Companionship careScottish Borders
Keeping up the things they love is most of what makes a day good. 53 vetted live-in carers could come to live in the Scottish Borders. This page shows what they enjoy, what the Scottish Borders offers for each interest, and how to find someone who shares your mother's or father's.
47 carers near the Scottish Borders have told us what they enjoy
What the carers enjoy
Live-in carers move in rather than travel each day, so the choice reaches well beyond the county: 53 are within about three hours of the Scottish Borders. These are the interests on the profiles of the nearest of them. Tap one to see what the Scottish Borders offers for it.
Listed by manyLess common, so a better matchFrom the profiles of the 53 nearest live-in carers within about three hours of the Scottish Borders, October 2026; 47 of them list interests.
Common ground is easy
Most carers list walking, watching TV and cooking & baking. If that is what your mother or father enjoys, nearly anyone will share it, so choose on the things that matter more: experience, manner and whether they get on.
The less common interests
Fewer carers list these, which is exactly why they are worth searching on. Someone who shares a real passion makes a long week go quickly.
Carers choose the interests on their own profiles. A shared hobby is a good start, not a guarantee, so talk about it when you meet them.
Interest 1
The Borders is criss-crossed by riverside paths, estate woodlands and gentle hill country along the Tweed and its tributaries, so short level walks are easy to find near most towns.
41 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list walking
Somewhere to go
Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre, Ancrum
A countryside visitor centre near Jedburgh with four waymarked woodland walks of different lengths, a pond, a wildlife garden and indoor games and exhibitions. A carer can drive over, pick the shortest loop and use the centre and its toilets as a warm base if the weather turns.
Source: scotborders.gov.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Hirsel Country Park, Coldstream
An estate country park on the edge of Coldstream with a lake known for herons and kingfishers, mature woodland and a visitor centre, museum and cafe. A carer can keep to the short surfaced routes near the house and lake, then stop for tea rather than attempting the longer riverside route.
Getting around: The source notes shorter walks in the grounds where you can keep to hard-surfaced paths.
Source: scotlandstartshere.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A companion walks at their pace, knows when to turn back, and drives to the flat, well-surfaced routes so a short walk is still possible when a long one is not.
Live-in carers who enjoy walkingSome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Precious K.£165 a day23 yrsAlso enjoys dancing, cooking & baking, puzzles, reading
Evelyn S.£150 a day16 yrsAlso enjoys cooking & baking, puzzles, gardening, socialising
David R.£160 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys dancing, puzzles, socialising, board games
Clemence K.£135 a day12 yrsAlso enjoys fishing, gardening, socialising, readingInterest 2
Borders baking and confectionery grew out of mill towns and market days, and several of those recipes are still made locally and sold by name.
33 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list cooking & baking
Local food
Alex Dalgetty & Sons, Galashiels
A rich fruited yeast bannock first sold commercially by a Selkirk baker in the mid-1800s, now made by Alex Dalgetty and Sons to an original recipe. A carer could buy one to share over tea, or use the recipe as the basis for a baking afternoon at home.
Source: galashielsheartland.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Local food
Hawick
A hard boiled mint sweet first made in Hawick in the 1850s and long associated with the town and its Common Riding. A carer can pick up a bag locally as a prompt for talking about childhood sweet shops, or try pulled toffee at home if the kitchen allows.
Source: goldencasket.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A carer does the lifting, the hot trays and the washing up, so the recipes, the judging and the tasting stay with the person who knows them.
Live-in carers who enjoy cooking & bakingSome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Interest 3
Town bands and informal song and tune sessions have long been part of Borders life, tied closely to the summer festival calendar.
33 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list music
Somewhere to join
Hawick
Formed in 1855 and now the last surviving saxhorn band in Scotland, it plays each year at the Hawick Common Riding. A carer could take someone to a public performance and arrive early for a seat near the front.
Source: bordertelegraph.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to join
Scottish Borders Folk lists regular informal clubs and sessions, including fortnightly afternoon music in Peebles and monthly sessions in Kelso, welcoming beginners as well as players. Afternoon start times suit an older person, and a carer can handle transport and stay for the company.
