Berkshire lies in the south east of Engand and offers lots of tourist attractions to keep any visitor happy, with river walks and trips, countryside to explore as well as villages, towns and cities.

The Thames runs along the northern boundary of Berkshire and this area, together with the parts of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire that border the river, is known as the Thames Valley. Ideal for those long walks along the Thames.

An ancient county, Berkshire dates back to the time when King Alfred set the County Boundaries and takes its name from the large forest of birch trees that once grew there. Windsor Castle lies in Berkshire and in 1974 the county was recognised by HM Queen as the Royal County of Berkshire.

In 1998 the county was divided into six districts: West Berkshire, Reading, Wokingham, Bracknell Forest, Windsor and Maidenhead and Slough. However, the non-metropolitan county was not abolished and it is the only county in England to have multiple districts but no county council.

Berkshire also hosts the popular Legoland theme park - always a favourite with young visitors. 

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The eastern Scottish Borders is a mixed landscape of low-lying hills, extensive moors and a dramatic coastline that contrast with rich farmland and the wooded river banks of the ever-present Tweed shadowing the border as it heads to the sea. 

The low Lammermuir Hills with their extensive grouse moors and wooded valleys form a natural border with the Lothians to the north. The area is excellent walking terrain and the Southern Upland Way cuts along the slopes en route to Cockburnspath on the coast.

The Borders coastline is relatively short but undeniably dramatic. From the various cliff-top paths, there are spectacular views of the towering red cliffs and rocky outcrops of the rugged Berwickshire coast, especially at high tide on a stormy day. The major attraction, however, is the St. Abb's Head National Nature Reserve with sheer, seabird-nesting cliffs rising some 300 feet above the water. The coastal waters off Eyemouth and St Abbs also provide some of the east coast's best diving locations while the fine sandy beach at Coldingham Bay is a haven for surfers.

The eastern Borders also boast a variety of attractive sites of historic interest such as the impressive Manderston House and the Jim Clark Room at Duns, and Paxton House, a few miles south of Eyemouth. 

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