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Dryburgh Abbey

Dryburgh, St Boswells, Roxburghshire
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Wander around this remarkably complete medieval ruin by the River Tweed to grasp the appeal of monastic life.

You can still see plaster and paintwork inside the chapter house dating from when it was built. Other fine examples of ecclesiastic architecture and masonry also remain – despite three fires and four attacks all but destroying the abbey buildings.

There is a real sense of privileged enclosure even in the grounds, laid out by the Earl of Buchan in the 1700s.

You'll also be able to find the burial places of Sir Walter Scott and Field-Marshal Earl Haig (north transept) and the Earl of Buchan (sacristy).

A wide and tall historical archway, connected to stone wall ruins, with a gap in the wall at the top. Through the arch, you can see a path with grass either side and trees in the distance.
A small gravestone, with an unusual and striking stone carving of a person holding an open book, with an animal above their head. It is a short gravestone, amongst grass. Sun shines on the gravestone.
Aerial view directly above a historical site, where you can see the outline of a roofless building. You can see the outline of the different rooms, with the largest being a square in the centre. It sits on a grass landscape with bright trees of different shades surrounding it.

Dryburgh Abbey has some of the best Gothic church architecture in Scotland. 

To add to the site's uniqueness, it is also home to the Dryburgh yew, one of Scotland's oldest trees.

A green landscape, filled with woodland trees and grass. In the top left, you can see the remains of a stone abbey, with some of the building missing and weathered.

Book this site as wedding venue

Dryburgh Abbey's secluded and romantic location beside the beautiful River Tweed make it a popular spot for weddings and wedding photography.
Historic Scotland weddings
A bride and groom stand close together inside a historic stone building. The groom wears a dark green ceremonial uniform and a tartan sash. The bride wears a white lace wedding dress with a long sheer veil and a jeweled headpiece. Rows of chairs and stone walls are visible in the softly lit background.

Ready for an adventure?

Use a Membership or Explorer Pass to discover centuries of Scottish history and heritage, all while saving money and supporting our work.

Membership

Ideal for regular visitors and heritage supporters

Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events

Two adults, holding hands with two young children, walk through a graveyard, with historical stone ruins in the background. It is a sunny day.
  • Unlimited annual pass for all ticketed sites plus daytime events
  • Discount in our shops and cafés (on site and online)
  • Historic Scotland magazine delivered to your door
  • Free or discounted entry to sites in England, Wales and the Isle of Man
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Explorer Pass

Perfect for short-term trips and sightseeing

Valid for 14 consecutive days

A family walking across a grassy lawn with the New Abbey Corn Mill building in the background.
  • Valid for 14 consecutive days
  • Entry to all ticketed sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle
  • 20% discount on audio guides at Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Glasgow Cathedral
  • Guaranteed entry when you pre-book online
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