Source: scotborders-folk.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Old records, a choir concert, singing along in the kitchen. Music often stays with people long after other things fade, and a companion who enjoys it makes it part of the day.
Live-in carers who enjoy musicSome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Margaret I.£172 a day2 yrsAlso enjoys walking, reading, writing
Sarah K.£145 a day11 yrsAlso enjoys walking, knitting, socialising, watching TV
Ble Bernard W.£187 a day6 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, socialising
Vetakumisa K.£157 a day5 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card gamesInterest 4
This is Walter Scott's country, and the Borders still has an active library network and a strong literary events calendar.
32 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list reading
In the calendar
Harmony Garden, Melrose
A four day festival held each June in Harmony Garden and orchard in Melrose, with over 100 events, a festival bookshop and free entry to the site. A carer could book one or two afternoon talks rather than a full day, and pre-book seats.
Source: citizenticket.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to join
Live Borders runs reading groups, including informal Book Blether sessions where people share what they have been reading, at libraries across the region. A carer can check which library hosts a group nearby, arrange transport and help collect the next month's book.
Source: liveborders.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Library trips, reading aloud when eyes tire, audiobooks set up and ready, and somebody to talk about the book with.
Live-in carers who enjoy readingSome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Bruce R.£150 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, DIY, watching TV
Patience T.£140 a day5 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, gardening
Sithembiso S.£132 a day20 yrsAlso enjoys dancing, cooking & baking, DIY, socialising
Stella Jackie M.£145 a day6 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, cooking & bakingInterest 5
Sheltered valleys and old estate policies have left the Borders with walled gardens, orchards and arboretums that reward slow visits through the seasons.
24 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list gardening
Somewhere to go
Priorwood Garden, Melrose
A National Trust for Scotland walled garden in the abbey precinct, historically devoted to growing flowers for drying, with a heritage apple orchard. A carer could combine a short visit with a seat in the orchard, and it is central enough in Melrose to pair with a cafe stop.
Source: nts.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Potting on at a table rather than kneeling, deadheading from a stool, visiting gardens with level paths and a tearoom: a carer keeps the garden in their week.
Live-in carers who enjoy gardeningSome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Martha Alice B.£145 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, cooking & baking
Alois T.£160 a day8 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, cooking & baking, decorating
Rose K.£149 a day22 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, cooking & baking, puzzles
christopher c.£161 a day14 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, socialisingInterest 6
Rugby is the defining Borders sport, with the sevens game invented here, and there is a long standing tradition of racing and horse sport too.
18 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list sports
In the calendar
Melrose
The original sevens tournament, first played at Melrose in April 1883 and still held each spring at the Greenyards. A carer could go for part of the day, aiming for a seated view rather than standing through the whole programme.
Source: melrose7s.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Kelso Racecourse, Kelso
A National Hunt course on the edge of Kelso, known for a compact layout that keeps the parade ring, betting and viewing areas close together. A carer can park nearby, use the step-free entrance and settle someone in the stand between races.
Getting around: Euan's Guide records level access at the main entrance via a permanent ramp, with level access to the ticket desk and dining areas.
Source: euansguide.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Watching the match together, a trip to the bowls green or the cricket, or gentle exercise done safely with someone alongside.
Live-in carers who enjoy sportsSome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Catherine K.£174 a day19 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card games
Gregg R.£130 a day18 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, puzzles
Juliet C.£140 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, cooking & baking, decorating
Ulonma O.£160 a day12 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card gamesInterest 7
Big skies over the Eildons, the Tweed valley and the Berwickshire coast give the Borders plenty of subjects that can be reached without a long walk.
12 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list photography
Somewhere to go
Melrose
A roadside viewpoint on Bemersyde Hill looking west over a bend of the Tweed to the three peaks of the Eildon Hills, associated with Sir Walter Scott. A carer can drive right to the viewpoint, so photographs are possible with only a few steps from the car.
