
A Museum For Living In
A monument to the tastes, talents and achievements of its creator

a flibbertigibbet of a house
The stones speak both of triumph and disaster

Sir Walter Scott's
palace of the imagination
Novelist, playwright and poet 1771 1832
Welcome to Abbotsford
Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, Abbotsford’s historic house, chapel, gardens, gift shop, Ochiltree’s café and free Sir Walter Scott exhibition are closed until further notice. The estate will remain open for local people wanting to enjoy the woodland and riverside walks. Visitors will enter the estate at their own risk as the car park and paths may not be gritted on icy days.
Discover Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott.
Abbotsford is the extraordinary home of the 19th century novelist and ‘Great Scott’ who popularised tartan, saved the Scottish banknote and rediscovered his country’s Crown Jewels.
Discover a treasure trove of intriguing objects which inspired his greatest poems and novels. Learn about Scott's life, browse the gift shop, enjoy seasonal food in our café or simply relax in the beautiful formal gardens and tranquil woodlands.
Created almost 200 years ago by the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders, Abbotsford is now just a short train ride from Edinburgh.