles, footpaths, gardens, and farmland.

The Scottish Borders is well known for its agricultural and food products, often referred to as Scotland’s natural larder and fresh local produce and farm-to-table meals are easy to find here. Short and long distance walking paths crisscross the entire region and are a great way to explore. Just south of the Borders, you can also visit the UNESCO heritage site Hadrian’s Wall and loads of places steeped in Roman history.

The Scottish Borders is also the region of Scotland that perhaps had the greatest influence on the famous Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott. Scott spent much time here as a young boy and then later built his family home here, the impressive Abbotsford House which is today open to visitors.

We got a great taste of some of the highlights of the Scottish Borders on two recent day trips we took from Edinburgh with Rabbie’s Trail Burners. We’ll share our experience on those two trips as well as the highlights from our time spent exploring the Scottish Borders.

Table of Contents:

Basic Information about Rabbie’s Tours

Rabbie’s was first started by Robin Worsnop in 1993 as he wanted people to be able to explore Scotland’s beautiful scenery in small group bus tours. He started the company as the sole driver with a single second-hand Leyland DAF minibus.

Today, Rabbie’s (officially Rabbie’s Trail Burners) employs over 60 driver guides and continues to run small group (maximum 16 passengers) bus tours throughout the UK and Ireland with a large fleet of 16-seat Mercedes mini-coaches.

The company is based in Edinburgh but also operates tours from Glasgow, Dublin, and London. Rabbie’s and its founder have won numerous awards including the Scottish Tourist Board’s 5 Star Award. 

What tours do they offer?

Rabbie’s offers over 60 different tours within the UK and Ireland, including one tour to northern France. The majority of tours focus on Scotland or northern England but the tours explore all the main regions within the UK. Tours range from a city tour of Edinburgh to 17-day tours.

Rabbie’s is also happy to arrange a private tour or customize an existing tour for almost any size group and can also arrange for a tour guide who speaks the language of the group if they are non-English speaking, just contact them  well in advance with your request. They can also help you book multiple connecting tours so you can do more than one tour right after the other. They can also arrange tours for those wanting to explore their ancestral heritage.

What size are the groups? 

All group sizes are limited to 16 passengers and they can also arrange private tours with advanced notice. One great thing about Rabbie’s that is not true of most other tour companies is that when you book a tour, the tour is guaranteed to run no matter how many other people book that tour. All the tours will run with only one or two persons on them even if the company has to take a loss on the tour. We had groups of 15 or 16 on three of the four tours we have done with Rabbie’s, but only 4 persons (so only 2 other people) on our Best of the Borders tour.

Our guide on our Highlands Explorer tour this past week was telling us that he has once done a 5-day tour with only one passenger! Whereas it is unusual for a group to have only 1 person booked, this is a fantastic guarantee as so many people plan their holidays around the multi-day tours and it would be a shame to learn at the last minute that a tour won’t be happening after making travel arrangements. With Rabbie’s you don’t have to worry about that!

Who should take these tours?

The tours are geared to people looking for a small group bus tour of the UK. They are designed to cover the highlights of an area or region and also take in some of the lesser known sites. We have now taken four Rabbie’s tours and the passengers range from children to the elderly. There have been a lot of young and middle-aged couples, friend groups, a couple of families (children not permitted on all tours such as the whisky tours), and a few solitary travelers of all ages.

Mobility levels of fellow passengers have also varied greatly although for many places we visited (e.g., beaches, historical homes, hikes) access can be limited for those with serious mobility restrictions. Those with mobility restrictions or disabilities should contact Rabbie’s in advance to help choose the best tour options and to make sure appropriate overnight accommodation is available.

Based on our experience, a lot of the passengers are European, American, or Asian with a few Brits, Canadians, and other nationalities thrown in on each tour. All information is given in English unless you book a private tour so it is good to have at least a moderate level of English comprehension to really get full value from the tour, especially the multi-day tours. However some passengers who spoke limited English, especially on the day tours, seemed to be using the tour more as a convenient transport option rather than a tour so that works too!

The driver also acts as a guide and gives lots of information on the bus while also sometimes providing some guided walks or visits off the bus. However, generally, you are given tips and advice on where to go and are then left to wander on your own or explore an attraction at your leisure or with the attraction guide (e.g., a house or castle tour). This gives you a lot of flexibility as you generally have the option to do more than one thing (e.g., tour a castle, shop, or go for a hike) or even stay on the bus and rest if you wish.

There are usually a few major stops each day (generally 30 minutes to 1.5 hours a stop) and a few photo stops as well as lunch and restroom breaks. There is also often flexibility for the driver to substitute or add stops depending on weather, road conditions, and group interests. The driver guide is happy to help provide a bit more assistance for those who need it, but the tours are designed for people who want to have some independence during the trip.

