2026
Things to Do in Kelso and the Scottish Borders During Your Stay at Hendersyde Holiday Cottages
Staying at Hendersyde Holiday Cottages near Kelso? From local markets and live music to creative workshops and historic attractions, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Kelso and across the Scottish Borders. Whether you’re looking for Scottish Borders events, family days out or creative breaks in the Scottish Borders, here are some of our favourites.
Kelso Farmers’ Market Held on the fourth Saturday of each month in Kelso Square, this popular market showcases local food, drink and artisan producers. The Good Market also takes place in The Oak Room at the Cross Keys Hotel.
Kelso Folk Club Enjoy live folk music every Friday evening at the Cross Keys Hotel, with informal sessions continuing later at The Cobbles Inn.
Floors Castle One of the leading visitor attractions in Kelso, featuring magnificent gardens, woodland walks and seasonal events.
Border Common Ridings Among the most iconic Scottish Borders events, these historic summer celebrations are a unique local tradition.
Mainstreet Trading Company, St Boswells A renowned independent bookshop, café and deli, with a year-round programme of author events, cookery demonstrations and tastings.
Creative Breaks in the Scottish Borders
From glassmaking and woodworking to jewellery and textiles, there are many ways to combine a creative course with a relaxing stay at Hendersyde.
The Wonky Giraffe, Kelso Creative quilting, sewing and needlework workshops for beginners and experienced makers alike.
Jewellery Making with Maggie Read Award-winning jewellery-making courses in nearby Cornhill-on-Tweed, perfect for a creative day out.
The Big Tree Society Learn traditional green woodworking skills on one of their popular rustic furniture-making courses.
Holmes Glass Experiences, Selkirk Hands-on glassmaking experiences running from spring to autumn with expert makers Peter and Andrew Holmes.
Exploring Beyond The Borders
Hendersyde Holiday Cottages are ideally located between Edinburgh and Northumberland, making them a great base for exploring the Scottish Borders and north Northumberland with venues such as Bamburgh Castle, The Alnwick Garden and Ad Gefrin Museum and Distillery in Wooler being under an hour away.
Events Calendar near the holiday cottages at Hendersyde, Kelso
2026
September
Floors Castle Grounds and Gardens are open to the end of September
Monteviot Gardens are open until the end of October
Mellerstain House guided tours – September. The house and cafe are open Friday Saturday Sunday and Monday The grounds and gardens are open 7 days a week to visitors.
1 – 31 October Border Hillscapes by Rob Smith in The Courtyard Gallery, Coldstream Museum
2-6 Tour Of Britain 2026 Men’s cycling. On Sunday 6th Stage 5 starts and finishes in Earlston. Nearby the route travels down to just north of Kelso and up to Stitchill, where there are some great vantage points!
3,4,5 Lindisfarne Festival at Beal Farm, Northumberland with Faithless, Razorlight, The Proclaimers….and many more!
4-12 Scottish Borders Walking Festival – based round Jedburgh
6 Etal Show just over the border in Northumberland
7 Tour o The Borders – A beautiful day of traffic free cycling in the UK’s undiscovered cycling heaven
11 Kelso Tup Sales at The Border Union Showground
11-15 Back to Nature Festival Peebles
11-20 Borders Music Festival – showcasing the best of choral, jazz, folk, orchestral – music for everyone!
16 Kelso Races – Charity Raceday and Evening
16-20 International Sheep Dog Society – World Sheep Dog Trials at Huntingdon Farm, Lauder, Scottish Borders
26 Kelso Farmers Market in Kelso Square, 9.30 – 1.30pm
October
3 Yetholm Border Shepherds Show
3-4 Kelso Antiques Fleamarket Fair
4 Kelso Races – Family Fun Raceday
9-18 Sauna and Stars at Monteviot House
10-11 Priorwood, Melrose, Apple Day
15 Stargazing at The Monteath Mausoleum
24 Kelso Farmers Market in Kelso Square, 9.30 – 1.30pm
24 Kelso Races – Edinburgh Gin Chase Day
24-25 Lombard Historic Rally Festival at Floors
24-25 Peebles Woodmarket and Treefest
25 Mellerstain Autumnal Colour Day
30 A musical evening with Ben Forster in The Tait Hall Kelso
November
7 Kelso Races – Wishing Well Chase Raceday
7-8 Kelso Antiques Fleamarket Fair
21-22 The Crafters Art and Design Fair, Borders Events Centre Kelso
28 Kelso Farmers Market in Kelso Square, 9.30 – 1.30pm
December
6 Kelso Races – Scottish Borders National Day
19 Kelso Farmers Market in Kelso Square, 9.30 – 1.30pm
29 Kelso Races – Festive Fling Raceday
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Events, Attractions and Days Out Near Hendersyde Holiday Cottages
Looking for things to do in Kelso and the Scottish Borders during your stay at Hendersyde? From horse racing and historic houses to cycling festivals, gardens and cultural events, there’s something happening throughout the year.
The Border Ice Rink at Kelso – curling and public skating sessions in the winter and roller skating, pickleball and floor curling through the summer.
Kelso Swimming Pool information
The Border Common Ridings, every summer the towns of the Scottish Borders stage their own Common Ridings, an unforgettable spectacle of horsemanship, tradition and community spirit. Customs continued with real passion by locals, celebrating the region’s unique identity and history.
Kelso Farmers Market – 4th Saturday morning each month. There are markets in other Border towns too.
Floors Castle Events about 2 miles from Hendersyde
Kelso National Hunt Racing – at the end of the farm road-end!
The Border Events Centre in Kelso hosts a wide variety of indoor and outdoor events throughout the year.
Mellerstain House and Gardens near Kelso
Events at Abbotsford, home to Sir Walter Scott
Bowhill House and Country Estate near Selkirk, which is just over half an hour from Hendersyde.
Ford and Etal Events and Information a step over the border in Northumberland. There is so much to see in these delightful Northumbrian Villages
Events at Paxton House, near Berwick-upon-Tweed
Events at Traquair further up the Tweed Valley near Peebles
Scottish Borders Cycling Events Tweed Love
Tweed Love Mountain Bike Festival Events
Scottish Borders Cycling Events – Tweed Love
Scotland’s Gardens Opening dates and Times
Alnwick Garden, about an hour away!
There are baskets full of walks & information in each holiday cottage, but if you would like a personal guide …
Stewart is The Tweed Valley Blogger personable and knowledgeable, he’s a mine of information!
Drummond Scottish Tours Morven and William also arrange tailored tours and packages, locally and further afield.
If you are fascinated by food, Borderland Food Tours with William & Katrina Reynolds, offer culinary & cultural adventures on both sides of the border!
For more inspiration Scotland Starts Here can be downloaded as an app too.
Evenings Out
The Maltings Theatre & Arts Centre, Berwick-upon-Tweed
The Heart of Hawick Events – one of the biggest regeneration projects in the Scottish Borders. Live stream dates from The Royal Opera House.
Peebles Theatre and Arts Centre. Eastgate has become a well-loved part of the Peebles landscape, and a lively hub for arts activities in the Scottish Borders.