Scotland News

Abbotsford Reopens for 2025

Abbotsford reopened for the 2025 season on 1st March. We look forward to welcoming your clients to The Home of Sir Walter Scott. Contact us to book visits or to create a package for your travellers.

We offer guided tours with our award-winning local guides, self-guided tours using audio guides or transcripts (audio in 5 languages, written transcripts in 12 languages).  If you would like to add refreshments or lunch in Ochiltree’s café or maybe add on an afternoon tea, taste of Abbotsford whisky or gin or let your clients experience our Taste of Scotland Platter, please let us know and we can arrange everything for you.

Behind the Scenes Tour
What happens during the closed winter cleaning/conservation months?  If you have clients who are keen to find out, we can offer a behind the scenes tour during January and February.  Hear more from our guides about the cleaning and conservation work that takes place to preserve Sir Walter Scott’s conundrum castle for future generations, while enjoying a guided tour with one of our local guides.
 
Christmas at Abbotsford – Our diary is open for 2025 bookings
Enjoy a visit during our extended opening season.  Open throughout December, your clients can enjoy Abbotsford dressed in an 1820s style Christmas.  See the Waverley Book Tree in the library, listen to our Christmas audio guide or take part in our special Christmas guided tours.
 
Our gift shop offers a selection of local and Scottish products which make perfect Christmas gifts.  Ochiltree’s café also has a Christmas menu and a Christmas Group Catering menu is available to add to the Christmas experience.
 
We also have family friendly Christmas events on site.  Why not enjoy a Visit to Santa, Mrs Claus’ Storytelling Session or our Christmas trail around Witch Corner?
 
Witch Corner
 
Why not add a visit to Witch Corner to your itinerary?
 
Witch Corner is a folklore-themed sculpture trail with twelve stops. Younger visitors can enjoy completing the Activity Booklet, solving the clues and completing the activities at each story stop. More in-depth information on each legend or folktale is available through the Abbotsford app which also includes a quiz and a Curator’s Cauldron audio guide to allow older children and adults the opportunity to explore the secrets behind the stories used in the Trail.
Bloomberg Connects
 
Abbotsford now features on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture mobile app which allows users to explore museums, galleries, and cultural spaces around the world from the comfort of home or while visiting the site.

Connects users can access three new Curator’s ‘highlight tours’ in both audio and transcript form, introducing favourite objects from our collections, stories from our gardens and grounds, and a selection of the architectural features from the building, as well as access various articles and audio/video content not available elsewhere. Articles include features on Scott's reception and influence in the US and his impact on the English language.
 
Why not download the ‘Bloomberg Connects’ app from your app store on your phone or tablet and search for Abbotsford to find our guide.

For more information click here.