The pretty town the Scottish want to 'keep hidden for themselves'

'the best place to live' in the UK but this beautiful Scottish town is still something of a hidden gem which it's said the "Scottish keep to themselves". Melrose, in the Borders, is less than 30 miles from the England but offers some decidedly Celtic charm with grand solid stone Victoria buildings, an enormous local viaduct and the stunning countryside of the Eildon Hills.

dates back to Roman times when the legions of the Emperor patrolled this part of the world as they were building Hadrians' Wall. As far as more contemporary history goes, Scottish icon King Robert the Bruce is believed to have his heart buried in the ruins of the nearby spectacular ruins of Melrose Abbey.

writer Robin McKelvie the town of 2,500 people has also won over the hearts of people from as far away as the Cotswolds who have come to live there. But he reports most of the treasures of the area remain appreciated by the locals, and guide Stewart Wilson told the publication: "This is the town that Scots seem to keep for ourselves."

The stunning Drygrange Viaduct, or Leaderfoot Viaduct, sits close to the town. And although it is no longer in use it provides a stunning walking location and was even the backdrop for some scenes from the 2023 Hollywood movie, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

According to , Melrose has another claim to fame in that it is said to be the birthplace of the rugby sevens style of the of rugby union.

It adds: "The triple peaks of the Eildon Hills are the most distinctive single landmark in the Scottish Borders. At their feet in the valley of the Tweed lies Melrose. Ruined Melrose Abbey dates from 1136. A casket discovered believed to contain the heart of Robert the Bruce was marked by a re-burial ceremony and commemorative stone tablet.

"The area around Melrose has been inhabited for thousands of years. The Roman army arrived in AD79 or 80 and built a major fort nearby named Trimontium, 'Place of the Three Hills'."

The tourist agency added: "Visitors of a green-fingered nature can visit one of the two National Trust for Scotland gardens in the area; Priorwood has an apple orchard which cultivates many historic varieties and Scotland's only dedicated dried flower garden; Harmony Gardens is a beautiful walled garden with magnificent views over the abbey and Eildon Hills.

"Around three miles west of on the banks of the Tweed is Sir Walter Scott's romantic mansion of Abbotsford. The town is also the home or rugby sevens and takes on a carnival atmosphere when the Melrose Sevens takes place in spring. The first tournament took place in 1883 and the event is now an action-packed international tournament, which regularly attracts teams from places such as New Zealand, South Africa, England, France and Portugal."