Situated as it is in the lovely Vale of Merse, the 'Garden of the Borderland', Duns can offer the restful quietude and bracing air of an ideal holiday resort and its convenient and central position makes it the natural starting point from which the many famous places for which the district is so noted may be visited.

Duns is no longer the centre of local government in the area, but it does have a contact centre for the new Scottish Borders Council situated in the former Berwickshire District Council offices. The town is also the centre of much legal and banking business.

Duns Law played an important part in the days of the Scottish Covenanters when in 1639 General Sir Alexander Leslie and his army encamped there to oppose the might of King Charles 1 in his attempt to force episcopacy on Scotland, and they set up their Standard "For Christ and Covenant". This led to the signing of the National Covenant, a copy of which was signed at Duns Castle.

On the western side of the Law is Duns Castle. The original tower was erected in 1320 and that old tower has been incorporated in the present modern imposing edifice.

The town has produced a number of famous sons. Perhaps the most prominent of these was John Duns Scotus, a prominent scholar and theologian, born in 1266. The Franciscan Order of the Church celebrated the 700th anniversary of his birth in 1966 and presented the town with a bronze statue of the great man which can be seen in the Public Park. A cairn marking his birthplace can also be seen near Duns Castle.

Duns is also famous for the Jim Clark Memorial Trophy Room. Jim Clark was World Motor Racing Champion in 1962 and 1965 and the trophy room is visited every year by large numbers of motor racing enthusiasts from all over the world.

There are, in and around Duns, many attractions for the holidaymaker who is keen on sport, walking, photography, painting or even birdwatching. There is an interesting Nature Reserve at Duns Castle to which visitors are welcome and the Warden is very willing to show parties round.

Leaflet entitled 'Duns Town Trail' and 'Walks Around Duns' contain information on many of these walks and interesting places to visit and they are free of charge at various outlets in the town.

For the sportsman there is an attractive 18-hole golf course on the outskirts of the town and the angler is well provided for with trout fishing on the Whiteadder and Blackadder and salmon fishing on the Tweed.

There is also the Berwickshire High School Sports Complex and Swimming Pool which offers everything from weight training and racquet sports to swimming and field sports. Duns also has its own football, rugby and hockey teams as well as a bowling green and tennis courts.

Nearby Manderston House, "the swansong of the great classical house" is another attraction not to be missed.

An industrial and trading estate provides a number of factories which in turn provide employment for a large range of workers. The town also has a large and varied number of shops to tempt all tastes.

The Market Square in Duns has many attractive features. The Mercat Cross is the focal point and the trees and flower beds in the Square help to create a lovely centre to what was once a bustling market town.

There are a variety of pubs, hotels and eating places whether you want just a snack, bar lunch or a meal in a restaurant and all are reasonably priced.

The town's most important event is the Duns Summer Festival in July when the festival principals, the Reiver and Reiver's Lass, lead their mounted followers on the Riding of the Bounds and other colourful and exciting events. During the week there is also the crowning of the Wynsome Mayde who is chosen by the pupils of Duns Primary School.

Also held in July is the SEAT Jim Clark Memorial Rally, the only closed roads stage rally on mainland Britain. A counter in both the Mobil 1 British Rally Championship and the Scottish Rally Championship, the rally it attracts thousands of spectators who flock to Duns to see the country's top drivers in high speed action.

The Berwickshire Agricultural Show is held on the first Saturday in August and there are other shows and sporting events throughout the year.

Photo Credit:

1. Duns Market, © S.B.T.B.