Colourful autumn flowers in peaceful garden
4
4
Date of visit: September 2026
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets, hearing and moving around.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hearing aid or cochlear implant, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Good
A quiet spot near the centre of Melrose with paths which are mostly accessible.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The paths are mostly fine compacted gravel which is fairly easy to wheel on. The path at the back under the trees became a bit too bumpy and there is a short 'crazy paving' path that was too uneven but you can see everything without going down it. There are two main areas - one a big grassy space with views of the Abbey and to the left a walled flower garden which was colourful even in late September. There is another grassy area which was down steps. On entering the garden we went straight ahead up the path to this house. This proved to be a dead end as there were steps down to the second area or a grassy slope down to the lawn. There was only one seat in this part - the one shown in the picture enclosed by the hedge. The walled garden was very attractive but sadly there was only one seat there. Several more needed! At the back of the lawn on the bumpy path under the trees there were more seats.
Accessible facilities: Seating at regular intervals, Step-free entrance, Step-free access to most areas
Parking & Transport
Average
I travelled to this place by personal vehicle
There is no car park but it is possible to park in the street outside. Be warned though, that if you wheel along the pavement there is no dropped kerb at the garden entrance. I managed by pushing the chair, somewhat unsteadily, over the grass, but if going again I would use the road, which luckily is quiet. There is a car park beside the Abbey but there is quite a hill from there down to the garden and one part is very narrow, with either no pavement or a pavement that is too narrow for a chair.
Accessible facilities: Public or on street parking
Accessible Toilets
There are no toilets. The nearest public ones are up the hill past the Abbey (why on a hill???) Two years ago the drop down rail was missing (you could see where it had been on the wall) and from a recent review it appears that it is still missing. We went to the Eden Cafe afterwards - see my review.
Staff
No staff
Additional Information
The garden is run by the National Trust and is free though there is a box for donations. I wrote a review some time ago of what I think is the Abbey Garden but the review named it as Harmony. That garden is further up the hill nearer the car park and as far as I could see there is no path connecting it with the real Harmony Garden. Harmony Garden is the location of the Borders Book Festival.
