During your next trip to the Scottish Borders, take a visit to one its largest and most charming towns. There are loads of things to do in Hawick. We cover our top picks in this post.

The town which is just 15 miles from the English border, lies at the confluence of the Rivers Slitrig and Teviot.

Hawick’s history can be traced back to the 12th century when King David I granted land to a Norman family, the Lovels. This area is most famous for the fine quality knitwear it produces and the accolades it has received for floristry.

Get to know this popular border town by reading our complete guide of the top things to do in Hawick.



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Things to do in Hawick

As the town is based in Scotland’s premier textile region, it is the perfect place to learn about Scotland’s knitwear and tweed story. Hawick is part of the Textile Trail and home to the popular tourist attraction the, Borders Textile Towerhouse.

Aside from exploring the world of textiles, there are many other things to do in Hawick. The Borders Distillery is an excellent choice for whisky loves and Wilton Longe park is an excellent choice for families travelling to Hawick.

Planning your visit to this buzzing part of the Scottish Borders? Our full list of things to in Hawick is listed below.

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Wilton Lodge Park

One of the best things to do in Hawick is to visit Wilton Lodge Park.

This stunning park brings many visitors to the Scottish Borders due to the spectacular scenery it offers. The Scottish Tourist Board rates this location an impressive four stars, which is no supreme considering there is so much to do here.

This award-winning tourist attraction is the perfect location for a Sunday afternoon walks as it home to beautiful rivers and waterfalls as well as flowers such as daffodils and narcissi. There is 107 acres of riverside and tree-lined walks within the park.

The Hawick Museum sits within the park inside an 18th century mansion. The town’s museum opened in 1910 and is the oldest museum in the Scottish Borders. Inside here you will find a range of objects and fine works of art collected from all over the world.

The Memorial Room inside of the museum tells the story of Hawick’s community during Britain’s wars. Military memorabilia and wartime souvenirs are on display and a visit here is a great way to learn more about this fascinating period.

There is also a walled garden on site that is open all year round. The garden grows flower, heather and shrub beds, as well as hanging baskets and flowering tubs and thriving vegetable garden.

Violet Woods

Another one of our favourite things to do in Hawick is to visit Violet Woods.

The Violet Woods connects to the western side of Wilton Lodge Park. This is an excellent location for a woodland walk.

The views from here are first class as you can see across Hawick to Rubers Law and Hawick Hills. Within the grounds, you will find Scottish wildlife, including deer, rabbits and squirrels.

Textile Trail

A Cashmere Paisley pattern scarf.

Hawick the major centre of the textile industry within the Scottish Borders. It is part of the Textile Trail and home to a range of knitwear and cashmere shops.

The Textile Trail includes ten of the best textile attractions in Scotland. This mix of textile companies, factory outlets, visitor centres and museums showcases tweed and knitwear made in Scotland and shares information about textile heritage in the country.

Borders Textile Towerhouse

If you are interested in the history of textiles, make sure you check out the Borders Textile Towerhouse. This restored 16th-century tower house presents the heritage of Scotland’s textile manufacturing region.

The venue hosts spotlight exhibitions spotlight in contemporary fashion and design throughout the year and its gift shop stocks a range of bespoke textiles, crafts, gifts and books that you can purchase during your visit.

Borders Distillery

Hawick is also home to the Borders Distillery.

The distillery which opened in 2018, is the first Scotch Whisky Distillery in the Scottish Borders since 1837.This popular tourist attraction in Hawick is located in a restored Victorian building which has been greatly preserved over the years.

Open throughout the year, Monday to Saturday you can book an experience here for just £12, this includes a guided tour of the buildings, the distillery and in true Scottish style, a dram.

The Horse

Hawick locals are extremely proud of ‘The Horse’ that lives on the town’s High Street which commemorates the victory of local youths over English invaders in 1514.

The town still celebrates this during the annual Border Common Ridings. The event which is hosted during the summer months honours this event as the ‘The Horse’ becomes the centrepiece for the festival.

Hawick Reivers

Hawick Reivers Festival offers locals and tourists the opportunity to step back in time to the mid sixteenth century.

Those that come to Hawick for the festival get an insight into this turbulent period. This was a time when the Borderlands saw constant feuding and when “Reiving” was a means of survival.

Festival organisers plan a programme which includes music, drama and re-enactments, so that festival goers can experience what life was like for those that lived through the Border Marches.

Hawick Golf Club

Swing into action at one of the Border’s most popular golf clubs.

Scotland is famous for its catalogue of wonderful courses and this one sits at the top of our list. This gradual inclining hill course is well loved by players as it offers fantastic views of Roxburghshire countryside.

Many golfers come here to test their game on this stunning course as there are several challenging holes, each different from the one before.

Visitors are welcome at Hawick’s 18 hole Golf Club.

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