Kelso Abbey
Once one of the wealthiest of the four great abbeys, now reduced to its towering west tower and Romanesque arches.
Kelso Abbey was moved to its current site in 1128 by King David I. In the Middle Ages it was one of the wealthiest abbeys in Scotland. It was destroyed in 1545 during the "Rough Wooing" campaign by English forces, leaving only the west tower and ruined transepts. The grandeur of its Romanesque facade can still be imagined. Entry to the ruins is free. The town of Kelso has the largest French-style cobbled market square in Scotland, and a stone bridge over the River Tweed designed by John Rennie. It can be combined with a visit to Floors Castle.
Opening hours
All day (exterior viewing)
Nearby sights
- Floors Castle
- Mellerstain House
- Smailholm Tower
- Mary Queen of Scots' Visitor Centre
- Jedburgh Abbey
- Jedburgh Castle Jail & Museum
- Scott's View
- Dryburgh Abbey