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Family Fun
- Christmas at Abbotsford
FAMILY FUN
Visit Abbotsford as a family and explore our Witch Corner sculpture trail, woodland and riverside walks, historic house and gardens.
Explore Witch Corner, our historic house, gardens, exhibition and woodland and riverside walks as a family. Discover our downloadable kids activity sheets for your trip to Abbotsford below or see What's On for our latest family trails and events.
Witch Corner
Explore a wild-wood glen of Sir Walter Scott’s favourite stories and their mischievous creatures in this supernatural sculpture trail.
Witch Corner is a Scottish folklore and legend themed sculpture trail with twelve story stops directly inspired by the writings and trail-blazing research of Sir Walter Scott of Abbotsford. It takes its name from Scott’s nickname for his favourite section of the Abbotsford Library, his collection of 250 rare books about witchcraft, magic, folklore, and superstition.
Younger visitors can enjoy completing the Activity Booklet, solving the clues and completing the activities at each story stop. Older children and adults can explore the secrets behind the stories used in the trail on the Abbotsford app which includes a quiz and a Curator’s Cauldron audio guide.
Book Witch Corner tickets
Explore the woodlands
Sir Walter Scott loved planting trees around his estate and created stunning woodlands which can still be enjoyed today.
Follow our marked trails through the woods and along the river bank and go on your own adventure under the leaves!
Take a look at our downloadable activities for things to do on your walk around our estate. Why not create some nature art or help Balderstone the Abbotsford badger find everything he needs on our woodland trail.
DON'T MISS - TOP 4 HOUSE AND GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS
Entrance Hall
Sir Walter Scott filled his home with weird and wonderful objects - can you guess how much the giant two-handed sword weighs, spot a breastplate with a bullet hole in it and work out which animal skull is upside down?.
Morris Garden
Discover the gruesome story behind this statue of Morris, one of Scott's characters from Rob Roy - can you work out what he's doing and why?
Armoury
Count the swords, spot the crossbows, look for Scott's Blunderbuss and watch out for the thumbikins! Can you guess what they were used for?
Gargoyles and grotesques
Look up and keep your eyes peeled inside and out Abbotsford for Scott's collection of gruesome "grinners".
Practical information
- Toilets and unisex baby changing facilities are available in the Visitor Centre.
- Self-service lockers for bags are available in the Visitor Centre.
- Ochiltree’s restaurant offers a range of light snacks and meals throughout the day. A children’s menu and highchairs are available.
- A kiosk with a range of hot and cold drinks and snacks to take away is located in the lobby of the Visitor Centre.
- Picnic tables are located outside the Visitor Centre. Benches within the play trail can also be used for picnics.
- Our shop stocks a range of books, toys, gifts and souvenirs suitable for children.
- Prams and buggies are welcome in all areas of the Visitor Centre, House and Gardens.
- Please note that children should be accompanied by an adult at all times, including in the play trail.
- Please take extra care in the wider estate as some paths run alongside the River Tweed, busy roads and cross fields which contain livestock.