Getting here
Close enough to reach without difficulty, but far enough to guarantee a different experience, the Tweed Valley is well served by air, rail and road. And once here, walking and cycling will get you to many of the sights and attractions!
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With one airport within a one-hour transfer – Edinburgh (55km) – and two more within a two-hour transfer – Newcastle (128km) and Carlisle Lake District Airport (122km) – the Tweed Valley is easily accessible for visitors from around the UK and overseas. All three are well-served by a range of domestic and international flights, with connecting public transport services and plenty of car rental options.
Operated by ScotRail, the reopening of the Borders Railway from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank has opened up access to the Tweed Valley by rail from the east, although onward transport is still needed from Galashiels Interchange (the closest station). For cyclists, the train can accommodate a small number of bikes. For those without onward transport, the X62 service from Borders Buses offers frequent links east and west (and onwards to/from Edinburgh).
From the south, there are regular services from London King’s Cross via York, Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed on the East Coast Main Line to Edinburgh. You can connect to the Borders Railway at Edinburgh Waverley or switch to Borders Buses for local connections at Berwick-upon-Tweed. Trainline is another excellent resource (for both train and coach travel).
Frequent bus services run to and within the Tweed Valley from all directions, including from Edinburgh. To plan your journey, see Traveline Scotland and Trainline (for both coach and train travel). Borders Buses has introduced special bike-friendly double decker buses on its X62 Edinburgh-Melrose service, with racking for four bike spaces on each service. The X95 service to Carlisle via Stow and Galashiels, as well as bus lines 51 and 52 to Jedburgh are also handy options.
If travelling by car, the main roads into the Tweed Valley are the A1, A7, A68 and A701 from the south and the A701 from the north. For those without a car but keen to explore the wider area, the region offers a number of private hire and taxi services. BARC Travel is an excellent option.
Travelling in an electric or hybrid vehicle? Use carwow’s interactive electric car charging point finder tool to find the nearest electric vehicle charging stations.
Travel to one of the area’s gateway locations (Edinburgh, Galashiels) and cycle from there. With a little planning, it’s possible to reach the Tweed Valley using a variety of quiet roads and cycle paths. Check out the Sustrans National Cycle Network for more.
And if you need any extra help or information, please get in touch with us.