65km (40 miles) SE of Edinburgh; 118km (73 miles) SE of Glasgow; 11km (6 3/4 miles) S of Galashiels
In the heart of Sir Walter Scott country is Selkirk, a great base if you want to explore many of the region's historic homes, including Bowhill and Traquair House. Jedburgh and Melrose offer more to see and do, but this ancient royal burgh can easily occupy a morning of your time.
Selkirk was the hometown of the African explorer Mungo Park (1771-1806), whose exploits could have made a great Harrison Ford movie. Park was a doctor, but won fame for exploring the River Niger; he drowned while escaping in a canoe from hostile natives. A statue of him is at the east end of High Street in Mungo Park.
