Preston Citizen reporter Nicola Jolly recovers after her whirlwind tour of the Scottish Borders.

"WHEN I bagged a press holiday to Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders, I expected an easy four days of gentle strolls, hearty meals and whisky-tasting.

Little did I know I'd have to work hard for such perks. Pony riding, quad-biking, off-road driving, archery, Highland games . . . just a small selection of the long list of activities the Scottish Tourist Board had lined up for me.

And that's not to mention the hi-energy ceilidh, a pitch and putt challenge, choppy boat trip, zooming around Sunlaws golf course in a buggy, and haggis hurling.

There seemed to be no slot on the itinerary for sleep so I found sweet solace in the gentler events, though my brain was sometimes saturated with countless historic tales, breathtaking views and beautiful paintings.

I toured the awesome 18th century Paxton House, looked round Jedburgh Abbey, ate a winter-warming lunch in an old barnhouse of Mavis Hall and dined at Poldrates, a converted 18th century mill.

The Scots really know how to cook and entertain, and I stuffed myself with course upon course of local smoked salmon, deep fried goats cheese, home-made carrot and courgette soup, and any form of chocolate.

I stayed at the impressive Greywalls on the famous Muirfield Golf Course, the character-packed Duns Castle, and a gorgeous self-catering cottage at Whitmuir Hall in Selkirk. All offered a hearty, warm welcome which seems to be an in-bred quality of this country.

For a first time trip to Scotland, it was an exhausting but fun and very interesting four days. The area is steeped in history and packed with activities, and I found it hard to believe it was all just a few hours away within the UK."

For information, contact the Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board on 0131 226 6800, or the Scottish Borders Tourist Board on 01750 20555.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.