Melrose is very well served in terms of amenities with plenty of shops, a supermarket and a choice of different pubs, cafés and restaurants to eat at if a break from cooking beckons.

There are plenty of interesting giftware and antique shops to explore and the Three Hills Roman Heritage Centre in the town square (really more of a triangle) provides an interesting insight into the area’s history with guided walks leading out to the ancient Trimontium site.

Lovely walks can be had along the banks of the beautiful River Tweed from the town with wildlife to spot along the way and a suspension bridge that allows you to cross over the river and come back up the other side.

The gardens at the Bowhill House and Country Estate (10 miles) are delightful to walk around with wonderful views out over the Ettrick valley and a charming sunken garden that is a riot of colour in the spring when all the flowers are in bloom. Tours of the house itself are available and children are sure to love the adventure playground with its zipwires, road bridges and fort.

Watersports are available on St Mary’s Loch (23 miles) with yachting, sailing, wind-surfing and canoeing/kayaking to try. It is also a lovely place to stop for a picnic, perhaps en route to the Grey Mare’s Tail Nature Reserve (31 miles) where there is a beautiful waterfall to admire.

The train station at Tweedbank (1 mile) provides easy access up to Edinburgh for a day trip to the city with the journey taking less than an hour and arriving into Waverley station right in the centre. Scotland’s capital has all the shops, galleries and museums you could wish for. There are plenty of walking/bus tours for taking in the best known sights such as Edinburgh Castle, or for a really spectacular view climb up to the summit of Arthur’s Seat and admire the expanse spread out in front of you.