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Major city · United Kingdom

Selkirk

Give Selkirk half a day: the courtroom, Halliwell's House and a walk by the loch. Sleep in Galashiels or Melrose unless you want the hills.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
GBP
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Mar (museums shut, short days)
Airports
EDI · NCL
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
  • United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
  • United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.

Selkirk is a small market town on the A7 with a compact centre and two free museums, both open April to October only. The real draw is Ettrick Forest and the hill walks around it, which need a car. Most travellers pass through on the X95 bus or stop for two hours between Galashiels and Hawick.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Selkirk, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
  • Taxi, about 5 km5 km taxicheck£8–12 (≈ US$11–16)
  • Museum or sight ticketBowhill grounds entry, adult£6 (≈ US$8)
  • Budget bedHostel or bunkhouse bed, a night, per person£25 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room£110 (≈ US$150)
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room£150 (≈ US$200)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £80 (≈ US$110) · High £140 (≈ US$190)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Sir Walter Scott's CourtroomHalliwell's House MuseumSelkirk BannockEttrick Forest walksCommon Riding
Airports
EDI Edinburgh (Train to Galashiels, then bus 73 or X95 to Selkirk; about 2 h door to door) · NCL Newcastle (A68 to Jedburgh then A699; about 2 h by car)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Selkirk: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

6°C

1°C

14 rd

Feb

7°C

1°C

11 rd

Mar

9°C

2°C

12 rd

Apr

12°C

3°C

10 rd

May

15°C

6°C

10 rd

Jun

18°C

9°C

10 rd

Jul

20°C

11°C

11 rd

Aug

19°C

11°C

11 rd

Sep

17°C

9°C

11 rd

Oct

13°C

6°C

13 rd

Nov

9°C

3°C

13 rd

Dec

6°C

1°C

13 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is walkable in 10 minutes. For the Ettrick hills, Bowhill, Newark Castle or Aikwood Tower you need a car or a taxi; there is no local bus into the forest.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Galashiels

go

Door to door: About 25 min

Bus 73 or X95 from Market Place

Railhead for Edinburgh; use it as a base if Selkirk hotels are full.

Melrosego

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus to Galashiels, then bus or 20-min walk to Melrose

Abbey and Trimontium; the best half-day from Selkirk.

Hawick

go

Door to door: About 30 min

X95 south along the A7

Similar market town; combine with a stop at Woll golf course.

Jedburghgo

Door to door: About 45 min

Car via A699 and A68

Abbey and Mary Queen of Scots' House; awkward by bus.

Peeblesgo

Door to door: About 50 min

Car via A707 and A72

Traquair House and Innerleithen are on the way.

Kelso

go

Door to door: About 50 min

Car via A699

Abbey and Floors Castle; no direct bus.

Eyemouth

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Car via A68 and A1

Coast and harbour; a long half-day, better as an overnight.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Market Place and town centre

The County Hotel and the bus stop are both here; walk to everything.

Yarrow Terrace / A707

The Glen Hotel, dog-friendly, 10 min walk from the centre.

Linglie Road / A707–A708 junction

The Philipburn, the upscale option, on the edge of town with parking.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
£45–70 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
£70–110 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
High
£110 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 1 night × £110£110
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £80£160
X95 Edinburgh → Selkirk, one way2 × £12 · check£24
Bus 73 Galashiels → Selkirk, one way2 × £3 · check£6
Bowhill House guided tour, adult2 × £12 · August and a few other dates only£24
eSIM, about a week of data2 × £8£16
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge£34
Trip total≈ £187 per person per day, bed included£374≈ US$500

2026 estimate in pounds; travel to Selkirk excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Fish and chips takeaway£9–13 (≈ US$12–18)
Pub main course£12–18 (≈ US$16–25)
Selkirk Bannock, small loaf£3–5 (≈ US$4–7)
5 km taxicheck£8–12 (≈ US$11–16)
Bowhill grounds entry, adult£6 (≈ US$8)
Museum entry (Courtroom, Halliwell's House)Free, donation welcome

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A quiet, low-crime town; the real risks are single-track roads with passing places, weather that turns on the hills, and no 5G coverage.
  • Both town museums close from November to March: check dates before a winter trip.
  • Bowhill House is only shown on guided tours in August and a few other dates; the grounds open June–August.
  • The A7 closes for hours when the Tour de France passes on 2 July 2027: check local media.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
999
Police non-urgent
101
NHS non-urgent
111

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

SelkirkSelkirk

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance999
  • Police non-urgent101
  • NHS non-urgent111

Embassy

No embassies in Selkirk; the US consulate-general is in Edinburgh, and most other missions are in London or Edinburgh.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • X95 Edinburgh → Selkirk: about £12 (≈ US$16), 1 h 40 min (check)
  • Bus 73 Galashiels → Selkirk: about £3 (≈ US$4), 20 min (check)
  • Taxi Selkirk → Galashiels: £20–28 (≈ US$30–40) (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Excuse me — Excuse me
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
  • One ticket to Selkirk, please — One ticket to Selkirk, please

English is the everyday language here; no phrasebook needed.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Selkirk. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (museums shut, short days) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 7 day-trips, door to door
  6. 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for EDI: last train to Galashiels, X95 fallback, taxi rung to Selkirk.
  2. Walking cluster with rescue anchors: Market Place, Halliwell's Close, the Auld Kirk and The Haining loch.
  3. Place pages with verified seasonal cutoffs (Courtroom, Halliwell's House, Bowhill House) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Common Riding and Tour de France fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United Kingdom

Sources