Serviced Apartments in Selkirk

Discover the best activities and attractions Selkirk has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Selkirk Common Riding
Selkirk’s Common Riding is an annual, centuries-old festival in which riders re-claim the town’s boundaries on horseback, accompanied by parades, music and community celebrations. Its cultural importance fosters strong local identity and volunteerism, draws visitors from across Scotland and beyond, and generates a significant seasonal boost to hospitality and retail businesses in town. The event also helps preserve equestrian and border traditions that are unique to Selkirk and the Scottish Borders.

The Haining Estate
The Haining is a local country estate with woodland walks, ornamental gardens, and community events and exhibitions. As a managed green space close to town, it provides recreation and wellbeing benefits for residents, educational opportunities for schools and clubs, and a venue for small-scale tourism and local events. Income from visitors and events supports conservation work and provides custom to nearby cafes, accommodation and local suppliers.

Philiphaugh Meadows and Battlefield
Philiphaugh combines a wildlife-rich riverside meadow and nature reserve with the historic site of the 1645 Battle of Philiphaugh. The area attracts nature-watchers, walkers and history enthusiasts, offering interpretive trails and guided activities. It contributes to the local economy by bringing eco- and heritage-tourists to Selkirk, supporting conservation jobs and volunteering, and linking with local businesses (cafes, B&Bs and guides) that benefit from visitor spending.

Selkirk High Street — independent shops, cafés and knitwear heritage
Selkirk’s compact High Street is known for independent retailers, artisan craft shops, bakeries and traditional pubs, often showcasing the town’s long textile and knitwear heritage. The concentration of small businesses helps sustain local employment, keeps spending within the community, and offers visitors an authentic shopping experience. Seasonal markets, local produce and woollen goods are important for brand identity and encourage repeat visits.

Abbotsford House (nearby) — the home of Sir Walter Scott
Just a short drive from Selkirk, Abbotsford House — the historic home of novelist Sir Walter Scott — is a major regional draw for literary and heritage tourism. While outside the town’s immediate footprint, it channels significant visitor flows into the area, benefiting Selkirk’s accommodation, eating establishments and tour operators. The site’s events and exhibitions also collaborate with local groups, enhancing cultural programming and raising the profile of the wider Borders region.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Selkirk, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Local bus services - Operated by regional providers (primarily Borders Buses and partner operators), offering scheduled routes that connect Selkirk with Galashiels, Hawick, Melrose, Jedburgh, Peebles and surrounding villages; frequency varies by route and is reduced in evenings and on Sundays.
- Regional and intercity coaches - Long-distance coach travel typically requires connections at larger Border towns or Edinburgh; National coach operators serve regional hubs from which Selkirk is reached by local bus or car.
- Rail connections (nearest station: Tweedbank) - Selkirk does not have an active railway station; the nearest passenger rail terminus is Tweedbank on the Borders Railway (providing frequent services to Edinburgh Waverley). Tweedbank and other railheads are reachable from Selkirk by bus or car.
- Community and demand-responsive transport - Community transport schemes and dial-a-bus style services operate in rural parts of the Borders to support access for older residents and those without private cars, often run or subsidised by local groups and Scottish Borders Council.
- Taxis and private hire - Local taxi firms provide on-demand and pre-booked journeys for local and longer-distance trips; app-based ride services are limited so pre-booking is common.
- Park-and-ride / car-parking links - Public car parks and on-street parking in Selkirk allow commuters and visitors to park and transfer to local buses or drive to nearby rail/coach hubs.

Major Highways
- A7 - Principal north–south trunk road running through Selkirk, linking the town with Carlisle (south) and the Edinburgh area (north).
- A708 - Regional route west from Selkirk providing scenic access into the Yarrow valley and connections towards Moffat and the A74(M) corridor.
- A68 (accessible via connecting routes) - Nearby major north–south arterial route linking the Borders to Edinburgh and the north of England, reachable from Selkirk via local roads.
- A1 / M8 / M74 (via regional links) - Major trunk motorways and arterial routes serving Edinburgh, Glasgow and England are accessible from Selkirk through the Borders road network and connecting A-roads.

Cycling Infrastructure
- On-road cycle facilities and regional links - Selkirk has limited dedicated cycle lanes within the town but benefits from traffic-calmed streets, signed quiet-road links and nearby traffic-free paths and forest tracks; cyclists commonly use local roads and regional Sustrans/National Cycle Network and leisure routes in the Scottish Borders for commuting and recreational riding.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Borders Railway impact and connectivity works - The reinstated Borders Railway (Tweedbank — Edinburgh, opened 2015) has strengthened public-transport connections for the Borders region; complementary bus-link and parking arrangements have been developed to improve access for towns such as Selkirk.
- Active-travel investments - Scottish Government and Scottish Borders Council funding programmes have supported new or upgraded footways, cycle links, safer pedestrian crossings and town-centre active-travel measures across the Borders, with projects either completed or under planning that benefit Selkirk residents.
- Rural bus and community transport support - Ongoing reviews and subsidy/support measures target rural bus reliability and community transport schemes; periodic timetable adjustments, improved bus shelters and route coordination are part of local transport planning.
- Road maintenance and town-centre improvements - Phased carriageway repairs, junction safety works and streetscape enhancements undertaken by Scottish Borders Council aim to improve road safety and traffic flow in and around Selkirk.
- Future proposals and low-emission initiatives - Regional transport strategy and local plans include proposals (subject to funding/consultation) for further measures such as expanded EV charging, low-emission bus fleet upgrades, enhanced park-and-ride links and additional active-travel routes to improve commuting and inter-town travel.