Earlston

About Earlston

Earlston is a friendly, vibrant and growing community nestled in picturesque countryside within an area steeped in local history. The Black Hill, formed by volcanic activity, and shaped during a period of glaciation, stands sentinel in the landscape above the village.

At its centre is The Green and War Memorial, designed by Thomas Clapperton, providing a pleasant place to sit amidst well-tended flower beds as daily life swirls around. Award winning Earlston in Bloom manage and maintain them as well as High Street planters, hanging baskets and other public spaces.

The High Street’s townscape is little changed in over a hundred years with few historic buildings visible to the untrained eye apart from the obvious remains of Rhymers Tower located on the western side of the A68 trunk road and the Parish Church at the far end of the High Street as you leave eastwards towards Berwick upon Tweed.

Earlston has a range of services and facilities including shops, visitor accommodation, places to eat and drink, petrol station, pharmacy and health centre. There is a new Primary School, nurseries and a High School that serves both the village and wider area.

Unlike many other Borders towns Earlston doesn’t have a Common Riding Festival, however instead it has a Civic Week at the start of July packed with activities culminating with a fancy-dress parade, an afternoon of sports and later firework display.
Sport lovers are well served by both a local football and rugby team, who host their annual Sevens tournament in May. Local bowling and tennis clubs provide opportunities while golfers are catered for by courses throughout the area, the home one being on The Moon!

Beyond Earlston large estate houses such as Carolside and Mellerstain stand majestically in rolling parklands while many other fine mansions and farms are tucked away in the surrounding countryside. Slightly slightly further afield, Floors and Thirlestane Castles as well as the Borders Abbeys and sentinel-like peel towers, all add to the rich architectural history of our area.

Surrounded by beautiful scenery the natural environment is only a footstep away.
Local countryside access is supported by Earlston Paths Group’s network of signposted and well maintained local footpaths which also link to one of Scotland’s Great Trails, The Southern Upland Way, and nearby communities.

A walk down the Leader Water to Leaderfoot where three bridges cross The Tweed will bring you to the Trimontium Roman Fort Site. A couple of miles further on lies Melrose and the Trimontium Trust Museum. Along the way you may even spot dippers, herons, mallard ducks and kingfishers, tread quietly and you might even see otters, deer or badgers.

Earlston has something to offer for everyone, come and visit.