I am fine tuning my itinerary for my late September trip. I have the major sites near Jedburgh selected and now considering fill-ins.
How would you rate the following for either must see, or, pass-me-by?
* Craigmillar Castle
* Crichton Castle
* Thirlestane Castle
* Smailholm Tower
* Traquair House
* Neidpath castle
* Etal Castle/Floden Field
and near Edinburgh
* Linlithgow Palace
* Inchcolm Abbey
* Inchmahome Priory

OK - Inchmahome, Linlithgow and Inchcolm are not in the Borders but you probably know that. I LOVE Inchmahome -- if you are going to be up near Stirling be sure to go there. Linlithgow is also terrific.

Most of the Borders places you list are good visits - the only ones I would call "musts" are Traquair and maybe Thirlstane. But if you have time they are all different and worthwhile.

Not knowing which other sites you have already chosen it is hard to give really useful advice. For instance -- if you aren't including places like St Abbs Head, Tantallon/Dirleton, Floors, Lindesfarne, etc., I would recommend them over some of the properties on your list.

Janis
My list includes
* Jedburgh
* Floors
* Melrose
* Dryburgh
* Sterling
* Edinburgh
* and a day trip to Loch Lomomd
I ruled out Lindisfarne because the last time I was there, in 1985, I missed the tide and could only view it from afar.

I will include Inchmahome but I notice in the GBHP that it is only open in the summer.
I will be in the area on 1 October so I will have to inquire at that time.

If yo look up Sterling on the web you will find a lot about money and not much about Scotland's ancient former capital.

My must dos from that list would only be Traquhair and Linlithgow but there are many more lovely places on Don's list.

I'd also do Eyemeouth and/or St Abb's Head, but each to his own.

If the only thing standing between you and Lindisfarne is water, you can check out the safe crossing times here and plan accordingly:

http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/vg/holyisland/

OK - w/ the new info

I'm not sure -- Inchmahome usually closes on Sep. 30, but that is a thurs. and they might stay open through the weekend -- 'til Oct 3. If Inchmahome is closed, Stirling and Loch Lomond can be visited on the same day - there really isn't a "day trip worth" of things to see/do at Loch Lomond. It is lovely scenery but no real things to see/do. Luss is a lovely village with a pier and most of the houses have lovely gardens. And the views at Duck Bay are nice.

I would definitely add Lindesfarne back on to you "to do list" -- at least if the weather is decent. The tide schedules are clearly posted and it is a WONDERFUL experience. If the weather is nasty, I'd skip it tho'.

And you could visit St Abbs Head and Lindesfarne on the same day. If you decide against Holy Island, you could visit St Abbs, Preston Mill, Tantallon, and maybe even Dirleton on a loop drive.