A number of visitor attractions located around the Scottish border have seen tourist numbers surge following the opening of the Borders Railway 12 months ago.

Abbotsford House – the home of Sir Walter Scott – recorded a 12 per cent increase in visitors, while visits to Midlothian and Borders tourist attractions experienced respective increases of 4 per cent and 6.9 per cent over the first seven months on 2016.

The boosts have been attributed to the new line – the longest line built in over a century in the UK – which was established last September. Since its opening, more than one million passenger journeys have been made.

The journeys have been made on 21,000 train services which have taken on a combined 35 million miles.

Transport minister Humza Yousaf said the railway had “breathed new life into the region, boosting tourism and employment opportunities”.

Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, added that the improved infrastructure “helped to shine a spotlight” on the area.

“The route has provided a huge boost for Scottish tourism, increasing visitor numbers, creating jobs and sustaining communities,” he said.