Most meals, attraction fees, and overnight accommodation fees are generally not included in the tour costs, so do read the fine print so you are clear what is covered and what is not for any particular tour. This provides flexibility for travelers to choose what and where they eat (although at times there may not be more than one restaurant option), whether they visit an attraction or not, and what type of accommodation fits their style and budget (hostel, B&B, and hotel options are generally available). Accommodations are generally pre-booked by Rabbie’s (tour participants will be staying at various locations in the town), but tour participants can also request to make their own bookings themselves. 

How do I make a reservation or contact Rabbie’s Trail Burners?

The easiest way to make a reservation is online at https://www.rabbies.com  or via phone at +44 (0)131 226 3133. If you are in Edinburgh, you can also come by the Rabbie’s Cafe (Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3EG) for tour information. You can also find them on Twitter , Instagram , and  Facebook , or reach them via their  contact page .

More information about the Scottish Borders region?

Whether you are deciding on which Scottish Borders tour to take or you are thinking about planning your own independent trip to the Scottish Borders, the    Visit Scotland website might come in handy. For those interested in walking or hiking in the area, I’d also check out this informative  walking online guide to the Borders . There are also several good Scottish Borders  guidebooks and maps and many books focused on the best walks in the region.

Scottish Borders Highlights from our Rabbies Tours

We have taken a total of four tours with Rabbie’s, three of them being day tours from Edinburgh and one being a multi-day tour into the Highlands. You can read Laurence’s coverage of our Discover Malt Whisky Day Tour that included a visit to two whisky distilleries, a castle, and beautiful Loch Lomond. This post will focus on discussing two day trips that took us into the Scottish Borders, one being the Hadrian’s Wall, Roman Britain, and the Borders day tour and one being the Best of the Borders day tour .

Rabbie’s currently offers a few different Scottish Borders day trips from Edinburgh so you can definitely find one that suits your interests! Unfortunately, there are no overnight or multi-day tours of this region yet. Over the course of these two day trips we explored a number of towns and sites in the Scottish Borders and even jumped over to Northumberland in northern England. I can’t write about everything we did but I will cover all the highlights of our Scottish Borders tours!

Our first tour departed by bus from the Rabbie’s Cafe and our second one started with a rail journey (included in the price of the ticket) from Edinburgh to meet our driver at the Galashiels train station. Our driver guide on both tours (pure coincidence) was Ally, a talkative and friendly guy who was very knowledgeable about Scottish history and all the places we visited. He was also very easygoing and on the day we had a small group, he squeezed in a couple of extra short stops along the tour since our small group was quick in getting in and out of places.

We have found all the Rabbie’s driver guides to be wonderful. Each has different backgrounds and personal foci (e.g., history, nature, wildlife, literature, Scottish clan history, photography) so you get a slightly different focus depending on your driver but all cover the items on the itinerary of each tour. There was enough time to have a quick lunch (although not rushed) during both tours and also plenty of restroom breaks. The buses are comfortable and clean, although I’d advise sitting closer to the front if you can as it is a bit less bumpy and you can get off the bus a bit faster at each stop.

Below we cover the highlights of the Scottish Borders day trips in no particular order: 

ScotRail Borders Railway Train Ride 

As noted earlier, our Scottish Borders tour actually started with a train ride! Recently ScotRail began offering new rail journeys from Edinburgh to several Borders towns as far south as Tweedbank. We boarded a ScotRail train at Waverley Station in Edinburgh and took the train for about an hour to Galashiels, and the train trip was included in the tour price. This new rail line has made the Borders towns more accessible to those without cars.

Our Rabbie’s driver then met us at the Galashiels train station to start the tour. The train ride is great way to relax and see some of the Scottish Borders scenery with no worries about being stopped in traffic getting out of Edinburgh. At the end of the tour, the driver can make stops to drops off passengers at either Galashiels or Melrose depending on interests. Melrose is a town located near Galashiels and those interested in exploring it can then get a taxi or bus back to Galashiels to catch the train back to Edinburgh.

We actually visited Jedburgh twice, it was included on both of the Borders tours we did with Rabbie’s. This was the only place we stopped on both tours, and we were happy to do so as there are a few noteworthy things to explore in this town. Jedburgh is a typical Borders town that was once a royal burgh, meaning it had a royal charter.

Jedburgh, like many of the Borders towns, holds a festival to celebrate the brave young men and boys (called callants in Jedburgh) who once helped patrol the area to ward off attacks and raids. During the summer, the  Jethart Callants Festival  is held over a 2-week period, marked by several traditional Common Riding  events and other local events. You find the Common Riding events celebrated all over the Borders region in several towns.

There are four things we can recommend doing in Jedburgh depending on your time and interests: stroll through the town center which is easy to walk around and pop into the peaceful Greyfriars Garden , visit the Jedburgh Abbey (fee), visit the Mary Queen of Scots House (free), and walk up the hill to see the Jedburgh Castle Jail Museum (free).

