A picturesque country town, Kelso lies in a fine setting at the junction of the rivers Tweed and Teviot.

Kelso is full of architectural and historic interest. In 1128 David I granted monks permission to build an abbey across the water from his castle, Roxburgh. Even in its fragmented state, this is a superb piece of architecture. To the west, a grassy mound, deep ditch and a few ruined walls are all that remain of the once mighty Roxburgh Castle. James II was killed during a siege here in 1460, by an exploding cannon.

The spacious Kelso Square claims to be the largest in Scotland. At its centre is still the Bull Ring, a reminder of past market days. The square is now host to many specialist shops. The graceful five-arched bridge over the Tweed, built by John Rennie in 1803, was the model for London's Waterloo Bridge.

Floors Castle, Scotland's largest inhabited house, stands in parkland overlooking the Tweed. It holds outstanding collections of paintings, furniture, porcelain and tapestry.

The lively programme of events in the town reflects the predominantly agricultural community, with the Border Union agricultural show, ram and horse sales, Kelso Races, point-to-point and the Scottish Championship dog show. Kelso Civic Week, held in summer, is the town's annual festival, adopting many of the features of the older Border Common Ridings.

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Kelso, Scotland – or should that be Kelso, Europe? This spacious Borders town on the River Tweed has a decidedly continental air thanks to Scotland’s largest market square, surrounded by Georgian and Victorian architecture. The settlement grew up around Kelso Abbey – both town and church were repeatedly attacked by English armies over the centuries, but the former managed to retain its status as an important burgh and market. This was in marked contrast to its poor sister town Roxburgh on the opposite river bank, which declined almost to nothing following the destruction of its castle. The Tweed itself is famous for its salmon yields, no more so than at the Junction Pool; this is found at the confluence of the rivers Tweed and Teviot, immediately west of the town centre. The fishing beats are overlooked by the turrets and battlements of Floors Castle: Scotland’s largest inhabited mansion, well worth visiting.