My husband and I will be in Edinburgh briefly next Spring (2.5 days), just passing through at the end of an Ireland trip. We're planning to see some of the major sites in the city during the first day and a half. On the second day, I really want to get down to Jedburgh to see the Abbey and also nearby Edgerston, which is my family's ancestral home.

Can we reasonably rent a car in Edinburgh, drive to Jedburgh, see these two locations and then drive back to Edinburgh in a day? Online maps make it look like it's not too long of a drive to the Borders-- would you agree?

Obviously, in an ideal world we'd have more time to explore... but we don't on this trip, unfortunately.

Thanks!

It's an hour each way down the A68 by car - just watch out for the speed cameras as they breed them down that way

There is also very good bus service to Jedburgh and Melrose and every little town it seems - from Edinburgh.

Absolutely. An easy run.

as the others say - easy as pie. If your hotel has parking - I would rent the car the evening before so you can get an early start. Not because you need to get to Jedburgh at the crack of dawn - but because getting the paperwork sorted out and finding your way out of town can eat up an hour or more.

W/ an early start you could easily visit Jeburgh, and the area just south of there by lunch time. Then in the later afternoon there would still be time to visit Melrose/Dryburgh or other sites on your way back to Edinburgh in the evening.

Oh great! I'm glad to hear that this doesn't seem too ambitious for one day.

I love the idea of a bus and not having to fuss with a rental car for such a short period. I'll check that out as an option as well. Although, with a car we'd have more flexibility to stop along the way and such.

Thanks for all the quick feedback!

I would <u>not</u> count on the buses for this jaunt. You want to get to a teensy place south of Jedburgh (if Edgerston is near Carter Bar/Mervinslaw like I think it is). You could get a bus to Jedburgh - but for touring around off the beaten path - not really practical.

I agree with janisj--if you were just going to Jedburgh a bus would be a great option, but to really get around in the countryside, a car will be easier. And yes, you would be very close to Carter Bar. If Edgerston is your ancestral home, Erin74, then we stayed at part of it this spring! There is a farm called Edgerston Rig that is apparently part of what used to be a much larger estate south of Jedburgh, and we stayed in a cottage on that farm called Edgerston Rig cottage. The scenery was just lovely.

You didn't say how late in the spring you'll be there, but the later it is, the longer the days will be, which is another reason a car might be nice--if you want to stop for dinner you can still drive back to Edinburgh before it's pitch dark, and don't have to feel tied to a schedule.

Enjoy! I dream of going back to the Borders!!
Barbara

Thank you all very much! I think we'll definitely rent a car based on your advice.

Barbara_in_FL: Yes, that's the right place. Edgerston used to be a very large property that's been split up into parcels over the years. My relatives sold the estate decades ago but the current owner has been very kind about letting us visit the main house. I'm so glad you enjoyed your time there-- can't wait to see it myself!

If you have a rental car, consider driving first to Roslyn Chapel. Leave about 8am from Edinburgh, you'll get to Roslyn about 9, maybe a bit earlier depending on traffic and where you start from. This lets you beat the tourist bus crowds that'll show about 11.

From there, drive to Melrose, well worth the visit. There are several great cafes that you can do lunch at. Then go down to Jedburgh. Spend an hour or so there and take a relaxing drive back, maybe go through Kelso if you have the time.

dave

Thanks for the idea, Dave. I would really like to see Roslyn Chapel, so that would work out perfectly.

daveesl has some good ideas - except I would do them in reverse. Because the main point of your drive into the Borders is to visit Jeburgh and Edgerston Rig you probably should get south first to make sure you have the time and don't cut your visit down there too short. Then after visiting the family home and Jedburgh, you can go up through Melrose (and the nearby Dryburgh Abbey which is more impressive than Kelso Abbey by far) and if time Roslin/Rosslyn.