The Jedburgh Abbey is a 12th century ruined Augustinian abbey built by King David I of Scotland. The included audioguide narrates the story of the abbey, its impressive ruins, and the small exhibition room.

The Mary Queen of Scots House is perhaps a bit of an ambitious name for this 16th century house museum as it never belonged to the queen or was one of her residences. The house is believed to have been built in the 1540s by the Kerr family of Ferniehirst. However, Mary Stuart did come to Jedburgh to hold a Circuit Court and is believed to have stayed at this house in 1566 to recover from an illness after returning from a long ride to see the wounded James Hepburn, the Earl of Bothwell.

The house museum includes the full life story of Mary, Queen of Scots as well as artifacts related to the queen, including documents, a shoe, a watch, and her death mask. A great place to visit for anyone interested in Mary Queen of Scots.

The Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum looks like a castle from the outside but is actually a Howard reform prison built in the 1820’s on the site of the former Jedburgh Castle (destroyed in the 15th century). Today is it is a museum that provides information both on the history of Jedburgh and 19th century prison life.

The building is the only existing example of a 19th century prison of its kind in Scotland and does a good job of helping modern visitors understand the lives of prisoners from the period. I would allow at least 30-45 minutes per attraction in terms of visit times, and one could easily spend a day exploring Jedburgh.

We visited all the above attractions, and Jedburgh Abbey is probably our top pick if you only have time to visit one place during your time in Jedburgh although we found they were all worth a visit.

Kelso is a Borders market town and sits at the meeting point of the Rivers Tweed and Teviot. We had only a short break here but can recommend exploring the large cobbled market square and shops, visiting the ruins of Kelso Abbey (free), and walking over to the banks of the River Tweed to see the Kelso Bridge.

There are several cafes and restaurants located around the market square where you can get a meal or coffee. The Kelso Abbey was founded in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks but became inactive in the mid-16th century during the reign of King Henry VII. There were some cute baby birds in a nest on one of the ledges during our visit.

The Kelso Bridge was engineered by John Rennie who also designed the 19th century London Bridge and from the bridge you also get a glimpse of the 18th century  Floors Castle . We’d love to return to visit Floors Castle (open to public for a fee), which is the seat of the Duke of Roxburghe and is the largest inhabited castle in Scotland.

As in many towns in the Scottish borders, Sir Walter Scott spent time in Kelso as a boy and young man, both visiting his family at the Rosebank Estate and attending Kelso Grammar School. You’ll find a bust of Sir Walter Scott in the gabled wall of the Waverley Lodge (incorporates a cottage on which Scott stayed in the 18th century with his aunt) which sits on land that was once part of the Rosebank estate.

Sir Walter Scott in the Scottish Borders

The Scottish Borders and its traditions served as a great inspiration for famous Scottish writer and poet Sir Walter Scott. Scott was born in Edinburgh but spent a lot of time in the Borders towns as a child and young man with his family and later built his home Abbotsford House in the Scottish Borders. Abbotsford was built over 3 major phases and is built in 19th century Scottish Baronial style.

Other places closely associated with Scott include the towns of Selkirk, Melrose, and Kelso, Smailholm Tower, Scott’s View (one of his favorite scenic views), and Dryburgh Abbey (where he and his wife are buried).

Wallace Statue

Hidden away in a field on the ground of the Bemersyde estate near Melrose is a large 31-foot red sandstone statue of William Wallace. The name of the 13th century Scottish hero William Wallace may or may not mean anything to you,  but if you have watched the film Braveheart , he was the man portrayed by Mel Gibson (note: Braveheart is the nickname for Robert the Bruce not Gibson’s character). This statue was made by John Smith and was unveiled in 1814; it was originally painted white but the paint is mostly gone now.

The statue is not particularly well-regarded from either a realistic standpoint (inaccuracies in clothing) or artistic one, and was largely forgotten about until its renovation in 1991. This statue is older than the more famous statue at Stirling and is often referred to as the original Wallace statute. It is definitely a large dominating statue and we enjoyed the short 10-minute woodland walk to get here and learning a bit more about Sir William Wallace from Ally. If you come on your own, there is a small parking area where you can park and then go through the gate and follow the path to the statue.  

The Scots love their heroes, and there are several other Wallace statues in Scotland, including the one by sculptor Dwight Watson Stevenson (1859-69) at the National Wallace Monument in Stirling (recommend a visit here if you are a Wallace fan), one by William Grant Stevenson in Aberdeen, and at least two statues in Edinburgh.

Interestingly, a new statue of Wallace was commissioned in Stirling in the 1990’s. When the new statue named “Freedom” was unveiled by Tom Church in 1996, locals were outraged as the statue portrayed Mel Gibson as Wallace rather than the historical real-life Wallace! The statue was eventually sent back to the sculptor after becoming a regular target for vandalism and has not been publicly displayed since 2008, but you can find images online if you do a search.

