Kelso
Described by Sir Walter Scott as 'The most beautiful, if not the most romantic village in Scotland', Kelso is a market town which lies at the junction of two rivers - the Tweed and the Teviot. In 1128 David I, granted the monks permission to build an abbey across the water from his castle, and from this the town of Kelso grew.
Close to Kelso Abbey is Kelso's elegant Georgian cobbled Market Square - claimed to be the largest in Scotland, and a grand stage to the St James' Fair, and scenes of Kelso Civic Week. Kelso's sheer number of independent shops is overwhelming, and Kelso's magnificant Floors Castle is Scotlands largest inhabited castle, and home to the Duke of Roxburghe, with open gardens and coffee shop.
Kelso's bridge spanning the Tweed was the first designed by John Rennie, and was the prototype for London's Waterloo Bridge. Underneath the bridge lies the holy grail of salmon fishing, the Junction pool where the two rivers meet, and Salmon rest before their journey upstream.
Kelso also plays host to Kelso race course which has the reputation of being the friendliest racecourse in the Britain. Check out the Border Union Showground, the host of many events throughout each year.
Population (2011) - 5,639