Getting around: The viewpoint sits directly on a minor road and is reached by car, according to the source.
Source: scotlandstartshere.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to join
Hawick
A local photography club in Hawick with meetings, competitions and exhibitions for all levels of experience. A carer could arrange lifts to evening meetings and help with printing or loading images beforehand.
Source: sinwp.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A companion can plan an outing around the light and the tide, carry the kit, and help sort the pictures afterwards.
Live-in carers who enjoy photographySome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Thenjiwe G.£158 a day17 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card games
Rebecca M.£183 a day20 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, cooking & baking, decorating
Ann M.£200 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, gardening
Kokub M.£145 a day7 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, card games, cooking & bakingInterest 8
The Borders supports a steady community of painters and galleries, drawn by the river valleys, farmland and abbey towns.
12 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list painting
In the calendar
Borders Events Centre, Kelso
An annual three day visual art fair in Kelso with more than 70 stands of galleries, artists and collectives, plus creative activities. A carer could go on a quieter morning, plan seated breaks and help carry any purchase home.
Source: visitkelso.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Setting up the table, washing the brushes, finding a gallery with a lift: a carer handles the practical side so the time goes on the painting.
Live-in carers who enjoy paintingSome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Amy Marie A.£158 a day23 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, decorating
Pecky O.£140 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, puzzles, socialising
Lubica B.£160 a day8 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, puzzles
Tererai M.£152 a day12 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, puzzlesInterest 9
The Borders mill towns built their name on knitwear, tweed and cashmere, so wool work here is family history as much as a hobby.
12 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list knitting
Somewhere to go
Hawick
A free museum in Hawick's oldest building covering more than 200 years of Borders knitwear and tweed, with garments, photographs, changing exhibitions and craft workshops. A carer could visit the ground floor displays, which often prompt memories of mill work, and check the workshop programme.
Getting around: A reviewer on Euan's Guide describes the museum as very accessible and step-free.
Source: euansguide.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Johnstons of Elgin Cashmere Visitor Centre, Hawick
A working mill on the banks of the Teviot offering guided tours that show how knitted cashmere and lambswool are made, along with a shop and cafe. A carer can book a tour, check the pace with staff beforehand and plan a sit-down afterwards.
Source: visitscotland.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Winding wool, reading the pattern aloud, picking up dropped stitches, and a trip to the wool shop or a knitting group.
Live-in carers who enjoy knittingSome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Adam G.£160 a day22 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, board games
Ednah Miriam M.£148 a day22 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, cooking & bakingSarah K.£145 a day11 yrsAlso enjoys walking, socialising, watching TV, musicVetakumisa K.£157 a day5 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card gamesInterest 10
Small towns and estate properties across the Borders depend on volunteers for museums, gardens and community activity, and roles are often flexible.
11 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list volunteering
Somewhere to join
The regional culture, sport and libraries charity recruits volunteers for roles including helping with gentle movement classes for people with long term conditions, with training and support provided. A carer could help with the application, then provide lifts to a regular weekly session.
Source: liveborders.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to join
Melrose
Sir Walter Scott's house near Melrose has a team of over 100 volunteers, with roles from garden assistants in the walled gardens to welcoming visitors. A carer can help match someone to a seated, indoor role and arrange the journey.
Source: scottsabbotsford.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A carer can help find a role that suits sitting down or short sessions, and handle the lifts there and back.
Live-in carers who enjoy volunteeringSome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Juliet C.£150 a day5 yrsAlso enjoys walking, puzzles, gardening, DIY
Florence S.£175 a day35 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, cooking & baking, readingDavid R.£160 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, puzzles, socialisingTererai M.£152 a day12 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, card games, cooking & bakingInterest 11
The Tweed and its tributaries are among the best known salmon and trout waters in Britain, with upland reservoirs in the Lammermuirs for stillwater fishing.