Leaderfoot Viaduct

The Leaderfoot Viaduct  is a railway bridge over the River Tweed located near the town of Melrose. It was constructed in 1863 out of stone and brick and has nineteen 43 foot spans with semi-circular arches. The narrow bridge is no longer used but it was renovated in the 1990’s in order to preserve this historical viaduct. It was a great place for a short photo stop on our tour.

We also met some local hikers here and learned that is also a good place for a short or long hike as you can walk from the viaduct to the historical Roman settlement of Trimontium  and the Drygrange Old Bridge built in 1776. The Leaderfoot Viaduct is also included on a few of the  local walking routes in the Borders . We’d definitely love to return to do some of the walking routes in the Scottish Borders.

Carter Bar, also called Carter’s Bar, does not in fact serve any alcohol. Instead, it is a point on the border between Scotland and England. You can straddle the border, with one foot in Roxburghshire (Scotland) and one in Northumberland (England). This official modern England-Scotland border was established in 1237 by the Treaty of York.

Today, there are two large rocks here noting the border, a small tourist kiosk stand, some flags, and some final (or first) scenic views of the Scottish Borders. The spot also has some historical significance as in 1575, one of the final major battles (Raid of the Redeswire) between the English and Scottish took place here. There is not too much to see here but it is a good photo op and a good place to stretch your legs. 

Hadrian’s Wall & Vindolanda

Hadrian’s Wall was a defensive fortification built by the Romans in the northernmost part of the Roman province of Britannia. It is believed that it was started in 122 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Hadrian and although it was less frequently used by the Roman over time, it was still used by the Romans until they left Britain in the early 5th century.

Hadrian’s Wall spanned 73 miles (80 Roman miles) from Wallsend in the east to the Solway Firth in the west. The stone wall had 80 milecastles, numerous observation towers, and at least 14 larger forts. Today Hadrian’s Wall is situated in northern England and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It has become a popular tourist attraction, and it is popular for visitors to walk, bike, take a bus, or drive along sections of the wall. It takes about a week to walk from one end to the other with about 15 miles of the original wall still standing along the path. The wall is quite fragile, as is the surrounding ground, and it is recommended that the footpath only be used in summer and that visitors refrain from walking or sitting atop of the historic wall.

For those interested in walking the wall, I’d advise picking up a recently written/updated guidebook about walking Hadrian’s Wall  for maps, tips, and eating/sleeping recommendations. 

We drove along the old Roman Dere Street which runs along part of Hadrian’s Wall and along the way we saw the t he famous Sycamore Gap in the wall in Northumberland England. Sycamore Gap is popular because it is scenic spot, but also because of the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (Kevin Costner & Morgan Freeman were featured in a scene here).

We then stopped at Steel Rigg where our driver Ally gave us some information about the wall and its purpose and then gave us some time to walk along a section of the wall and take photos. I do wish we had more time at the Wall and to walk further along it as there were a lot of other people at this section when we visited. Games of Thrones fans will likely know, or be interested to learn, that the Game of Thrones book series written by George RR Martin was inspired by Hadrian’s Wall .

Next we went to visit the remains of one of the Roman forts, Vindolanda , which also contains a good museum on Roman history. There are several other fort ruins you can visit in the area, but the Roman auxiliary fort of Vindolanda is one of the most popular along with the National Trust run Homesteads Fort .

The archaeological site at Vindolanda contains remains of a bath house, residences, barracks, temple, and other areas. It is still an active excavation site so you may get to see digging in action during the summer and there is also a reconstructed section of Hadrian’s Wall to see what it would have looked liked during the time of the Romans. Additional ruins and artifacts are being discovered here almost daily it seems and I was amazed by the number of artifacts found here!

The museum contains lots of information and some amazing Roman artifacts, including bones, shoes (so many shoes!), jewelry, pottery, weapons, coins, and the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain. In addition to the Roman Vindolanda site, there is another nearby museum, the Roman Army Museum which is also run by the Vindolanda Charitable Trust and you can purchase joint tickets if you have time for both attractions.

There is also a decent cafe here where we all ate lunch and Laurence and I also shared an ice cream on the patio. 

Born in the Borders Craft Brewery

The Scottish Borders region is well-known for its agricultural and food products and is sometimes referred to as Scotland’s larder. So Ally made a brief stop at Born in the Borders , which is a craft brewery, cafe, and gift shop that specializes in locally sourced Borders produce. We visited the brewery to learn about how the beer is made and then had samples of three of their beers.

We also explored their food and gift ship which has a lot of local products and beers from all over the region. Born on the Borders is located on the edge of River Teviot and if it is a nice day, you can take a walk around the property and have a lunch outside. The café and restaurant looked like a nice spot to have lunch or coffee, but it was just closing as we arrived. 

