Getting to Melrose
Travel and parking
Melrose is easily accessible and in striking distance of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Newcastle. You can reach the Borders Book Festival by public transport via bus or train, or travel by car.
TRAVELLING BY TRAIN
The Borders Railway connects Edinburgh Waverley with Tweedbank Station, which is about 1.5 miles away from the festival site. The route to the festival will be signposted from the station, and Borders Buses connect Tweedbank to Melrose using services 67 or 68.
For more information about train travel visit www.scotrail.co.uk
TRAVELLING BY BICYCLE
The Borders is renowned for some of the best cycling in the country, and cycle racks are available at the festival for those arriving by pedal power.
TRAVELLING BY BUS
Direct journeys from Edinburgh to Melrose are available using service 51. You can also use service X95 to travel to the neighbouring town of Galashiels, where connections to Melrose run approximately every 15 minutes. Borders Buses connect Galashiels to Melrose using services 67 or 68. From Galashiels you can also connect to Berwick and Carlisle, and to many of the picturesque towns situated throughout the Scottish Borders.
For more information about bus services please visit www.bordersbuses.co.uk or download the app.
TRAVELLING BY CAR
Melrose is easily accessible by car and is less than a 5-minute drive from the main A68 and A7 trunk roads.
PARKING: Visitors are advised to park in Melrose town centre where the parking is in easy reach of the festival venues. There is also limited parking for festivalgoers at the edge of the rugby pitch at Annay Road. This parking is on a grass surface and is weather dependent.
We have some limited disabled parking for Blue Badge holders. However, we highly recommend using the drop-off point on Annay Road where assistance from a member of the book festival team will be available.
CAR CHARGING: If travelling by electric vehicle, you’ll find rapid charge points in Buccleuch Street car park, Melrose and a further seven charging points a five-minute drive away at Tweedbank Service Station, TD1 3DJ. National car charging websites will show additional charging locations nearby.
Restrictions will be in place on St Mary’s Road from Monday 10 June to Monday 17 June and a diversion route from Abbey Street to Newstead will be in operation.