8 of 47live-in carers we looked at
list fishing
Somewhere to go
Watch Water Fishery, Longformacus
An upland reservoir fishery in the Lammermuir Hills above Longformacus, stocked for trout and fished from bank or boat. A carer could drive to the water, carry the gear and sit with a flask while the fishing goes on.
Source: thewatchwaterfishery.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A carer can sort the permit and the tackle, drive to a bank spot close to the car park, and bring the chair, the flask and the patience.
Live-in carers who enjoy fishingSome who could come in the Scottish Borders
Jobi S.£179 a day2 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, gardening
Peter D.£145 a day2 yrsAlso enjoys card games, gardening, socialising, video gamesClemence K.£135 a day12 yrsAlso enjoys walking, gardening, socialising, readingVetakumisa K.£157 a day5 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card gamesCloser to home
Not every good day involves going out. These are the everyday interests the carers who could come list most, and each is easier, and more fun, with somebody to share it.
From interest to introduction
Use the link under any interest on this page. It opens a search of live-in carers in the Scottish Borders with the carers who list that interest first; nobody else is hidden, so you still see everyone who could come.
Each profile shows the carer's interests next to their experience, the conditions they have cared for, their day rate and their reviews. Shortlist two or three.
Message and meet them for free. Ask about the hobby: someone who really gardens will tell you what they grow. Nothing is booked until you decide.
We set up the contract, handle invoicing and payment, and insure the care while the carer works. The rest of the week is theirs to fill.
Lee-Ann
Care manager for families in the Scottish Borders
Someone to talk to first
Most families start with a call: what your relative needs, what it would cost, which carers share your parent's interests, and whether live-in care or companionship visits suit them better, and what to ask a carer when you speak to them. Lee-Ann has those conversations every day and can tell you which of the carers in the Scottish Borders might suit, though the choice is always yours.
Questions
Yes. Getting out is a normal part of a live-in carer's week: a walk (Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre is a good one), a garden visit, a choir concert, the bowls club or a lunch with friends. Many carers drive, and the search shows who does. Mileage is only charged if you agree it in advance and in writing, and 55p a mile is the usual figure when a carer uses their own car. Entry tickets and cafe stops for the carer are worth agreeing up front too.
Use the link under the interest on this page: it opens a search of live-in carers in the Scottish Borders with the ones who list that interest shown first, and the rest still there below them. Every profile shows the carer's interests alongside their experience, rates and reviews. Message the ones you like, and talk about the hobby when you meet them: it is the quickest way to tell whether the interest is real.
For live-in care it matters more than people expect. A live-in carer shares the house for weeks at a time, and the hours between the care tasks are most of the day. Somebody who likes the same programmes, games or garden fills those hours naturally. It is still second to experience and temperament, so treat it as a tie-breaker between good carers rather than the first thing you filter on.
Live-in care through PrimeCarers is typically about £1,120 a week, with our fee included, and each carer sets their own rate, shown on their profile. That covers somebody living in and helping through the day. If your parent needs company rather than round-the-clock help, hourly companionship visits start from about £15 an hour. Companionship care in the Scottish Borders compares the two.
Then the interest comes to him. A carer can bring the garden to a table on the patio, put the old records on, set up the jigsaw, read the paper aloud or play cards most afternoons. The interests further down this page are mostly the ones done at home, and plenty of carers share them.
Each local suggestion was researched from published sources, and every one on the page has passed a check before appearing: either it was found on a map inside the Scottish Borders, or its source page, which we link to, is live and names the area. Anything that failed was left out. Opening times, prices and access change, so check with the venue before you go, especially for gardens such as Priorwood Garden, where it is worth asking ahead about wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Yes. Before a carer appears on PrimeCarers they have passed an enhanced DBS check, an identity check and a right-to-work check, and had an online interview with our team, with renewal or rechecks depending on the accepted route. Carers write their own profiles, including their interests and skills, so ask about anything that matters to you when you meet them. How we vet carers sets out each step.
See live-in carers with their photos, interests, rates and reviews, and talk to your favourites for free. Nothing is booked until you say so.