We had a brief stop in Moffat during our tour to explore this former spa town and to do any souvenir shopping. Moffat is not technically in the Scottish Borders but is in located nearby in the region called Dumfries and Galloway.

Moffat has a long history as a spa town, reaching its height of popularity during the Victorian period.  Moffat also had a notable woolen industry which is today commemorated with a statue of a ram by William Brodie in the town’s marketplace (poor ram has no ears!).

The town center is worth a wander and you can stop and sample some of the Moffat toffee. If you like strange records, you can walk over to the Star Hotel which was in the Guinness Book of Records for being the most narrow hotel in the world (also serves food), Chapel street which is the shortest street in Scotland, and Syme Street which is the narrowest street in Scotland.

For those interested in long distance walking, Moffat is also the starting point for the Sir Walter Scott Way .

Scenic Viewing Points

One of the great things about Rabbie’s tour drivers/guides is that they know where the best viewing spots are for great scenic views and photography. All of the tours we have taken have included at least a couple of photo stops, and the Scottish Borders tours were no exception.

Ally made several photo stops across the two tours, which included the beautiful Scott’s View of the Eildon Hills (a favorite view of Sir Walter Scott),  Devil’s Beef Tub near Moffat (a deep hollow formed by 4 hills), view at Carter’s Bar, and the countryside around Smailholm Tower. 

 So as you can see we had two wonderful and very full day trips out to the Scottish Borders. Obviously we had limited time in each of the above places given this was a bus tour, but we had enough time to visit most of the places we wanted and an idea of all the places we want to explore further in the future.

Although we have much more we’d like to see in the region, we got to see a lot of the highlights of the Scottish Borders and Hadrian’s Wall on these two tours! 

Have you been to the Scottish Borders? Which of the above places are on your list of places to visit when you come to Scotland? As always, feel free to comment and we’re happy to answer any questions about our Scottish Borders day trips with Rabbie’s. 

**Disclosure: We received complimentary day tours to the Scottish Borders from Rabbie’s Trail Burners in order to review the service as travel writers; however, this article contains only our own honest thoughts and opinions. You can read more in our Ethics Code about how we accept work.**

Share this Post!

There are 26 comments on this post.

Please scroll to the end to leave a comment

Jill Post author

April 19, 2019 at 1:57 pm

Hi Jessica,

I was looking at the Rabbies tours that you talked about. Which tour was it that you took the train. It does not show that on the Rabbies tour site.

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

April 20, 2019 at 2:26 am

Hi Jill, It was this Rabbies tour ; however, they have since changed the tour to include a visit to Rosslyn Chapel instead of the ScotRail train ride, so transport is fully by minibus. The other tour we’ve taken to the Scottish Boarders are Hadrian’s Wall, Roman Britain, and the Borders day tour.

Hope that helps! Jessica

Dianne Fraser Post author

October 18, 2016 at 9:50 pm

I enjoyed reading about your travels in the Scottish Borders–an area I’ve never visited. I definitely want to make another trip to Scotland and your blog has been an inspiration. Thank you.

travelcats Post author

October 20, 2016 at 7:10 am

Hi Dianne, Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! I hope you get a chance to return to Scotland soon and see the Scottish Borders. Feel free to ask us any questions you may have in planning your trip. Best, Jessica

Vlad Post author

August 30, 2016 at 3:32 am

Stunning photos! I need to do these tours next time I visit Scotland. We were in Scotland around the same time this summer, I also did a two day tour of the Highlands and the scenery was gorgeous – despite the fact that it rained all the time. You seem to have been luckier 😉

August 31, 2016 at 11:41 am

Hi Vlad, Yes since we live in Scotland we sometimes plan trips around the weather, but not an option really if you are traveling. But we have also got quite luck on our 5-day Rabbie’s tour of the Highlands and Isle of Skye we had 4.5/5 days of good weather – some of the best we’ve had all year actually! We actually had some rain and bad weather on these two day tours to the Borders but we still tried to take the best photos possible despite the grey skies in some of them:) ~ Jessica

Michele Post author

August 28, 2016 at 10:00 pm

Rabbie’s tours really packs in a lot to see, and it sounds like the guide was extremely knowledgeable. From what you show us in the photo of Jedburgh Abbey, I can see why it’s such a good place to visit. I’d love to explore that place further. The viaduct would be another top pick for me. I don’t think I’ve actually seen a picture of Hadrian’s Wall before. If no one told me what it was, I’m not sure I would have guessed how significant it is.

