Scotland’s storybook countryside is decorated with some of Great Britain’s most elegant estates — and many are open to the public. To get some of that Downton Abbey feeling yourself, head out into the Scottish Borders to see how the aristocracy lived, worked, and played.
There’s no need to bring tux and tails or worry about dungeon imprisonment. Nowadays, that dungeon is more likely a restaurant and the falconry is only for demonstration purposes. And the dress code? Not so much. Instead of a dinner jacket, pack your hiking boots and mountain bike, because the grounds of these sprawling estates are open to trekkers and nature lovers.
This video visits five Scottish estates that travelers to Scotland can check out:
- Floors Castle
- Bowhill House
- Abbotsford House
- Jedburgh Abbey
- Dalhousie House
Let’s go where the air is cleaner and the views are endless: The Scottish Borders. 