Biggar
Despite the impression given by the name, Biggar is a small town situated along the Clyde Valley National Tourist route. The pretty little town is nestled snugly amid beautiful rolling hills and is incredibly picturesque. Every year in October the town plays host to its very own ‘Biggar Little Festival’ which celebrates art, craft, music, drama and dance. Hogmanay is a good time to visit Biggar as the town is well known for its Hogmanay Bonfire. Despite the event taking place on New Year’s Eve preparations for the event start in early December to ensure that the event is a success. The night sees a torch lit parade take place through the streets of the town, ending at the old Corn Exchange, where a fire is then lit. Despite the Hogmanay festival being the most well known, there are a number of events that take place here throughout the year such as vintage car rallies, the agricultural show and the Biggar Gala Day.
Things to See and Do
For such a relatively small town there are five museums to choose from. There is the Gladstone Court Museum, The Biggar Gasworks Museum, Greenhill Covenanters Museum and the Moat Park Heritage Centre to visit. You do not have to spend all of your time indoors through as there is also an excellent golf course and plenty of parkland to enjoy. There is one attraction that the children will love that you won’t find anywhere else in Scotland and that is the Biggar Puppet Theatre, the only permanent theatre of its kind.
The town is surrounded by farmland and is a great place to do for something different than you usual run of the mill attractions. Biggar was once a medieval market town as can be seen by the layout of the streets around the main high street, along which you can find award winning stores and just about everything you could need.
Places to Visit
Biggar is a great place to stay if you want to explore the local area as the town of Peebles is not too far away, nor is the River Tweed. Plus, at only thirty miles from Edinburgh it is an easy journey from Scotland’s capital. Discover the Biggar Heritage Trail and it will take you through some of the more interesting point in the town where you will also discover events from the town’s history. The town was founded around a 12th Century motte and bailey castle built by the Normans, who also constructed the first permanent bridge across the burn. You can still see buildings here that date back to both the 17th and 18th centuries, though the overall look of the town is Victorian. Biggar became a popular tourist destination during the expansion of the railways during the Victorian era, and though the railway line is no longer there you can walk the old track lines between Biggar and Peebles, which is a beautiful and scenic walking route. If you follow the Clyde Valley Tourist Route you will find Biggar is one of the best stopping points along the way.