August 29, 2016 at 2:29 am

Hi Michele – Yes, you do get to normally see a lot on a Rabbie’s tour. Normally there are the 2-3 main stops where you get to spend more time and then a few extra quick stops or photo stops. The Jedburgh Abbey is a nice and if you like abbeys like this, there are many of them in the Scottish Borders region – Jedburgh, Kelso, Melrose, etc. – there is actually a circular hiking trail called the Border Abbeys Way that focuses on ruined Borders abbeys established by David I of Scotland. Hadrian’s Wall is worth going to see and learning about – it is hard to take a great photo of an old crumbling wall 🙂 It is now much shorter and less grand than it would have been in Roman times but the museums help show you what it would have looked like and its past significance. ~ Jessica

alex Post author

August 27, 2016 at 2:00 pm

What a great idea, and I love the fact the company just started wiht one man and his van. The borders are so beautiful (I’m from the north east and my husband is from Edinburgh) but I have never seen that viaduct before – I have pinned your photograph and added it to my bucket list! Thanks! 😉

August 28, 2016 at 11:43 am

Hi Alex, Yes, the company has a great beginning with the owner starting the company just with himself as the driver. It has really paid off as it is definitely one of the most popular and recognized tour companies in Scotland now. Yes, it is quite a beautiful and historically important viaduct and I am glad that that organizations were able to save it and conserve it! Some great walking paths here that lead to the nearby Scottish Borders towns. ~ Jessica

Jim Post author

August 27, 2016 at 7:45 am

We spent all of our time in Scotland in the Highlands. You’ve given me several awesome reasons for a return trip, this time to the Borders.

August 28, 2016 at 11:39 am

Hi Jim, Yes, I hope you get a chance to see more of Scotland. We have noticed that when people come to Scotland they seem to make a point to get to Edinburgh (sometimes Glasgow) and the Highlands but often see very little about the rest of the country. The Highlands are beautiful and have some amazing scenery made famous is several films, but really the whole country has a lot of great scenery and historical sites! Just in our little village we have a famous chapel, a ruined castle, and are walking distance to the beautiful Pentland Hills. ~ Jessica

Lolo Post author

August 27, 2016 at 6:10 am

What an interesting post about the Scottish borders and the history! I have found the history so interesting ever since I read the Outlander series back in college!

August 27, 2016 at 6:28 am

Hi Lolo, Ah, yes, the history of Scotland is quite fascinating! Less known I think than English history but equally as interesting. I have to say I am not an Outlander fan (at least not the TV show), Laurence and I watched the first couple of episodes and decided it was not for us, but that show is very popular and has brought increased tourism to Scotland. Sites that are featured in the show have definitely seen increased visitor numbers this year which is fantastic! If you are an Outlander fan, there are a number of tours you can take that will talk you to many of the most popular Outlander sites (Rabbie’s indeed has one now!) or you can rent a car and piece together your own Outlander focused tour – some great historical sites were used in that show. ~ Jessica

Michelle Post author

August 27, 2016 at 5:26 am

I’ve been to Scotland a couple of times – Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Highlands – and was absolutely wowed by its beauty! Especially the Highlands. The Scottish Borders look enchanting as well. Not a Games of Thrones fan but Hadrian’s Wall does look like a really interesting place to visit. Will definitely put the Borders on the list for the next time I visit Scotland. Thanks for sharing!

August 27, 2016 at 5:46 am

Hi Michelle, yes the landscapes of Scotland are beautiful all over the country, from the Borders to the Highlands to the islands:) Yes, it sounds like you have been to most of the places I’d recommend for a first time visitor to Scotland, next time you can explore some of the islands or some of the lesser known places in Scotland such as the Scottish Borders! ~ Jessica

Anda Post author

August 26, 2016 at 4:29 pm

I love your photos, guys! They transport me to the very places you visit and I feel like I was there with you, enjoying all these beautiful landscapes in Scotland. I’d love to visit Scotland and hope to be as lucky with the weather as you were. It’s great to know there are so many fun day trips from the big cities.

August 27, 2016 at 2:27 am

Hi Anda, Yes, the landscapes of Scotland can be so very beautiful, they are some of Laurence’s favorites as a landscape photographer 😉 The gray, misty moodiness can be good at times, but Scotland really looks its best (in my opinion) in the sunshine. We were so very lucky to have great weather during most of our tours with Rabbie’s. These tours are great for those who don’t want to drive themselves and they leave from a very convenient location in Edinburgh (or Glasgow). ~ Jessica

Arnie Jacobsen Post author

August 26, 2016 at 2:22 pm

We love taking small tours like this. We took one like this when we were in England, I’m sure that when we make it to Scotland next summer we will be using these guys. Thanks.

August 27, 2016 at 2:24 am

Hi Arnie, Yes, we have found Rabbie’s tours guides to be friendly and very informative and the tours to be well organized and well worth the time. The only thing, as with any group tour, is of course you are limited in time at any specific place, but you definitely get to see the highlights of an area in a very efficient way! I hope you make it to Scotland next summer and be sure to consider a visit to the Scottish Borders region of Scotland. ~ Jessica

Anisa Post author

August 26, 2016 at 12:59 pm

Really enjoyed this post, especially since I will be roadtripping to Scotland in a few days. The Mary Queen of Scots Museum sounds really interesting. I am in the middle of reading the book The Other Queen which is about her. I need to hurry up and finish it so I can visit the museum!

