Abbotsford (1825) is a country house and estate in the Scottish Borders. Situated a short walk away from Tweedbank, the terminus of the Borders Railway, it makes a convenient day-trip destination from Edinburgh. The impressive house, built as a residence for the much respected writer Sir Walter Scott, enjoys an attractive setting next to the River Tweed amidst beautifully maintained gardens. As well as being Scott’s home, the house also provided for storage and display of his collection of books, paintings, weaponry and other artefacts. A modern visitor centre was added to the complex in 2012. This was being refurbished during my latest visit, but I was still able to enjoy a light lunch there.
One feature that often puzzles visitors is the presence of a Catholic chapel in the house. This was added by Sir Walter’s granddaughter Charlotte and her husband. The couple had become close friends of John Henry Newman and followed him in converting to Roman Catholicism.
