Stately homes in the Scottish Borders

 
We took advantage of our brief visit to the Scottish Borders to visit two of Scotland’s stately homes.
Abbotsford House near Melrose, home of Sir Walter Scott, Scotland’s most famous writer,  reflects the highly personalised style of the owner and offers an insight into the worlds first celebrity- something I learnt this morning!
 
 He is reputed to have introduced tourism into Scotland and such is the fame of Sir Walter Scott and Abbotsford that his house and personality live on while his books lie neglected and hardly read.
 
Last week the great grandson of Mendelssohn called for Mendelssohn was lured to Scotland (think Fingal's Cave) by the fame of Scott.
 
Meanwhile less than twenty miles away is Mellerstain House, a Grand 18th-century home with Robert Adam interiors, Italianate terracing, parkland and a lake.
 
Photographs inside the house are forbidden for insurance purposes- seems some unscrupulous folk were taking pictures of the furniture and other artefacts and then having them copied in Hong Kong.
 
See extra photos for inside Sir Walter Scott’s study Abbotsford House and of Mellerstain House.
  
Blip photo is of the lake at Mellerstain House.
 
PS. Apologies for lack of comments- we have only just returned home..