Edinburgh to Gretna Green Road Trip

1. Edinburgh to Dalkeith

Leaving Edinburgh, take the A7 south east towards Dalkeith. This drive should take around 25 minutes. You will stay mainly on the A7 throughout this road trip.

Our first stop is Dalkeith Country Park. A large country estate with great waymarked walks and cycle paths and a lovely restaurant and shop. This is a great place to pick up some souvenirs and gifts. Look out for local wildlife such as deer, otters, foxes, badgers and rabbits.

2. Dalkeith to Abbotsford

Continue for a further 50 minutes and then make a stop at Abbotsford House. This historic house, chapel and gardens was home of 19th century novelist Sir Walter Scott and is wonderful to explore. Why not pop into Ochiltree’s Café for an indulgent afternoon tea?

3. Abbotsford to Canonbie

Leaving Abbotsford, you’ll reach Canonbie in about an hour. Here, you can stop at the Clam Armstrong Centre at Gilnockie Tower. Once home to notorious Border Reiver, Johnnie Armstrong. This 500-year-old pele tower on the River Esk has five floors of clan heritage to explore and great views from the upper walkway. 

4. Canonbie to Gretna Green

From here, it’s a short drive to Gretna Green. This town was famously where young couples from England would hop over the border to get married and has since become the marriage capital of the UK. You can find out more at the Famous Blacksmiths Shop and Museum.

Visit the Gretna Inn for a hearty meal. Then we suggest an overnight stay in or near Gretna Green to break up your journey.

5. Gretna Green to Hawick

Heading north, back the same way you came on the A7, the next stop on our road trip is Hawick after about an hour’s drive. This is the largest of the border towns, well known for its textile productions. You can earn about local knitwear and tweed manufacturing at the Borders Textile Towerhouse. You can also take a tour of the Borders Distillery and find out how they produce Scotch whisky, gin and vodka. Visitors get to taste the spirits on the tour, but don’t worry if you’re the designated driver. You can request tasting samples to take away.

6. Hawick to Selkirk

Our final stop on the road trip is Selkirk. Here, you can visit Bowhill House, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. The country estate offers woodland walks and outdoor activities. With plenty of wildlife to spot, it’s a lovely relaxing place to nature lovers. At certain times of year, the house is open for tours and the tea room serves up tasty treats, but please check opening dates before visiting. You may also visit Lochcarron of Scotland Visitor Centre, where you can discover over 100 years of Scottish tartan production, see tartan being woven on a mill tour, and enjoy the café and gift shop.

7. Selkirk to Edinburgh 

From Selkirk, it is just over an hour’s drive back to Edinburgh and your welcoming room at Parliament House Hotel.