Why visit Selkirk
Townapedia lists 26 museums and landmarks, 4 parks and trails, 15 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Yair Bridge, Halliwell's House Museum & Robson Gallery, Sir Walter Scottʼs Courtroom and Hare and Dunhog Mosses.
Weather in Selkirk
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Selkirk
Selkirk is a historic market town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders council district of southeastern Scotland. It lies on the Ettrick Water, a tributary of the River Tweed. The people of the town are known as Souters, which means cobblers (shoe makers and menders). In 2022, Selkirk's population was 4,663, a slight decrease from the 2011 population.
From the Wikipedia article Selkirk, Scottish Borders (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Selkirk on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Photos of Selkirk
Things to do2
Museums and landmarks26
Bowhill House
Museum · 2.9 mi
Country house in the Scottish Borders, UK
14 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds4
Hare and Dunhog Mosses
Park · 2.4 mi
Nature reserve near Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland
Restaurants and cafes15
New Ming Chun House
Restaurant · Chinese
60 High Street, Selkirk
Mo, We-Su 16:00-22:00
3 more on the map.
History
Selkirk was formerly the county town of Selkirkshire. Selkirk is one of the oldest Royal Burghs in Scotland and is the site of the earliest settlements in what is now the Scottish Borders. The town's name means "church by the hall" from the Old English sele ("hall" or "manor") and cirice ("church").
Selkirk was the site of the first Borders abbey, a community of Tironensian monks who moved to Kelso Abbey during the reign of King David I. In 1113, King David I granted Selkirk large amounts of land. He also granted the monks access to construction timber and firewood from his woodlands. William Wallace was declared guardian of Scotland in the town at the Kirk o' the Forest in 1297.
Selkirk sent a contingent of 80 men to fight at the Battle of Flodden in 1513; however, only one man, "Fletcher", returned from the battle, bearing a blood-stained English flag belonging to the Macclesfield regiment.
Read more of the history
During the series of conflicts that would become known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Selkirk played host to the Royalist army of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, with his cavalry installed in the burgh, whilst the Royalist infantry were camped at the plain of Philiphaugh, below the town. On the morning of 13 September 1645, a covenanting army led by Sir David Leslie attacked the royalist forces camped at Philiphaugh, and a rout ensued. Montrose arrived to find his army in disarray and had to flee the field. The surrendered Royalist troops were subsequently executed.
The novelist, Sir Walter Scott, presided, as the sheriff-depute, in the courtroom at Selkirk Town House in the early 19th century.
Selkirk grew in the mid-19th century because of its woollen industry, although that industry largely closed in the 1970s. The town is also known for bannocks, a dry fruit cake, which was first sold in the market place by a local baker, Robbie Douglas, in 1859.
From the History section of Selkirk, Scottish Borders on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Selkirk
Arts and culture
The Selkirk Common Riding is a celebration of the history and traditions of the Royal and Ancient Burgh. It is held on the second Friday after the first Monday in June.
The remains of the "forest kirk", referred to in ancient times as the church of St Mary of the Forest, still stand in the old churchyard. It is also the final resting place of several maternal ancestors of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the US.
Just to the south of the town is The Haining, the late 18th-century residence of the Pringle family. In 2009 the last owner died, and left the house and grounds "for the benefit of the community of Selkirkshire and the wider public." A charitable trust is now planning to restore the building as an art gallery.
The Selkirk Grace has no connection with the town of Selkirk, beyond its name; it originated in the west of Scotland. Although attributed to Robert Burns, the Selkirk Grace was already known in the 17th century, as the "Galloway Grace" or the "Covenanters' Grace". It came to be called the Selkirk Grace because Burns was said to have delivered it at a dinner given by the Earl of Selkirk at St Mary's Isle Priory, in Kirkcudbright in Galloway.
Rugby union plays its role in Selkirk culture and society. Selkirk RFC play in their home games at Philiphaugh, competing in the Scottish Premiership and the Border League.
From the Wikipedia article Selkirk, Scottish Borders, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Selkirk
Andrew LangScottish poet, novelist and literary critic (1844–1912)Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
Grant HutchisonBritish musicianPhoto: Heidi Weber, CC BY 2.0- Bobby JohnstoneScottish footballer (1929–2001)
- Scott HutchisonScottish musician (1981-2018)
- William Ritchie SorleyBritish philosopher (1855–1935)
- Sandy McMahonScottish footballer (1870–1916)
- David PringleScottish science fiction editor
- Peter BlakeBritish actor (1948-2018)
- Thomas LangEnglish cricketer (1854-1902)
- John RobertsNew Zealand politician and Mayor of Dunedin, born 1845
- Rae HendrieBritish actress
- Charmian CampbellBritish artist (1942-2009)
Born in Selkirk, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay8
Churches and places of worship2
Our Lady & St. Joseph Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic
103 High Street, Selkirk
Shopping9
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries4
Healthcare3
Map of Selkirk
74 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 34 miles away.
- Galashiels 5 mi north, about 8 min by car
- Newtown St Boswells 7 mi east, about 11 min by car
- Saint Boswells 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Hawick 9 mi south, about 14 min by car
- Mayfield 24 mi north, about 38 min by car
- Bonnyrigg 25 mi northwest, about 40 min by car
- Penicuik 25 mi northwest, about 40 min by car
- Dalkeith 25 mi north, about 41 min by car
- Musselburgh 28 mi north, about 46 min by car
- Edinburgh 31 mi northwest, about 50 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Selkirk
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Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Selkirk, Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 69 Tower Street & Gatepiers, Selkirk, Mainlymazza, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 73, 75 High Street, Selkirk 2024, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Yair Bridge (6902313283), Andrew Bowden from London, United Kingdon, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bowhill House pic, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selkirk High School, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selkirk, pant well, Walter Scott and tower in Market Place, Pant Well, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selkirk, Scotts Place, The Flodden Field Monument, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Selkirk parish church, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- County Hotel, 3-11 High Street, Selkirk, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Church Of Our Lady And St Joseph, High Street, Selkirk, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Halliwells House Museum, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sir Walter Scottʼs Courtroom, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Camerons is 42, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mungo Park memorial, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, fluffyduck, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ccbb7766, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ccbb7766, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, fluffyduck, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, hobgoblin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, hobgoblin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
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