Coldstream, perhaps best known for giving its name to the Coldstream Guards (there is a museum in the town), is the most easterly of the inland Border towns, sitting right on the Border on the River Tweed (with excellent fishing).

The town is easily reached from the main A1 trunk road and a fast cross-country route means that Edinburgh (47 miles) is accessible in just over an hour. The coast, with fine beaches at Coldingham (25 miles), historic Bamburgh (26 miles), Lindisfarne with its medieval castle and Priory (25 miles) are also within easy reach. At the little fishing village of St Abbs (26 miles), there are superb clifftop walks to see the huge seabird colonies at the RSPB Reserve and also a Diving Centre (St Abbs is reckoned to be one of the best cold-water diving sites in Europe).

Further to the north, there are the excellent championship golf courses around Dunbar (33 miles), while less ambitious players can take advantage of the many good and inexpensive 9 hole courses in the area. There are riding stables just over the river and over the border in Cornhill-on-Tweed (1 mile). Just outside Coldstream there are delightful gardens at the Hirsel Country Park, the seat of the Douglas-Homes. Nearby there is the Northumberland Naional Park and there is also good walking in the cheviots.

Hope Park is also well situated for exploring the Borderland with its rich history, stately homes, castles and abbeys and its beautiful, tranquil countryside which is ideal for walking and cycling. The pretty town of Kelso (with shops, pubs, restaurants, Floors Castle, swimming pool, ice rink and racecourse) is only 9 miles away and from there a short drive brings the visitor to the small and characterful towns of Jedburgh, Melrose, Selkirk and Peebles. Within a few miles to the south there is the Northumberland National Park, with ample scope for walking, wildlife watching and relaxing with a picnic.