Location, location, location
- Melrose receives enough glowing reviews for it to be barely necessary to add another; it is a site with one huge positive – it’s location in Melrose allowing very easy access to the shops, eateries and attractions of the town with only a few minutes’ walk. The local Co-Op, a decent size for a small town, is on the door step; the location is excellent, especially for motorhomes. Advantages like this tend to override the negatives.
- Another plus for motorhomers is the nearby Tweedbank station a little over 1½ miles distant (not 3 miles as the site leaflet states). There are buses, an easy cycle route (route 1 – the option I chose with cycle racks at the station) and walking takes about 30 minutes. Trains go to Edinburgh every half hour.
- The negatives: the site is tired and dated and I thought the pitches unusually small. Both caravans that occupied the next pitch to myself, during my stay, found it necessary to park their car partly on the grass strip between pitches. Awning’s extended to the very edge of the other side of the pitch and guy ropes over it. It gave the place a cluttered, busy feel. The pitches were tatty and there is unquestionably a need for upgrading. Possibly there is a reason money is not spent here – a lease of uncertain length perhaps – but, if not, some money should be allocated.
- I had a service pitch. This does the job, and I was perfectly happy, but, again, the facility is of great age compared to modern service pitches. I also noted that the standard pitch opposite was about a metre wider – odd priorities I thought.
- Melrose Abbey is really interesting and there is a pleasant riverside walk and a few nice shops; otherwise I thought Melrose was nothing singular or exceptional, less interesting than other border towns that I have visited.
- One other thing: I was really encouraged to see a sign at the entrance asking people to stay with their outfit until they reach the front of the queue. I have never seen this before although I have long believed that all sites should this have this policy (and rigorously apply it). Some sites institute such a policy on an ad hoc basis when busy with a warden organising things. Otherwise one has the frustration, when booking in, of people not at the front of the queue impatiently getting out of their car or van and going into reception to book in thus causing big gaps and an ever lengthening queue at busy times - sometimes backing up onto public roads.
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