TRAVEL ACCOLADE BOOSTS VOLUNTEERS WEEK CELEBRATIONS

The coveted award has been achieved by the staff and volunteers at the home of Sir Walter Scott, near Melrose, after successfully earning the travel site’s Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years.

The staff team had already planned a range of thank you activities for the 108 volunteers who help to run the house and estate, when TripAdvisor notified them of their new accolade.

Giles Ingram, Chief Executive of the Abbotsford Trust, said: “Like many other charities we would be struggling without the support we have from our volunteers. Looking after a treasure like Abbotsford and preserving Sir Walter Scott’s legacy for the nation is expensive, and the time we receive from our volunteers is invaluable.

“Their quality of service and enthusiasm for all things Scott, alongside the staff team, has now won us a place in Trip Advisor’s Hall of Fame, which is real tribute to their commitment. We could not have achieved this without them.”

The ‘thank you’ events for the volunteers include a trip to The Writers’ Museum, Edinburgh, with afternoon tea at the Faculty of Advocates, who jointly administer Scott’s library; tours of the estate to include areas not open to the public; exclusive views of artefacts not on open display; home baking treats - and foot massages!

Since opening in July 2013 Abbotsford has grown its volunteer team from a handful of dedicated enthusiasts to 108 people working in the Visitor Centre, the house, gardens and woodlands. Volunteer guides also take groups of visitors from overseas and the UK on personalised tours of the house and gardens.

Opportunities to volunteer at Abbotsford are listed on Volunteer Opportunities.