Hawick itself is a relatively inexpensive area to visit. A major attraction of the town is the number of mill shops / factory outlets selling cashmere and lambswool knitwear at discount prices. Barrie Knitwear, Hawick Cashmere, Lyle & Scott, N.Peal, Peter Scott, and Pringle of Scotland all manufacture in the town, and high quality merchandise is available direct from several of these mills, or from outlets such as White of Hawick. The Common Haugh car park is close by most of these shops. Eileen and Ron can offer further advice and help if requested.

Many outdoor activities are available in and around the town. Walks of varying length can be suggested, and help can be given in arranging rounds of golf. Wilton Lodge Park beside the River Teviot has regularly won awards in national competitions and has colourful displays surrounding its museum, and in the nearby walled gardens.

Apart from Hawick Museum in the park, the major historic attraction, in the same building as the Tourist Information Centre, is Drumlanrig's Tower, which has been reconstructed to give insight into life in earlier centuries. 'Drumlanrig' was James Douglas, Baron Drumlanrig, who in 1537 granted the town its Charter to hold a market, and so set it on its way to becoming the largest town in the Borders. The tower also houses the Hizzy exhibition, dedicated to motor-cycle ace Steve Hislop.

Another popular indoor attraction is the Teviotdale Leisure Centre, on the site of the former railway station at the other end of the town, which offers swimming, squash, indoor bowling and a fitness centre as well as a cafe.

Hawick, and therefore Ellistrin, is ideally situated for touring the lovely Borders countryside. To the south, Hadrian's Wall, Kielder, or the Lake District can be reached in between sixty and ninety minutes. To the northwest lie St Mary's Loch, and Peebles; to the north Edinburgh a journey of just over an hour), and to the north east Berwick on Tweed, Eyemouth and Lindisfarne. Closer at hand however are to be found small Borders towns with abbeys, stately homes, and interesting craft centres.