August 27, 2016 at 2:22 am

Hi Anisa, Ah, I read that book many years ago and just got to see Philippa Gregory speak in Edinburgh at the Edinburgh International Book Festival about a week ago! She just released a new book and was a fantastic speaker. Sadly I think you’ll miss most of the festivals which take place throughout August. There are dozens of places in Scotland connected to Mary, Queen of Scots, including several in and around Edinburgh 🙂 ~ Jessica

Laura Post author

August 26, 2016 at 12:31 pm

I’ve really wanted to visit this area but hadn’t found much information about the Scottish Borders area before. This post was great, thank you!

August 27, 2016 at 2:17 am

Hi Laura, Glad you found this information useful and hope you plan a trip to visit the Scottish Borders soon! ~ Jessica

Seana Turner Post author

August 22, 2016 at 10:30 am

I have a lot of Scot in my background, and yet I’ve never been to Scotland. I’m so happy to learn about some fun day trips outside of the major cities. I wouldn’t even have known to consider this tour. Walking the wall would be so fun – a week to walk the whole thing – wow! When we were in Israel we saw some of the aqueduct at Cesarea and it really is amazing to think what they could build all those years ago. I love that photo of you at Kelso Abbey – you look about 10 feet tall:)

August 23, 2016 at 2:13 pm

Hi Seana, Scotland is a beautiful country and I hope you get a chance to visit. For a first time visit, I would recommend starting in Edinburgh as it is worth at least a few days and then exploring some of the countryside and perhaps some of the islands if you have time. Glasgow is another place to go if you like exploring cities. You can walk Hadrian’s Wall in less than a week, but most people in the UK seem to take off a week, drive up to the wall and start at one end and walk an easy about 10 miles per day (stopping at pubs and places to stay/camp/eat along the way). Most visitors though just choose to explore a section of two of the wall and visit one of the forts. ~ Jessica

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of replies to my comment (just replies to your comment, no other e-mails, we promise!)

Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter where we share our latest travel news and tips

We only ask for your e-mail so we can verify you are human and if requested notify you of a reply. To do this, we store the data as outlined in our privacy policy . Your e-mail will not be published or used for any other reason other than those outlined above.

York, the Dales, Lake District & Hadrian's Wall

Member Savings

Sign in  to see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)

• Alnwick Castle - Internationally renowned as a major shooting location for the Harry Potter franchise and Downton Abbey, this superb 1000 year old site offers the archetypal English castle experience.
• York Minster - Majestic Gothic spires reach up into the York sky on one of Europe’s largest cathedrals, a focal point for dramatic events throughout English history.
• Robin Hood’s Bay - This beautifully preserved fishing village offers a stunning contrast between its pretty cottages and rugged cliffside setting.
• Yorkshire Dales - The fiercely rugged and verdant expanse is a haven for plant species and hosts some of the UK’s most diverse wildlife, with the beautiful Gothic-influenced city of York at its centre.
• Wordsworth’s Cottage - Famed abode of the poet William Wordsworth and the refuge where he produced some of his greatest works, this cottage is full of the great man’s secrets and truths.
• Lake Windermere - Spiritual home to Beatrix Potter’s fabulous stories, the largest natural lake in England provides historical and natural fascination.
• Scottish Borders - Explore from the ancient boundary of Hadrian’s Wall to the great city of Edinburgh.

What's this trip about?

Compare to similar trips.

Elegance of Great Britain - Start Edinburgh, Classic Group

England & Scotland in 11 days - The Royal Capital and The Highlands - Charm

Delve Deep: Britain & Ireland 2022

Highlights of Scotland

Taste of Scotland & Ireland

Travel themes.

• National Parks
• Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

• United Kingdom

Attractions

• Historic sightseeing
• Ruins & Archaeology
• Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

• All ferry and bridge crossings
• Transport in a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
• Air conditioning as standard
• The stories and services of a Rabbie's driver-guide

View Similar Trips

Grand Tour of Scotland, England & Wales

Highlights of Norfolk Cycling

Portugal, Spain, France and UK Adventure Tour

Wild Scotland

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Dates & Availability

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Rabbies .

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Rabbies Reviews & Ratings

Other rabbies reviews, be warned cancellation fee always charged.

BE WARNED THEY CHARGE 10% CANCELLATION WITH ANY CANCELLATION. We have 7 months before we leave for our trip and just made the reservation less than a week ago and th...

Had wonderful tour with Rabies

Just had another wonderful tour with Rabies exploring the amazing Cotswolds. Small group, great guide full of stories, and knowledge, fantastic B & B and beautif...

Best tour I’ve been on to date!

I did a day trip to Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond from Edinburgh with Rabbie’s yesterday. The stops we made were stunning, but the best part of the trip was our dr...

