A WITCHY sculpture trail telling some of the Borders' favourite folktales and legends is set to open next month.
Named after Sir Walter Scott's favourite part of his extensive library, which is home to 250 rare books on witchcraft, folklore and superstition, Witch Corner at Abbotsford is set to be a visitor favourite at the Borders attraction.
The magical sculpture trail at the home of the Borders most famous author will have 12 story stops and features supernatural characters such as witches, ghosts, goblins, elves and fairies.
The trail also features a witch's cottage shop, play area, and to mark the first day of the Easter holidays, youngsters can enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt around the trail.
Giles Ingram, chief executive officer at Abbotsford, said: “We’re delighted to be launching our new Witch Corner woodland trail with this exciting launch event for all ages.
"The world of Abbotsford’s Witch Corner is an older world where fairies, elves, goblins, and spirits could bring health and good fortune or wreak mischief and havoc on their human subjects as they saw fit. It is also an experience that reimagines some of the most beloved legends of the Scottish Borders, a region with a tempestuous history and a rich and unique folk heritage bound up in its network of historic peel towers, abbeys, waterways and forests.
"This is a unique offer in the Scottish Borders and a new way to experience Sir Walter Scott’s storytelling which we hope will be popular with visitors to the region and local communities alike.
"Everyone is invited to come along at 11am on Saturday, April 1 to get their first look at this supernatural story trail.”
The trail's storyboard was designed by Brilliant Trails – the company behind the Loch Lomond Faerie Trail – with help from the Abbotsford heritage team.
At the launch event families can make the most of free entry for the first hour of the event for all children dressed in costume.
An opening ceremony at Witch Corner will see the trail launched by Abbotsford's collections and interpretation manager Kirsty Archer-Thompson.
Ms Archer-Thompson said: “One of the real delights of creating Witch Corner has been embedding the magical stories Walter Scott told and the folktales he loved into his Abbotsford estate in an immersive and entertaining way.
"There are so many layers to this experience, from activities, clues, and magic spells for children to fantastic photographic opportunities and app content for adults keen to understand how these legends came about in the first place.
"That was one of Scott’s main aims as a writer of historical fiction - trying to understand why people believed what they did in times past.
"I was passionate about creating something that felt true to the older folk beliefs of Scotland, so the creatures and beings you’ll meet in our story trail are more mischievous and tricksy than the fairies and elves you have in your mind’s eye.
"And the best thing about all of this, for me, is that I have been able to weave Scott’s words and stories into every single part of this experience.
"Even the design elements of our Witch’s cottage take their cue from him!”
Day tickets for Witch Corner are £5.50 per person, with annual tickets including a year's free parking at Abbotsford also available.
Tickets and further information about Witch Corner are available at: family.scottsabbotsford.com.
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