Wondering What To Do?

Things to do, whatever the weather

The first things to do at Chirnside Hall are eat, drink and relax. But given our superb location in the Scottish Borders, it’s a shame not to step outside.

The Borders offer a splendid choice of culture and heritage. You can visit distinctive country houses and mansions like Paxton House, Floors Castle and Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford, or you could tour the famous Borders Abbeys. We’re close enough to Edinburgh for you to throw yourself into a few days of comedy, theatre and music during the Edinburgh Festivals and there’s also the annual Borders Book Festival closer to hand in picturesque Melrose.

Sports fanatics have a dazzling choice of golf courses around the Borders and Lothians, or if you prefer watching sport to playing it, you could go to a rugby international at Murrayfield, a cricket match at Durham, or SPL or Premier League football at Edinburgh or Newcastle. You can also learn about local motor-racing ace Jim Clark at nearby Duns.

Walking

If walking is your thing the area has something for everyone. Walks range from the cliff tops and beaches of Coldingham and St Abbs, to historic trails along the river Tweed, or further afield there is excellent hill-walking in the Lammermuir and Cheviot hills. WalkScottishBorders.com has a great selection of pre-planned routes from gentle strolls to an all-day adventure.

Fishing

If you are seasoned river fishers then Tweed catchment offers many possibilities.

Local to the hotel is the River Whiteadder, a Tweed tributary. The river is managed by the Berwick and District Angling Association (BDAA). The trout season on most of the Tweed finishes on September 30th but the BDAA offer day tickets for salmon & sea trout for around £30.00 per day. It is a lovely stretch of water, easily fishable with single handed rods and very close to the hotel. If you would like more information, beat maps and availability of tickets please visit Whiteadder.co.uk.

If you fancy fishing the Tweed itself, the best way to check availability, prices and facilities is to visit FishPal.com. Most beats on the main river have their own gillies who will look after you.

If you are new to the sport and fancy a day out and a good chance of a few fish, then a stocked fishery would be the best bet.

Chatton trout fishery is located near Alnwick about 45min south of the hotel. It is a stunning location and offers 3 lakes, a club house, picnic area and toilets. They can supply rods, tackle etc if you want to go it alone. But to get the most out of your visit hiring a guide would be well worth it, a list of recommended instructors are available on their website at ChattonTroutFishery.co.uk or you can call on 01668 215226 or pay them a visit at Chatton Trout Fishery, Chatton, Alnwick, NE66 5RA. A side note is that Chatton doesn’t require an E.A. rod licence as it comes under Scottish rules.

Come rain or shine, there’s plenty to do around Chirnside Hall and after all the fresh air or culture? Back to relax in front of an open fire and enjoy some first-class food and drink.