Lindean Reservoir

Explorer Tom Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom is where the author had to put down his stories and listen to everyone else's. In Selkirk's Market Place, he served as sheriff for nearly thirty years, handling the region's real disputes while writing books that made its history famous. I suspect a person waiting for judgment cared rather less about his next novel than the outcome of the day. The town building dates from 1804 and rises to a tall spire. Inside, a recreated court and displays of Scott's belongings explain his link with Selkirk and the Borders. He was trained in law before he became the celebrated writer of Waverley and Rob Roy. The museum also gives room to the ordinary people who faced crime, punishment and chance in the old court. Look at the spire outside, then the smaller courtroom within; public grandeur and private nerves meet in one building. Scott knew this countryside and used it in his writing, but here his role was an official one. That change of perspective makes the visit lively. Imagine trying to decide a case while the town outside knows you can also spin a very long historical tale. I could never keep the two jobs straight, but Scott managed them for decades. Admission is free, with donations welcome. The 2026 season runs through 31 October, usually Monday and Thursday to Saturday from eleven until four and Sunday noon until four; the museum closes November through March. There are steps from street level and no level entrance, though the rooms inside are on one floor. There is no toilet at the site. Check current hours before travelling, then hear the writer's other working voice.