HERITAGE attractions in the Borders are celebrating after welcoming record numbers of visitors last year.

Footfall at all of the region's historic sites enjoyed booms during 2017/18.

And leading the way was the 15th century tower house, Smailholm Tower, with an increase of 32 per cent of visitors on the previous year.

Hermitage Castle, near Newcastleton, saw visitor numbers increase by a striking 27 percent.

And Melrose Abbey, the final resting place of the heart of Robert the Bruce, recorded a 13 percent increase in footfall with over 58,000 people paying to go through the entrance gates.

Other sites in the region have also had an impressive showing with Dryburgh Abbey and Jedburgh Abbey recording six percent and 10 percent increases, respectively.

Stephen Duncan, director of commercial and tourism at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Our record breaking visitor figures, including across all of our top ten sites, is a tremendous achievement for Scotland’s heritage tourism sector, reflecting the continued interest shown by tourists and home-grown visitors to learn more about our rich Scottish heritage.

"The exchange rate, as well as strong airport numbers, have both contributed to the growing figures.

"It is an incredible achievement to celebrate record-breaking figures across our sites.

"This growing interest in Scotland’s historic environment with visitors enjoying our rich cultural country looks set to continue."

The record footfall announcement follows the recent publication of HES’s Investment Plan, which sets out an investment programme to enhance the condition of sites and improve the experience of visitors, scheduled to run until 2021/22.

Significant investment in 2017/18 has seen the upgrade of visitor facilities such as heating, toilets and lighting systems at a number of properties.