Experience firsthand the tradition of the Scottish Borders, also known as Common Rides and Ride Outs.  The tradition of common riding dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries, during the continual land border wars between Scotland and England, and between rival Scottish clans.  

Ride for multiple days in the Edinburgh area and the Scottish border towns.  Each itinerary offers a variety of riding including Common Rides, hacks in the countryside, and riding on the beach, as well as time to wander and explore as you please. Immerse yourself in Scottish history and tradition.

Scottish horses come from much of the same stock as Irish mounts, and are just as hearty, sturdy, dependable, and fun to ride! 

Riding Level: Advanced

Riders should be capable of spending long hours in the saddle, navigating technical terrain at speed, and controlling the horse at all paces in a large group (up to or over 100 riders!).

WHAT'S MY RIDING LEVEL?

Tack: All rides will be in English saddles

Attire: Specific riding attire is required for common riding days. A show shirt, tie or polo neck and jacket (black or tweed) will suffice, but you must be neatly dressed. Tweed jacket optional (especially on warm days). All riders should bring compliant helmet and tall boots or half chaps. It is recommended to bring a safety vest for common riding days.

Terrain: Hilltops, open fields, creek crossings, small ditches, dirt and paved roads through quaint villages and the Scottish countryside. No jumping.

Accommodation varies by itinerary - each itinerary offers two options with varying levels of comfort and luxury.

Melville Inn is a country pub and hotel very close to Edinburgh. The historic gothic-style building houses the pub, known for its cozy, rustic atmosphere with log fires and a garden, connected to the more modern hotel. The pub offers both traditional and modern pub food, cask ales, and seasonal dishes.

Melville Castle combines Scottish grandeur with many original touches. Stay a while and take time to explore some of the castle’s curiosities. Each of the castle's 33 bedrooms and suites are unique – many have four-poster beds and all have been dramatically revamped. Every corner of the castle has been restored to give a gentle nod to its regal background, which Mary Queen of Scots used to visit. From our striking reception to our eclectic Library Bar, opulence is never too far from your fingertips.  

Dalhousie Castle embodies eight centuries’ of Scottish heritage, surrounded by eleven acres of countryside and wooded valleys. Whether you’re exploring the picturesque gardens, enjoying a candlelit dinner in the dungeon, or simply relaxing in your beautiful castle room, Dalhousie embodies the timeless charm of a storybook fairytale.

Ednam House sits in Kelso on the banks of the River Tweed, enveloped by three acres of enchanting gardens. A spacious, stately mansion dating back to 1761 with a home-from-home atmosphere, it’s the ideal spot to recharge mind and body and soak up the best of the Borders.  

Breakfast included at each accommodation.

Lunches and dinners are on guests' own account, with plenty of dining options in the area.
Packed lunches can be ordered the day prior for an additional cost (~10 to 15 GBP) for Common Riding days.

Renting a vehicle is the best option for transportation during this trip. Reminder: remember to drive on the left side of the road! If you are not used to driving a manual transmission, we recommend renting an automatic. Also, current models that have phone plugins to display your phone's GPS routing are very helpful.

5 Days | 4 Nights
3 Rides + 1 Common Ride

Riding Schedule

• Wed Apr 29 Eq. Centre Assessment Ride (1 hr) & Hack (1 hr)

• Thu Apr 30 Beach Ride (2 hrs)

• Fri May 1 Countryside Ride (2 hrs)

• Sat May 2 Berwick-Upon-Tweed Common Ride (~4 hrs of riding)

• Sun May 3 Check out

Accommodation Options

• Melville Inn  

  $1940 sharing
  $2370 single

• Melville Castle - Classic Room

  $2460 sharing

  $3590 single

5 Days | 4 Nights
3 Rides + 1 Common Ride

Riding Schedule

• Wed May 6 Eq. Centre Assessment Ride (1 hr) & Hack (1 hr)

• Thu May 7 Beach Ride (2 hrs)

• Fri May 8 Countryside Ride (2 hrs)

• Sat May 9 Hawick Common Ride (~5 hrs of riding)

• Sun May 10 Check out

Accommodation Options

• Melville Inn (2 nights) & Ednam House Hotel (2 nights)

  $2110 sharing

  $2700 single

• Melville Castle (2 nights) & Ednam House Hotel (2 nights)

  $2400 sharing

  $2260 single

5 Days | 4 Nights
3 Rides + 1 Common Ride

Riding Schedule

• Wed May 13 Eq. Centre Assessment Ride (1 hr) & Hack (1 hr)

• Thu May 14 Countryside Ride (2 hrs)

• Fri May 15 Beach Ride (2 hrs)

• Sat May 16 Hawick Common Ride (~5 hrs of riding)

• Sun May 17 Check out

Accommodation Options

• Melville Inn

  $2000 sharing

  $2500 single

• Dalhousie Castle - Classic

  $2840 sharing

  $4140 single

5 Days | 4 Nights
3 Rides + 1 Common Ride

Riding Schedule

• Mon Jul 27 Eq. Centre Assessment Ride (1 hr) & Hack (1 hr)

• Tue Jul 28 Beach Ride (2 hrs)

• Wed Jul 29 Countryside Ride (2 hrs)

• Thu Jul 30 Lauder Common Ride (~3 hrs of riding)

• Fri Jul 31 Check Out

Accommodation Options

• Melville Inn

  $1990 sharing

  $2480 single

• Melville Castle - Superior

  $2640 sharing

• $3700 single

5 Days | 4 Nights
1 Ride + 2 Common Rides (Optional Add On)

Riding Schedule

• Sat Aug 1 Arrive & Relax

• Sun Aug 2 Eq. Centre Assessment Ride (1 hr) & Hack (2 hrs)

• Mon Aug 3 Coldstream Common Ride (~3 hrs of riding)

• Tue Aug 4 Coldstream Common Ride (~5 hrs of riding)

• Wed Aug 5 Check Out

Optional Add On

• Wed Aug 5 Day Off

• Thu Aug 6 Coldstream Common Ride (~4-6 hrs of riding)

• Fri Aug 7 Check Out

Accommodation Options

• Melville Inn (2 nights) & Ednam House Hotel (2 nights)

  $2200 sharing

  $2870 single

• Melville Castle - Classic (2 nights) & Ednam House Hotel (2 nights)

  $2400 sharing

  $3240 single

• Optional Add On:

  $1000 sharing

  $1380 single