Galashiels

Galashiels is situated in the heart of the Scottish Borders, approximately 38 miles south of Edinburgh. Nestling in an area of considerable natural beauty, with literary and historical connections – including Abbotsford House, the home of Sir Walter Scott which is a mile out of the town.

Galashiels  has a population of some 15,000 and is the main shopping centre for the Central Borders, with Asda, Tesco, M&S Simply Food and other major retail outlets.  It has a swimming pool, excellent sports and outdoor facilities, including Netherdale Rugby Ground, where the Gala Rugby Sevens are held each April and also The Tweedbank Sports Complex and Bowls Hall which is the leading multi-use sports facility in the Scottish Borders.  The facility caters for all across a broad range of sports from athletics, hockey, indoor bowls and football

 

Galashiels has a cinema centre, a Library, 6 primary schools, a secondary school, college and Heriot Watt university campus.

Galashiels now has a regular train service to Edinburgh. The Waverley Line which was shut in 1969, was restored in 2015 and was re-opened by her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on 9th September 2015 the day she became Britain’s longest serving Monarch.  It now runs two trains an hour to Edinburgh Waverley station,  allowing Borderers a day out in Edinburgh and the opportunity to travel on to other parts of Scotland or to Edinburgh Airport via tram or airport bus.

 

 

One of the unique features about the Border towns is the Festival week held in each town in the summer.  Gala has a week of ride-outs and celebrations in June, ending in Braw Lad’s Day on the Saturday. Trinity Church hosts the Kirking of the Braw Lad and Lass at the start of Common Riding Week.  Below are this year’s  Braw Lad and Lass  Cory Paterson and Emma Spence.