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Drive north across the Tweed through Coldstream and follow signs to Kelso.
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In Kelso Market Square, follow the A6089 (sign-posted Edinburgh ) past Floors Castle, the home of the Duke of Roxburghe. The fairytale decorative style of Floors, with its pinnacles and turrets, and the lovely gardens and parks that surround it, make it a popular visitor destination
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Continue on the A6089, past signs to Mellerstain House to the left. Mellerstain is well worth the detour if time allows. It is the ancestral home of the earls of Haddington and is probably the most complete example of the work of Robert Adam, with exquisite interiors, beautiful parklands and Italianate terraced garden.
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Continue beyond the turn-off to Mellerstain until you come to Gordon, the original home area of what later became a famous Highland family.
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Turn left on the A6105 if you would like to visit an excellent example of a 16th century Border pele tower. Greenknowe Tower stands close by the road on the right, just beyond the railway bridge. Visitors can explore the rooms inside the tower at any time, free of charge. Above the doorway is a lintel stone decorated with the date 1581 and the initials and coats-of-arms of its first owners, James Seton and his bride Janet Edmonstone.
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After the short detour to Greenknowe return along the A6105 through Gordon village and drive to Greenlaw, which was once the county town of Berwickshire.
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Continue through Greenlaw until you come to Duns. The town gave its name to “dunces”. In the Middle Ages a famous scholar from the town, known as Duns Scotus, gained a reputation for religious debate. His opponents thought his followers were ignorant and them “dunses”. The Jim Clark Room in the town contains an exhibition dedicated to the life of the World Champion racing driver who spent much of his life in the Duns area and is buried in the kirkyard in nearby Chirnside.
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In Duns you can choose to continue of the A6105 towards Chirnside to visit Manderston House, the home of Lord and Lady Palmer. Built in 1905, it is the supreme example of the Edwardian country house and was naturally chosen as the setting for the Channel 4 TV series of the same name. The house features opulent state rooms and the only silver staircase in the world. There is also an unusual museum of biscuit tins, mainly of Huntley and Palmers.
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Or - to continue on the East March Trail, turn left in Duns onto the A6112 (sign-posted Grantshouse).
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About 4 miles beyond Duns you will see signs to Edin’s Hall Broch to the left. A walk of about 3 miles leads to the impressive remains of an Iron Age fortified settlement, from which there are superb views towards the Tweed Valley and the North Sea .
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Continue on the A6112 to Grantshouse. Turn right and travel south on the A1 for about 5 miles , then turn left onto the B6348 (sign-posted Coldingham).
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Continue through Coldingham on the B6348 to St. Abbs. There is a car park at the National Trust Visitor Centre from which you can explore the National Nature Reserve and enjoy the wildlife and the rugged cliffs scenery.
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Return to Coldingham, perhaps taking time to visit Coldingham Priory, then turn left onto the A1107 (sign-posted Eyemouth). Eyemouth is a small fishing port which still has a working fleet of trawlers that tie up along the town’s quayside. Among the town’s attractions are the “World of Boats” exhibition of hundreds of vessels and boat-models of all kinds from all over the world, and the Heritage Centre which displays the history of Eyemouth’s fishing industry. Here you will also discover the story of the Great Disaster of October 1881, when 129 Eyemouth men and boys were drowned in a terrible storm.
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From Eyemouth, return to the A1 and drive south towards Berwick-upon-Tweed, where you briefly re-enter England.
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You can either visit the town or turn off to the right onto the B6461 (signed Paxton). At Paxton you cross the Border into Scotland again. Paxton House stands beside the Tweed about 4 miles west of Berwick. It was built in 1758 for Patrick Home by the Adam brothers, John and Robert. One of the finest Palladian-style country houses in Britain, Paxton also features a large collection of Chippendale furniture. The Picture Gallery houses over 70 paintings from the National Galleries of Scotland. A wealth of wildlife can be seen from the viewing hides in the grounds and the boathouse contains a museum of salmon net-fishing.
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Beyond Paxton look for the sign to the Union Chain Bridge to the left. Opened in 1821, this was the first suspension bridge to be built to carry wheeled traffic. Crossing the bridge you re-enter England once more. The road goes uphill, past the Chain Bridge Honey Farm Visitor Centre, where there is a wonderful display telling the story of bee-keeping and bee products. Admission is free throughout the year.
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Beyond Horncliffe you will meet the A698. Turn right (signed Coldstream) and return to the Collingwood Arms Hotel.
