Priorwood Garden accessibility guide

Extending to 0.8 hectares (2 acres), the walled garden in the centre of Melrose is a peaceful and biodiverse haven for visitors.

Welcome

Contact for accessibility enquiries:

Telephone: 01896 822493
Email: Priorwood@nts.org.uk

The garden is home to a range of local wildlife and has much to offer those with a keen eye for the small and colourful.

The walled garden has relatively level paths of different surfaces and can be accessed without steps from the entrance gate on Abbey Street. There is a small lip from the paved threshold onto a gravel path.

There are no toilets in the garden; however, public toilets are available less than 100 metres south along Abbey Street (opening times vary and charges apply). Alternatively, there are many cafés nearby with toilet facilities.

A view of a fairly narrow doorway leading into a garden through a tall stone wall. Flagstones form the path through the entrance. A green sign saying Priorwood Garden hangs above the doorway.

The exterior of a block of public toilets in a stone building. Decorative ironwork of leaves and flowers runs along the top of the tall stone wall on the left. A sign advertising disabled, men's and women's toilets is attached to the wall.

Getting here

Priorwood Garden
Abbey Street
Melrose
Scottish Borders
TD6 9PX

Priorwood Garden is located in the town centre of Melrose, next to the abbey ruin.

By car

From the north, south and east, Melrose is 2.3 miles from the roundabout of the A68. From there, take the exit for Main Street (A6091).
From the west, Melrose is 3.9 miles from Galashiels along the A7 and then A6091.

There is no car park in the garden, but there is a public car park on the corner of Buccleuch Street and Abbey Street in Melrose, approximately 75 metres from the garden entrance. Charges apply in the car park. It has 2 electric vehicle charging points and 2 dedicated Blue Badge spaces.
There is some free street parking throughout the town, including Abbey Street, but availability can be very limited.

By bus

There is a bus stop on the corner of Buccleuch Street and Abbey Street in Melrose, approximately 75 metres from the garden entrance. This is served by buses travelling between Melrose and various local towns.
Further details can be found at the Borders Buses website or by calling 01896 754350.

By train

The closest train station is Tweedbank, which is 2.5 miles to the west of Priorwood Garden. Regular services run between Tweedbank and Edinburgh.
Further details can be found at the Trainline website or the Scotrail website or by calling 0344 811 0141.

A pay and display car parking meter stands at the edge of a public car park, with a list of daily charges.

The public car park on the corner of Buccleuch Street and Abbey Street in Melrose

Dogs

Assistance dogs are welcome in the garden,but they must be kept on leads and under close control. Please keep them out of the flower beds and clean up any mess responsibly using the available waste bin.

Getting around the garden

There are 3 main areas of the garden, with no set route around them:

Flower beds

The beds are immediately in front of the garden entrance.
There is a mixture of gravel and paved slab paths around them.
The paths are approximately 1.3m wide.
There is some bench seating available in this area.

A gravel path winds between beds filled with herbaceous plants in a walled garden.

Orchard

To the right of the flower beds on entry, the lawn of the orchard has relatively flat grass paths cut between the trees so visitors can wander between the various tree varieties.
Please note the surface can be soft during periods of high rainfall.
The grass cut paths vary in width, depending on the spacing available between trees.

Woodland

This small, landscaped area is to the east of the orchard.
It has woodchip paths that undulate over the contours of the land and some surface tree roots.
The paths are approximately 1m wide.

The garden has some interpretation panels, and written guides are available from the box.

Our gardeners and volunteers may be available to assist with any questions you may have (our gardeners and volunteers care for two gardens in Melrose and may be at either site).

An orchard on a sunny day, with picnic tables.

After visiting Priorwood Garden, why not also visit Harmony Garden, which is only 0.1 mile to the north along Abbey Street?

Guide updated: May 2024