Destination Abbotsford – A Summer of Fun for the Whole family!

In a letter to his friend Daniel Terry in 1813, Walter Scott painted an endearing picture of his family home through the seasons.

‘The summer—an uncommon summer in beauty and serenity—has glided away from us at Abbotsford, amidst our usual petty cares and petty pleasures. The children's garden is in apple-pie order, our own completely cropped and stocked, and all the trees flourishing like the green bay of the Psalmist.’

Today, Abbotsford continues to be a place where families can enjoy that same beauty and serenity and we’ve added some fun new activities just to make visits even more enjoyable.

One of the unique qualities of Abbotsford is that there are 101 different experiences to be enjoyed on the 120-acre estate for family groups, solo adventurers, avid readers, history buffs, and nature lovers – and no one visit is ever the same.

Why not plan the perfect day out - and remember, our Abbotsford Unlimited Tickets include unlimited visits throughout the year so you can come back time and time again at no extra cost. We should add that we’ve got the best sweet treats, ice cream and refreshments available all day at our popular Ochiltree’s Café, and for souvenir hunters, our shop has a great selection of gifts, books and toys.

Here's just a few highlights to help you plan your visits to Abbotsford this summer:

Follow the Supernatural Interactive Trail at Witch Corner

The spirits of the forest and characters from Scottish folklore and legends in Abbotsford’s library books are brought to life in our year-round trail at Witch Corner. Visitors of all ages can find meaningful ways to engage with Scotland’s historical folk beliefs and literary past through our interactive story trail. There are twelve sculptural installations or ‘story stops’ offering clues for younger visitors to solve and activities to complete. We’ve created an activity booklet that encompasses a variety of learning experiences that can be enjoyed by the whole family. 

There’s even an audio app featuring the Curator’s Cauldron sculpture tour and a quiz exploring the science behind the stories.

Snuggle up and enjoy a Bookbug Session - 14, 21, 28 July & 4 August. 1pm 

Live Borders’ Bookbug sessions are on the move and heading to Abbotsford in July and August.  These free, friendly, fun sessions of songs, rhymes and stories are for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers with their families and carers. Each session lasts around 30 minutes and is designed to support children’s development whilst having fun. Scott himself loved to tell stories to his children and we can imagine, he’d join in wholeheartedly if he had the chance.

Treasures Troves and Time Travel

The Pavilion and Furnace House is a multisensory experience that brings to life Scott’s beloved garden. In the Furnace House visitors can time travel back to the 1820s, immersing themselves in the audible world of the Abbotsford groundsmen. Listen to them musing on daily life at Abbotsford while they fuel the cockle stove that warmed the air for growing exotic plants and fruits.

Curious minds of all ages will discover a treasure trove of ephemera in the botanical cabinet, including replica seed packets, dinner invitations, newspapers, a photograph album sharing Victorian views of the garden, and even a recipe tin containing 1820s Scottish dishes.

Each of the 20 compartments tells a different story from the gardens over time and budding creatives inspired by their discoveries can write, draw or compose at the activity table.

Family Fridays (Don’t miss our next Family Friday on 18 July)

Discover quirky curios, timeless tales, legendary heroes, secrets of nature, and much more in our new, regular programme of activities for young learners. There’s something for the whole family and fun is at the top of list!

Trees are the theme for July – a subject that was close to Scott’s heart. We’ll learn all about the trees at Abbotsford and create ‘story-sticks’, an unusual tool that Scott used to help him write his stories.

Family Fridays take place every month and there’s no extra charge on our regular ticket price.

Listen Carefully – Family Friendly Audio Tours

We’ve created three specially designed audio tours making a visit to the house ideal for the whole family. Visitors can experience the house and Scott’s extraordinary collection tailored to their own pace. There’s a tour for curious adults and a tour for younger listeners guided by Scott’s favourite four legged friends – Cat Hinse and Deerhound Maida.

These are just some of the activities you can enjoy on your visits! We hope you’ll be able to join us for some summer fun exploring Abbotsford’s House, Garden and Witch Corner.