See all Other Rabbies reviews

Travelers also viewed

Discover Wales - 5 Day Small Group Trip from London

Antarctic Wildlife Adventure: Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica

9 Days Adventure Mt. Kilimanjaro Trekking-The Lemosho Route

Best of Vietnam Tour 11 days

Lands of Smiles In Thailand & Vietnam In 16 Days

Tour operator.

We love travel as much as you do.

We prefer it to any roller-coaster, movie, or concert.

But there are a few things we don’t always love about travel.

Like when you get stranded on a dark single track road. Or end up at a large hotel that serves frozen food made 1,000 miles away. Or when you see something incredible, and have no way of finding out what it is.

So, our award-winning small-group tours take care of details and ensure you and your driver-guide’s adventures are free from the things that make travel less lovable.

Here’s how we deliver travel experiences you’ll love:

You learn from the best storytellers in the world . And this is no overstatement. Our driver-guides are world famous for their knowledge, facts, quirky stories, history, and fairy-tales. They truly take you beyond the guide books and into your adventure.

You explore in top of the range 16 seat mini-coaches . This means you never get lost, you always take the scenic route, you have great views through large windows, and you’re free to sample the local tipple without worrying about driving.

Guaranteed departures : you book, you go. When you choose to book with us, you’re going - no minimum numbers.

Guaranteed experience or your money back . If you feel you’ve not had the experience you deserved, and we’re at fault, we’ll give you your money back.

So, take a tour with us and learn to love travel even more than you thought you could.

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip, travel confidently, what's excluded.

• Entry fees to visitor attractions

Accommodation

Important information

Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes

One 15 kilogram bag per person

Become a member

• Save up to $700 per person
• Access members-only specials
• Personalize trip recommendations

Tour Companies

Things to do, itineraries.

Small group tours. Guided by storytellers.

Driven by curiosity.

Rabbie’s small group tours are driven by curiosity and guided by storytellers. We find the stories that go deeper and live longer in travellers' minds. On our journeys, everyone’s hungry for the little-known or just-happened, and we can go after them: no track too small, too trodden or obscure. No need for scripts, because our guides know places like the back of their hand.

Browse all tours

Where would you like to go?

Add More Joy to Your Spring

Spring in the UK & Ireland might be all lambs, bluebells, and egg hunts. But it’s also celebrating the month of whisky, the return of the puffins, and St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Spring is blooming with possibilities, so join us and experience the joy of discovering new places.

We're always on the lookout for new stories. And there's nothing like hearing a startling piece of history or seeing a beautiful place for the first time. Be the first on one of these brand new tours.

See New Tours

All Aboard for 2025

It's never too early to start planning your next adverture... especially when curiosity fuels your wanderlust. Looking for your next travel experience? Check our selection of 2025 tours and book at 2024 prices for a limited time. Start Planning, Start Saving.

See 2025 Tours

Follow our new trails through Europe

They say that Europe's all gelato-coloured towns, fabled castles, and Mediterranean sunsets. But beyond the crowds, there's another side to the story...

Unlock Europe's treasures on our new 3 - 4 day tours

Private Tours

This is where you let your imagination run wild. Private tours are the perfect way to get the bespoke experience you're looking for.

Why choose Rabbie's?

Let Stories Be Your Guide

Our driver-guides are storytellers who take you beyond the 'must-sees'. Join them on our small-group tours and together find and share stories that bring facts to life, turning spaces into places you'll never forget.

Explore the Small Way

Take the scenic route on our 16-seat mini-coaches . There's no track too small, too trodden, or too obscure. No getting lost. And no worries about sampling the local tipple either.

Make It Your Journey

Itineraries join the dots between landmarks and the lesser-known. You decide the rest. What to see, where to eat, when to skip a museum and read by a river. There's time to wander and satisfy your curiosity.

Support Local Communities

You stay in locally-owned accommodation and visit both popular and unfamiliar attractions, boosting the local economies. And for every ton of carbon we use, we donate £10 to environmental and community projects through our responsible travel initiative .

Small group tours last days, but their stories live forever

Big stories start small, and small stories are everywhere. That’s why we chase ‘what ifs’ and ‘why’s on every path, highway and the odd wrong way. Collecting stories you carry home and carry on as your own.

Read More About Us

#rabbiestours

or with email

• Edinburgh >

Hadrian's Wall, Roman Britain & the Scottish Borders from Edinburgh

Why People Love It

Description

Complimentary Options

Meeting Location

Requirements

About the operator, tours you may like, other activities around edinburgh, scotland.

Sightseeing

Local Flavor

City/Town Tour

Transportation

Food Tasting

Generating PDF...

Select Account Type

Sign-up with

Almost there!

Find booking.

How should we contact you?

Thank you! We'll get back to you as soon as possible!

Click here to register and track your question!

If you would like to follow up with us:

+1 (855) 782-3006

Forgot your password?

Enter your email address below and we'll send you a reset link: